Macrocheilia is defined as excessive lip size. Various ethnic groups share the characteristic of larger lips, including African-American and Asian (Fig. 11.21).
Hormones: Hormonal changes, especially during puberty, pregnancy, or menstrual cycles, can affect lip size. Increased estrogen levels can lead to fuller lips. Age: As people age, the body produces less collagen and elastin, which can lead to a loss of volume in the lips.
Lip shape is mostly a function of your genes. This means a lot of what determines your lip shape and fullness is out of your control. Not only do genes give your lips their specific shape and size, but the amount of collagen produced by your body will also be partially regulated by genetics.
Full lips suggest a caring and affectionate character. You are sociable, passionate, and optimistic, even when angry, though you tend to conceal your anger expressions.
Based on an analysis of 40 pairs of lips, Caucasian women were found to have an overall lip index between 50 and 100, while Asian women had a lip index between 100 and 200. Because a larger lip index correlates with fuller lips, this study suggested that Asian women have fuller lips on average than Caucasian women.
Ethnic Lip Characteristics
African and Asian descents often have fuller lips, while Caucasian lips tend to be thinner with a pronounced Cupid's bow. Recognizing these differences is vital in lip reduction surgery.
Hispanic women tend to have lips that protrude 2-3 mm more1 per lip than Caucasians, even though their lips tend to have little natural size difference. Both Black and Asian women tend to have larger lips than their White counterparts, however, so their lip projection tends to be larger as well.
Cupid. Cupid is the rarest of all lip forms. Cupid has a powerful, youthful appearance, and is very prominent in pre-adolescent females. Due to the natural growth process in a female's lips, the fullness of the lips fill in the middle first, then the sides.
Usually, fuller lips have been considered more beautiful and even related to sensuality, youth, and vitality.
It appears that symmetry is key to a conventionally attractive lip shape, with a survey of more than 1,000 people from 35 countries showing that a strong but mirrored plumpness in the lip was considered the most attractive.
Full lips are the most common of shapes and are typically defined by lips that are equally plump on the top and bottom. This shape is easy to accentuate and looks great with bold lipstick looks.
In fact, our lips reach maximum fullness around age 16 before steadily declining in volume at a rate of about 1% each year after. The main culprit behind thinning lips is collagen loss. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for making up the main structure underneath the skin.
Genetics primarily determine lip thickness, but other factors, including ageing, sun exposure, and smoking, can also contribute to thin lips. These influences can impact lip volume, creating a less full appearance over time.
Geneticists have discovered that the indigenous mound-building peoples of Southern Mexico, the mound-building Muskogeans of the Southeastern United States and the advanced civilizations of northwestern South America are especially inclined to carry the Denisovan genes, which determine facial shape and create thick lips ...
Lip fillers can definitely make you look younger. The plumper, fuller lips give your face a more youthful appearance. Of course, there are other factors that come into play when it comes to looking young, such as your skin quality and overall health.
Science has found that the most attractive lip shape has an upper-to-lower lip ratio of 1:2. Lips are most desirable in different shapes and forms for different people – 60% of people prefer a 1:1 ratio where the lips are completely symmetrical and evenly full.
While lip size might influence the surface area of contact, it's not the sole factor determining a good kiss. Plump Lips: Fuller lips may offer a more pronounced sensory experience due to their increased surface area. This can translate to a feeling of greater softness and pressure during a kiss.
Full Lips Are Perceived as More Sensual and Seductive
There is no denying that full lips have long been associated with sensuality and seductiveness.
“Generally, Caucasian lips are 1/3 upper lip to 2/3 bottom lip ratio and often thinner than other ethnicities. Caucasian lips can have smaller upper lip height.
When lips are large and wide set, they are known as full lips. Full lips are the biggest and most prominent lip shape you can have. They tend to have a plump, pouty appearance and are equally full on the top and bottom.
Full lips have an undeniably seductive appeal. They exude youthfulness and sensuality, thanks to their plumpness. Fun fact: Fuller lips are often seen as a sign of good health and fertility. Celebrity example: Angelina Jolie's lips, known for their full, plump lips, have been a topic of admiration for years.
Results: The Hispanic population had wider eyes, more protruded upper and lower lips, wider face, and greater mandibular width. Caucasian females had a more acute full profile, larger middle third, and less protrusive lips.
The shape and prominence of key anatomical landmarks, such as the Cupid's bow and the philtral columns, can also differ among different racial and ethnic groups. Caucasians typically have a more distinct Cupid's bow with a classic “double curve” shape.
Cherry lips get their name from the shape of the volume added to the lip. The filler creates two “cherries” on the top lip and two on the bottom lip. They are plump, youthful, and often called “rosebud lips”.