Lip proportion: the relationship between upper and lower lip
- Nerve
Quick facts
- Definition
- Relationship of height and volume between the upper and lower lip, and between them and the rest of the face.
- Most cited reference
- Lower lip slightly taller than the upper, around 1 to 1.6 in the frontal view.
- Variation
- Changes with ethnicity, age, sex, dentition and skeleton; proportions close to 1 to 1 are common and harmonious in many faces.
- Other measurements
- Height of the upper lip relative to the lower lip with chin; width of the mouth relative to the eyes.
- In Harmy
- Both lips fall under the Lips point of the marking.
Lip proportion is the relationship of height and volume between the upper and lower lip, and between them and the rest of the face's lower third. In the frontal view, the most cited reference in the aesthetic literature is the lower lip slightly taller than the upper, around 1 to 1.6. It is a starting point for assessment, not a goal to copy in every patient.
How is lip proportion measured?
The most used measurements, on the frontal photo with lips at rest and teeth lightly touching:
| Measurement | How it is observed | Usual reference |
|---|---|---|
| Upper vs lower vermilion height | From the edge of the vermilion to the line where the lips meet, at the center | Lower larger than upper, around 1 to 1.6 |
| Upper lip vs lower lip with chin | From the base of the nose to the lip line, compared with the distance from the lip line to the chin | Around 1 to 2 |
| Mouth width | Position of the corners relative to the eyes | Corners near vertical lines dropping from the inner edge of the iris |
| Cupid's bow | Sharpness and symmetry of the peaks of the Cupid's bow | Defined, symmetrical peaks |
The 1 to 1.6 proportion comes close to the golden ratio, which helped popularize the number. It comes from specific samples, mainly young white women, and does not represent all faces.
Why is there no single ideal lip?
Ethnicity, age, sex, dentition and skeleton change what is harmonious. In many faces, lips with a proportion close to 1 to 1 are natural and attractive. In patients of African descent, for example, fuller lips that are more balanced with each other are part of the character of the face. In men, the vermilion tends to be thinner and the contour less marked.
The most remembered mistake is inversion: an upper lip larger than the lower, which tends to look artificial on most faces. Another is chasing the proportion without looking at profile projection, the smile and tooth exposure.
How does it appear in the assessment?
- Rest and smile: the smile thins the vermilion and reveals asymmetries that rest hides.
- Profile: projection of the lips relative to the nose and chin.
- Asymmetries: difference between the sides, common and not always correctable. See facial asymmetry.
- Contour: definition of the white roll of the lip and the philtrum.
- History: previous fillers and residual product.
The full anatomy of the area is on the lips area page, and the procedure under lip filler.
Also called: ratio between the lips, lip ratio.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal proportion between the upper and lower lip?
The most cited reference is the lower lip about 1.6 times taller than the upper in the frontal view. It is an average from specific samples, not a rule: many harmonious faces have a proportion closer to 1 to 1.
Is an upper lip larger than the lower lip attractive?
In general, an upper lip that is visibly fuller than the lower draws attention and can look artificial. But the reading depends on the whole face, and the decision is the professional's together with the patient.