Lip tubercles: the anatomy of lip volume
- Highlighted area
Quick facts
- Definition
- Rounded volumes of the vermilion that give the lip its relief when seen from the front and in profile.
- Upper lip
- One central tubercle, just below the philtrum, flanked by two more subtle lateral volumes.
- Lower lip
- Two paramedian volumes, one on each side of the midline.
- Anatomical basis
- Formed by the orbicularis oris muscle, glands and vermilion tissue, covered by mucosa.
- Relevance in HOF
- They guide the reading of lip shape and the distribution of volume in planning.
- In Harmy
- They sit in the Lips area of the marking.
Lip tubercles are the rounded volumes of the lip vermilion that give the mouth its relief. Classic anatomy describes the tubercle of the upper lip: the prominence at the center of the lip, just below the philtrum. In aesthetics, the concept was extended to describe the lip as a set of volumes, and it is this reading that guides the assessment of lip shape.
How are the volumes of the lip described?
The description most used in the aesthetic literature divides the vermilion into five volumes:
| Lip | Volumes | Typical look |
|---|---|---|
| Upper | One central tubercle and two lateral volumes | The central one projects forward and downward; the lateral ones are more subtle and taper toward the corners of the mouth |
| Lower | Two paramedian volumes | One on each side of the midline, with a slight central groove between them |
With the mouth at rest, the volumes of the upper lip fit between the two of the lower lip. This fit explains the natural design of the line where the lips meet, slightly wavy rather than straight.
What are they made of?
They are not isolated structures. The tubercles result from the shape of the orbicularis oris muscle, the minor salivary glands, the vermilion tissue and the mucosa that covers them. The superior labial artery and the inferior labial artery run within the thickness of the lip, usually closer to the inner surface (mucosa) than to the skin, with great variation between people.
Why do they matter in HOF?
A natural-looking lip has relief: volumes that rise and fall, catch the light and change with the smile. When volume is distributed uniformly, without respecting that relief, the lip tends to look like a straight, projected band, without the details the person recognizes as their own.
With aging, the tubercles tend to flatten, the vermilion thins and the upper lip lengthens. Reading the volumes helps decide whether the concern is volume, contour at the white roll of the lip, definition of the Cupid's bow or proportion. Product distribution and technique are decisions for the licensed professional, after assessment.
How does it show up in the assessment?
- Frontal view at rest: presence, size and symmetry of the central tubercle and of the lower lip volumes.
- Profile: projection of the upper tubercle relative to the lower one.
- Smile: how the volumes flatten and whether the upper lip disappears over the teeth.
- Proportion: the height relationship between the lips, described in lip proportion.
- History: earlier fillers may have erased the relief and change the tissue's response.
The full anatomy is in the lips area, and the procedure in lip filler.
Also called: upper lip tubercle, labial tubercle, lip volumes, lip tubercles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tubercle of the upper lip?
It is the rounded prominence at the center of the upper lip, just below the philtrum. It gives the lip its central projection and tends to flatten with aging.
How many tubercles does the lip have?
Classic anatomy describes one tubercle at the center of the upper lip. In aesthetics, many authors describe the lip with five volumes: three in the upper lip (one central and two lateral) and two in the lower.