Lip Fillers and the Golden Ratio

Beautiful lips are the perfect combination of science and art. What human beings consider to be the most aesthetically attractive lips is not just a matter of preference; it’s based on a mathematical concept known as the golden ratio. Guided by the golden ratio, experts can beautify, fill, refine, and shape the lips using lip fillers.

What is the Golden Ratio?

The golden ratio is a mathematical principle that states that the most attractive proportion between two things is a ratio of 1 to 1.618. Sometimes referred to as the “golden mean” or “divine proportion”, the concept of the golden ratio has been traced back thousands of years, even as far back as the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid. This ideal ratio regarding our perception of beauty is seen across a wide range of cultures and ethnicities. The ratio also appears abundantly in nature, with leaves, flower petals, and even snail shells showcasing natural beauty that is based on these proportions.

But what does the golden ratio mean, exactly? Put simply, a ratio of 1 to 1.618 means that the second object is 1.618 times larger than the first. Our perception as humans attributes more beauty to faces that are based on the golden ratio. For example, the most beautiful faces meet the golden ratio in width to height, as well as in other aspects.

The Golden Lip Ratio

The golden ratio as it applies to the lips means that for optimal beauty, the following lip characteristics should all be as close to this ratio as possible:

• The bottom lip should be 1.618 times larger than the top lip.
• The top lip should protrude 1.618 times more forward than the bottom lip (as seen from a side view).
• The lips should be 1.618 times wider than the nose.

How Fillers Can Give You the Perfect Lips

An understanding of the golden ratio is critical to achieving the perfect lips with lip fillers. Using precision, an artistic eye, and knowledge of this mathematical golden mean, a skilled expert can use injectable fillers to bring your lips as close to this ratio as possible.

At Kirsch Dermatology, we use both JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® hyaluronic acid fillers to enhance the lips. Strategic injection can improve the volume of thinning lips, enhance lip fullness, slightly alter lip shape, and refine the lips in other ways to bring them ever closer to the golden ratio and heighten your facial beauty. 

Considering the golden ratio’s importance in history and in nature, it is important to work with someone who truly understands the golden ratio as it should apply to the lips. Those who do not have an appropriate level of understanding and experience risk overexaggerating this ratio and creating an unnatural, fake appearance (such as “duck lips” or “trout pout”). Fillers should be used strategically to enhance your natural anatomy, and a true expert will know how to work with your anatomy to best achieve those divine proportions. Choose a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for the best possible results for your lip fillers.

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Brandon Kirsch, MD

Brandon Kirsch, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in clinical drug development and medical innovation. He is the founder of Kirsch Dermatology in Naples, Florida and is also the Chief of Dermatology at the Naples Community Hospital.