How to Choose a Lip Filler Brand? Effects, Pros, Cons and Longevity of 4 Major Brands Compared

Everyone longs for a smile that turns heads, and a plump, hydrated lip makes the features look more refined and three-dimensional.

But as we age, collagen is lost and lip volume gradually declines. Many people develop thin lips and visible lip lines in middle age, which can make them look tired.

Lip filler (hyaluronic acid lip augmentation) has become a very popular minimally invasive choice in recent years. The injection takes only 30 minutes and can create a well-defined lip shape, but the lips are also the area that most tests a doctor's aesthetic sense.

For other areas, as long as the filler is placed correctly there is basically little risk of failure, for example the temples, chin and tear trough, where the filler simply fills a hollow.

Lip filler changes the 'styling' of the features, much like a hairstyle or the shape of semi-permanent eyebrows, so design sense is involved. Besides placing the filler in the right spot, the doctor needs an 'aesthetic quotient' to judge whether this lip shape suits you and harmonizes with your other features.

This article takes a comprehensive look at lip filler effects, longevity, price factors and aftercare, to help you feel at ease on your way to looking better!

Table of Contents

• 1. What problems can lip filler improve?
• 2. Quick comparison of 4 major lip filler brands: Juvederm: the full range addresses different lip concerns; Restylane Defyne/OBT (Kysse): the top-tier lip filler; Belotero lip filler; Teoxane filler: high spreadability; Korean lip filler brands: Hyafi, Hanni, Fairy, Honeycomb
• 3. How much should lip filler cost?
• 4. What are the side effects and risks of lip filler?
• 5. Lip filler FAQ: Q1: Which lip filler brand looks the most natural? Q2: How many cc of lip filler? Q3: Does lip filler hurt? Q4: Will my lips be very swollen after lip filler? Q5: What if lip filler doesn't turn out well? Q6: How long does lip filler last?
• Conclusion: Understand the lip style you want first, then decide which brand to use. References

1. What problems can lip filler improve?

Lip shape has a decisive influence on facial proportions. Once lip filler changes the lip shape, facial expressions change along with it.

Many clients who come to me to dissolve their lip filler have lips that don't harmonize with their other features, so before having lip filler you should at least be clear about exactly which problem you want to improve.

So before starting, you need a basic understanding of lip structure. Is the problem that your cupid's bow peaks aren't defined? That your lip tubercle isn't prominent enough and you want plump 'pouty' lips? That you want smiling lip corners? That your upper or lower lip is too thin?

Lip tubercle: the rounded protrusion at the center of the upper and lower lips, which makes the lips fuller and more three-dimensional. Pouty lips are all about creating a defined tubercle.
Lip peaks: the raised points on both sides of the upper lip, giving the lip an 'M' shape and defining the lip contour. Lip corners: a smiling lip comes from lifting the lip corners, which makes a smile more approachable.

The image below shows how different lip shapes on the same face create different impressions of the features and overall presence.

These examples illustrate what happens when the lip shape is changed. The golden-ratio lip has an upper lip to lower lip ratio of 1:1.6. Of course, beauty has no standard answer and everyone defines it differently, so be sure to communicate clearly with your doctor before the injection.

2. Quick comparison of 4 major lip filler brands

Many clients ask me which lip filler brand is the best. There is no 'best brand' for lips. Each brand's filler has different properties, so the better question is which one best fits your goals.

When choosing a lip filler, I first ask my clients which of the following 4 concerns lip filler can address matters most to them. Once you choose, I can tell you which brand suits you.

1. Pouty lips: more plumpness, increasing the volume of the lip vermilion and its fullness from the front and side.
2. Western-style lips: emphasizes a full lower lip and a clear lip contour line
3. M-shaped lips: emphasizes the lip line and peaks, for a clearer lip border, cupid's bow or lip tubercle.
4. Smiling lips: focuses on the upturned line when smiling and harmony of expression.

Juvederm: the full range addresses different lip concerns

Juvederm comes in five formulations with different molecule types, suited to creating different lip styles.

Juvederm's biggest advantage is its 'good moldability', which also makes it very well suited to the tear trough, where it is the least likely to form 'caterpillar' lumps.

When Juvederm is injected into the lips, its biggest advantage is a 'natural' look.

You may have scrolled through Instagram and seen influencers whose smile curves of the lips look very deliberate. That is usually lip filler with poor moldability that doesn't blend naturally with the tissue, giving an artificial look. Juvederm rarely has this problem, so if you tell me you don't want your family to notice and want the most natural result possible, I would recommend Juvederm.

Volift, a medium-molecule product, leans toward adding fullness to the lips. After injection it is easier to mold into a suitable shape, and it lasts about one year.

Below is the result of 1cc of Volift: the lips are thicker and have more definition when smiling.

Vobella, a small-molecule product, suits people who don't want to change their lip shape dramatically. It gently adds lip volume and improves fine lines around the lips, but being a small molecule, it is relatively less long-lasting than medium-molecule products.

In the image below, the client did not want to change the original lip shape and only wanted to add lip volume, so she chose 1cc of Juvederm Vobella, mainly to increase the thickness of the lower lip.

Pros

• The brand has two clear orientations: 'subtle and soft' and 'fuller'.
• Different products can be chosen according to fine lines around the lips, lip line and volume needs.
• The manufacturer provides lip indication and longevity data for doctors to reference.

Cons

• Good moldability also means less resilience, so it is harder to create a very pronounced lip tubercle and smile curve

Restylane (Kysse): the top-tier lip filler

I have known my wife for four years and have injected her lips for four years, using in turn Korean filler, Juvederm, Teoxane and Restylane OBT.

Restylane Kysse is currently the lip filler brand my wife rates as giving the best-looking lips, so more and more people at the clinic are also choosing this brand for lip augmentation.

Restylane OBT has better resilience and can create a more defined lip tubercle. In the image below, my client's main complaint was a flat, straight-line lip, and after Kysse the dimensionality of the lips increased greatly.

The name Restylane Kysse alone tells you it was designed specifically for lips. The manufacturer positions it as a lip filler that balances softness, support and expression movement, adding fullness and lip definition while keeping expressions natural. Manufacturer data show effects lasting about 1 year, and in my wife's own experience she indeed went more than a year without a top-up.

Pros

• Kysse emphasizes a gel that moves with smiling and speaking, suited to those who value natural movement.
• It can be planned to create a defined lip tubercle, fuller lip volume and improve fine lines around the lips at the same time.
• Longer-lasting, up to one year

Cons

• Poor moldability means a low margin for error for the doctor. Once a mistake is made, it is hard to change the shape by molding, which is a big test of the doctor's lip injection experience
• The foreign-body sensation is more noticeable compared with Juvederm
• The price is usually the highest among the Western brands

Belotero lip filler:

I must be honest that I have only injected Belotero a few times. Readers who have seen my articles on other areas will know I am not an enthusiastic supporter of Belotero. For moldability it doesn't match Juvederm, for resilience it doesn't match Restylane, and for low price it isn't as cheap as Korean fillers. So I basically don't use this brand much, and it is hard for me to share how long it lasts in the long term.

Pros

• Suited to clients who simply want to add lip volume
• The price is usually the lowest among the Western brands

Cons

• Among the Western brands, its longevity is the shortest
• Poor resilience, making it hard to create a lip shape with much definition

Teoxane filler: high spreadability

Teoxane takes the middle road, combining Juvederm's moldability with Restylane's resilience. On the spectrum it sits in the middle, with about half the strengths of each of its two competitors.

The TEOSYAL RHA range focuses on how the gel spreads and supports during facial movement, and is well suited to the lips.

Pros

• The product is designed with expression harmony in mind for highly mobile areas such as the lips, and is not prone to shifting.

Cons

• If you want a distinctive lip shape, its pouty-lip and smiling-lip results are not as good as Restylane Kysse

Korean lip filler brands: Hyafi, Hanni, Fairy, Honeycomb

Besides the 4 major Western brands above, clients often ask whether Korean fillers can be used on the lips. I have personally tried all of these:

• Hyafi: medium molecule, with moldability comparable to Juvederm Volift. It is the only Korean brand I find suitable for lip augmentation, and its price is also more affordable than the Western brands.
• Hanni: medium-to-small molecule. It is okay for simply thickening thin lips, but support is somewhat insufficient for distinctive lip shapes.
• Fairy: medium-to-large molecule. Its moldability is not very good, and in the lips it is metabolized very quickly.
• Honeycomb: large and rather firm molecule. I have injected it in all areas of the face, and I have to say it is the least suitable for the lips.

Overall, the moldability and spreadability of Korean fillers still fall short of the Western brands. If your budget allows, my top recommendations for the lips are still Juvederm and Restylane.

3. How much should lip filler cost?

The short answer: lip filler cost depends on the brand. Western brands generally run about NT$13,000–20,000 per 1cc, and Korean filler for lips about NT$8,000–12,000. But the moldability and spreadability of Korean fillers are still far below Western brands, so my clinic currently uses mainly Juvederm or Restylane for lip augmentation.

Lip filler cost depends on the filler brand. Western brands generally run about NT$13,000–20,000 per 1cc, and Korean filler for lips about NT$8,000–12,000. However, I have tried the Korean fillers currently available in Taiwan, and their moldability and spreadability are still far below Western brands, so my clinic currently uses mainly Juvederm or Restylane for lip filler.

• Juvederm 1cc NT$13,000–18,000
• Restylane OBT 1cc NT$15,000–20,000
• Belotero 1cc NT$13,000–18,000
• Teoxane 1cc NT$15,000–20,000

4. What are the side effects and risks of lip filler?

The lips are a relatively safe area to inject, with no major arteries nearby.

Common short-term side effects include swelling, bruising, redness, pain or a local foreign-body sensation, which usually improve gradually within days to weeks. Less common problems include infection, nodules, allergic reactions and delayed inflammation.

Before treatment, be sure to tell your doctor if you have cold sores, a local infection, a bleeding disorder, a history of severe allergy, or an allergy to lidocaine.

5. Lip filler FAQ

Q1: Which lip filler brand looks the most natural?

My own top recommendations are Juvederm or Restylane OBT Kysse.

Q2: How many cc of lip filler?

The recommended dose is 1cc. If your lips are extremely thin, planning for 2cc will give a more noticeable effect.

Q3: Does lip filler hurt?

The lips are a sensitive area, and I admit lip augmentation is one of the more painful areas to inject, but with proper anesthesia the pain can still be kept to a minimum.

Q4: Will my lips be very swollen after lip filler?

Swelling is one of the common short-term reactions. In the first week after the injection, don't worry too much if you are not happy with the shape. Wait patiently for a week until the swelling subsides, and only then will you see the final shape.

Q5: What if lip filler doesn't turn out well?

No need to worry too much. If you don't like the lip shape after the injection, hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve it, and the lips will return to their original state.

Q6: How long does lip filler last?

Because we eat and drink hot soup every day, lip filler does not last as long as in other areas, about 6 to 12 months. Long-lasting brands such as Juvederm and Restylane can last close to a year, while Korean brands are usually metabolized in 6 to 9 months.

Conclusion: Understand the lip style you want first, then decide which brand to use

When consulting about lip filler, first ask yourself how much you want the lip shape to change, which detail you most want to improve, and what result you absolutely cannot accept.

You can ask directly using the checklist below:

• Do I only want a light, natural adjustment, or a noticeable change in lip shape?
• What I care about most is visible lip lines and dry, flat lips
• I want to improve the smile curve at the corners of my mouth
• I simply want to add lip thickness
• Do I want a noticeable lip tubercle?

If you are still not sure which lip style suits you, I suggest first reading: Hyaluronic acid lip augmentation to create a charming you: which of the 4 lip shapes suits me. Settle on the lip direction and the style you want to present first, then come back to choose a brand, and it will be more precise.

Consult now about your lip augmentation direction!

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References

• Reymond R, Köhler C. The Lips—45 Injection Techniques for Esthetic Lip Treatment. 1st ed. KVM—Der Medizinverlag; 2021. Chapter 9.4, Techniques 15–28.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers).