Tutorial: Transforming challenging lips, blending lateral lip dominance

As an aesthetic clinician, you may be faced with tackling the challenge of treating a complex lip case, especially where there has been previous treatment by another practitioner, and you need to refine the patient’s lip filler treatment by blending the previous work.

In this blog, Dr Tim Pearce discusses a tutorial where his goal was to create a harmonious and balanced appearance to a patient’s lips, focusing on the middle third of the lip to ensure it dominated the lateral parts, which can sometimes contribute to a sad or negative expression. Watch Dr Tim’s full tutorial video demonstrating transforming challenging lips.

If you are interested in learning more about facial anatomy to become a great injector and find your route to safer delivery and millimetre precision, get signed up for the Ultimate 3D Anatomy Experience from Dr Tim Pearce.

Medical professionals are taught anatomy in 2D textbooks, but in real life, anatomy is not flat. This educational opportunity is specifically for aesthetic injectors to help you level up your anatomy knowledge, get comfortable with anatomical variations, and boost your injection safety and confidence in a way that no cadaver course could ever deliver.

Get on the waiting list for updates when the Ultimate 3D Anatomy Experience goes live this summer

Correcting lateral lip dominance

In this case study, the patient’s lip presentation was tricky. She had been previously treated, by another aesthetic practitioner, and Dr Tim sought to blend in this previous treatment to improve the overall appearance. He noted that the patient has rather dominant lateral lips and suspected that the other practitioner had used a stock treatment pattern or technique, used on all patients, without considering that this patient did not need any treatment to the lateral lip, or potentially the filler had migrated. In either case, he concluded that treatment has added to a sense of sadness or negativity to her lateral oral aspect.

His approach to treatment was to try blend it in, taking dominance away from the lateral lip. In the demonstration video, you will see him treat underneath the lip, in the white of the lip, which is very unusual, but he was able to make a difference by supporting the lower lip and addressing the shadows to hide the lateral lip dominance. Dr Tim then focuses most of his efforts on treating the middle third of the lip, so it dominates the lateral lip. He likens this to the approach used for how chins dominate jowls.

He admits it was not a straightforward case but believes he made a good Improvement for the patient and wanted to share this learning experience – watch the video below. Check out additional learning opportunities including the world’s first online lip training with interactive 3D anatomy and injection animation with the 8D Lip Design course from Dr Tim Pearce.

If you have any tips to share, case studies to discuss, or questions on lip treatments, you can also find Dr Tim Pearce on Instagram.

Anatomy360 - The Ultimate 3D Anatomy Course

Understanding facial anatomy is crucial for precise filler placement and achieving natural, balanced results. Knowledge of anatomical structures and vascular supply not only helps in avoiding complications but also enhances the overall effectiveness of treatments.

Dr Tim Pearce's anatomy course delivers a thorough understanding of facial anatomy through 12 online lessons. Tim says:

“The problem is we’re taught anatomy in 2D textbooks, but real-life anatomy isn’t flat. In order to feel confident with injecting and to get that millimetre by millimetre precision that increases safety, we need more detail. That’s why I’ve created the ultimate Anatomy learning experience specifically for aesthetic injectors. It’s going to help you up-level your anatomy knowledge and boost your injection safety & confidence in a way that no cadaver course could ever.”

Anatomy360 Course

Aesthetics Mastery Show

Transforming Challenging Lips: How to Blend Previous Treatments for Natural Results

Dr Tim says:

“In this video, we tackle the challenge of refining a patient’s lip filler treatment by blending previous work from another practitioner. Our goal is to create a harmonious and balanced appearance, focusing on the middle third of the lip to dominate the lateral parts, which can sometimes contribute to a sad or negative expression. Understanding lip anatomy is crucial for precise filler placement and achieving natural, balanced results. Knowledge of lip structures and vascular supply not only helps in avoiding complications but also enhances the overall effectiveness of treatments.”

Watch the full Aesthetics Mastery Show here.

The episode has engaged followers in debate with a number of comments already, including:

@plantswithdalpenge, who asked:

“I see you’re aspirating, do you usually do that for lips? Or is it just this case?”

@DrTimPearce replied:

“Best to do it by default or you never learn, so I usually do it alongside many other steps to increase safety.”

Others were keen to pass on their compliments, including:

@connysieben:

“fantstic, the slow hand, and the peaceful atmosphere. Thank you !”

@marita9408:

“LOVE THIS!!! Please make more videos like this Absolute best YouTube film I’ve seen”

@amphorntiengtare4072:

“This was super handy for me as a new injector, please do more videos on techniques for tricky scenarios.”

See feedback and comments from practitioners and clients on our YouTube channel – feel free to join the debate!

You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for really useful regular tips and advice.  

Dermal Filler & Lips eLearning Courses

If you want to increase your knowledge about safe and effective lip filler injectable treatments, Dr Tim Pearce offers a series of fabulous courses, from foundation and upwards:

• Dermal Fillers Foundation Course
• Dermal Filler Complications Mastery
• Elective Lip Reversal
• 8D Lip Design

In addition, browse our FREE downloadable resources.

Dr Tim Pearce eLearning

Dr Tim Pearce MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP founded his eLearning concept in 2016 in order to provide readily accessible BOTOX® and dermal filler online courses for fellow Medical Aesthetics practitioners. His objective was to raise standards within the industry – a principle which remains just as relevant today.

Our exclusive video-led courses are designed to build confidence, knowledge and technique at every stage, working from foundation level to advanced treatments and management of complications.

Thousands of delegates have benefited from the courses and we’re highly rated on Trustpilot. For more information or to discuss which course is right for you, please get in touch with our friendly team.