Philosophy

Upper lip

Surgery

Face (sociological concept)

Attractiveness

Aesthetics

Anatomy

Ideal (ethics)

Lower lip

Epistemology

Sociology

Orthodontics

Medicine

Beauty

Facial symmetry

Social science

Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica

The lips are an essential component of the symmetry and aesthetics of the face. Cosmetic surgery to modify the lips has recently gained inpopularity, but the results are in some cases disasterous. In this review, we describe the features of the ideal lips for an individual’s face.The features of the ideal lips with respect to facial anatomy, important anatomical landmarks of the face, the facial proportions of the lipsand ethnic and sexual differences are described. The projection and relative sizes of the upper and lower lips are as significant to lip aestheticsas the proportion of the lips to the rest of the facial structure. Robust, pouty lips are considered to be sexually attractive by both malesand females. Horizontal thirds and the golden ratio describe the proportions that contribute to the beauty and attractiveness of the lips. Inyoung Caucasians, the ideal ratio of the vertical height of the upper lip to that of the lower lip is 1:1.6. Blacks, genetically, have a greaterlip volume. The shape and volume of a person’s lips are of great importance in the perception of beauty by humans. The appearance of thelips in part determines the attractiveness of a person’s face. In females, fuller lips in relation to facial width as well as greater vermilionheight are considered to be attractive.

Is it possible to define the ideal lips?