Lip filler treatments have evolved far beyond simply adding volume—often excessively so in the past. Today, the focus is on achieving natural, harmonious results that enhance the entire face. In 2025, the trend continues to shift toward subtle, refined enhancements rather than dramatic plumping. Advanced techniques now prioritize restoring and refreshing the lips’ natural structure rather than dramatically altering them. With a combination of new dermal filler formulations and time-tested favorites, achieving beautifully balanced lips has never been more precise. In this blog, we’ll explore the latest techniques and products designed to deliver the best lip filler results.
Treating the Lips with Dermal Fillers
Achieving soft, natural-looking lips isn’t just about adding volume—it’s about respecting the intricate anatomy of the lips. One of the key structures in lip aesthetics is the lip tubercles—the subtle, natural raised areas that give the lips their characteristic shape. The upper lip has three tubercles, while the lower lip has two, and carefully enhancing these areas with a precise amount of dermal filler can create a beautifully balanced, refreshed appearance.
Beyond adding dermal filler to the lip tubercles, strategic placement of filler in other areas of the lip and areas surrounding the lip plays a crucial role in shaping the lips. Instead of injecting directly into the vermilion border, placing small amounts just beneath it helps increase vertical height, creating a fuller look without excessive outward projection. This technique avoids the unnatural “shelf” effect above the lip and prevents an overly sharp lip border, maintaining a soft, youthful contour.
Another important consideration in lip rejuvenation is the oral commissures, where the corners of the mouth meet. Over time, these areas can begin to sag due to the natural aging process and the activity of lower face depressor muscles. By carefully adding support with filler, we can lift and lift the corners of the mouth, reducing the appearance of a downturned expression and restoring a more refreshed, approachable look.
By combining anatomical precision with an artistic approach, lip fillers can enhance natural beauty while maintaining harmony and proportion—creating results that look effortlessly beautiful, never overdone.
RHA3 vs Juvederm Ultra for Lip Filler
At Aluma Aesthetic Medicine, we take a thoughtful, science-driven approach to lip enhancement, selecting fillers based on their rheology—the way they move and behave within the skin. Two of our top choices for achieving soft, natural-looking lips are RHA 3 by Revance and Juvederm Ultra by Allergan, both of which provide beautiful flexibility and integration for a smooth, hydrated appearance.
But selecting the right filler is just one part of the equation. We are constantly refining our techniques to ensure the best possible results, and one innovation that has become an essential part of our approach is a method known as blending. This involves sterile mixing of a very small amount of bacteriostatic saline with the lip filler before injection. By hydrating the filler in this way, we enhance its flexibility and integration with the surrounding tissue, leading to a softer, more natural feel, less swelling, and a beautifully smooth, volumized result.
RHA 3 by Revance Aesthetics
FDA-approved for treating moderate to severe dynamic wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, and for lip augmentation, RHA 3 is also used off-label for refining midface contours, addressing early volume loss, and enhancing perioral support.
RHA® 3 is a next-generation Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) dermal filler, developed by Revance Aesthetics in collaboration with TEOXANE, a Swiss leader in innovative filler technology. Unlike traditional fillers, RHA is designed to move naturally with facial expressions, adapting seamlessly to the skin for a more natural look. Its gel structure closely mimics the body’s own hyaluronic acid, making it less rigid and more dynamic than many other fillers.
What makes RHA 3 stand out? It offers the perfect balance of elasticity and stretch, adding hydrated volume while maintaining a natural feel. Compared to Juvederm Ultra, RHA 3 is slightly less stretchy but has a higher dynamic strength score, meaning it holds its shape beautifully under different levels of movement and pressure. Plus, it contains lidocaine for a more comfortable injection experience.
Originally FDA-approved for smoothing moderate to severe dynamic wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, RHA 3 was just recently FDA approved for lip augmentation. Many aesthetic experts, including those at Aluma Aesthetic Medicine, use it off-label to refine midface contours—often after a firmer dermal filler has been placed at the periosteum level—as well as to enhance perioral support for a refreshed yet natural look.
For patients who want soft, expressive, and naturally volumized lips, RHA 3 is one of the best options available—helping you look like yourself, just with a little extra hydration and volume.
Juvederm Ultra
Juvederm Ultra, developed by Allergan Aesthetics (an AbbVie company), is a smooth, hyaluronic acid dermal filler known for its ability to provide soft, natural-looking volume while attracting moisture for added hydration. Compared to RHA 3, Juvederm Ultra has slightly higher cohesivity, meaning it offers more structure and definition while still maintaining a natural contour.
One of Juvederm Ultra’s standout features is its high water affinity, allowing it to absorb moisture and create a plumping effect. This makes it an excellent choice for those seeking fuller lips. Its hyaluronic acid concentration is similar to RHA 3—25 mg/ml versus 23 mg/ml—and it contains lidocaine to enhance comfort during the injection process.
FDA-approved for smoothing moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, Juvederm Ultra is also FDA approved for lip augmentation. Whether enhancing volume, restoring lost hydration, or refining lip shape, Juvederm Ultra remains a trusted option for achieving beautifully plump, yet natural-looking lips.
Needle vs Cannula For Lip Enhancements
When it comes to lip filler, the choice between a needle and a cannula is a common one—each offering distinct advantages. Skilled injectors tailor their approach based on the patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals.
A needle offers precise control, making it the preferred choice for defining the Cupid’s bow, lip borders, and tubercles—the natural points of fullness in the lips. This precision allows for beautifully sculpted, balanced lips. However, because needles have a sharp tip, they may cause more bruising compared to a cannula.
A cannula, on the other hand, is a long, flexible tool with a rounded tip, requiring only a single entry point per side. This minimizes trauma, reduces bruising, and allows for broader filler placement with fewer injection points. While cannulas can be an excellent choice for certain areas, they don’t offer the same level of refinement when sculpting lip shape.
At Aluma Aesthetic Medicine, we prefer the needle technique for lip fillers because it allows us to precisely enhance the lip tubercles and create a natural, balanced contour. In our opinion, every detail matters when shaping the lips.
What To Expect During a Lip Filler Treatment
A lip filler treatment is a quick, minimally invasive way to enhance the shape, volume, and symmetry of your lips. The appointment starts with a consultation, where your provider will discuss your goals and create a plan for natural-looking results.
To keep you comfortable, a numbing cream is applied before the injections. Plus, all our lip fillers contain lidocaine to further minimize discomfort. Using a fine needle, your provider carefully injects hyaluronic acid filler into specific areas to add balanced volume and definition. The entire process takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and you’ll see immediate results—though they’ll continue to improve as any swelling subsides over the next few days.
Some mild bruising or swelling is normal, but most clients can go back to their regular activities right after treatment. With the right approach, lip filler can create beautiful, natural results that enhance your features while keeping your lips soft and expressive.
Achieve Naturally Beautiful, Balanced Lips
At Aluma Aesthetic Medicine, we take a thoughtful, tailored approach to lip enhancement, focusing on the lip tubercles and selecting the ideal filler for each individual. Our goal is always harmony and balance—creating lips that not only enhance your natural beauty but also complement your facial features and move seamlessly with expression.
Whether you’re looking to restore lost volume or refine your lips’ natural shape, our techniques prioritize subtle, sophisticated results that never look overdone. Book a consultation today to discover how we can help you achieve beautifully balanced, natural-looking lips.
