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Each area of the lips has a different standard for appearing artificial

Each area of the lips carried a different standard for appearing treated or artificial, according to recent findings.

The researchers evaluated the perceptual threshold for lips that appeared unnatural or artificial. They digitally altered five sets of features of the lips of a female model, including the upper lip, the lower lip, the upper and lower lips, and the shape of the Cupid’s bow.

Ninety-eight participants viewed these photos between Dec. 1, 2013, and Jan. 30, 2014 and then responded to surveys about them. The participants included 76 women and 22 men with a mean age of 42 years.

The main outcome measure was dTA₅₀, which the researchers defined as the threshold differential between the perception of treated and artificial lips for half of the observers, according to the researchers.

Results indicated that for each area of the lips, there was a different threshold for appearing treated or artificial. The threshold for artificial appearance associated with enhancement of the upper lip alone was dTA₅₀ = 0.9 mm, compared with a threshold of 1.5 mm for enhancement of both the upper and lower lips. The narrowest margin for artificiality was with alterations to the Cupid’s bow, at dTA₅₀ = 0.3 mm

The researchers added that the upper lip yielded the most significant difference in perception with regard to the age of the observers. – by Rob Volansky

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.