Fashion

What are “Cherry Lips”? Your guide to Korea’s biggest lip filler trend



When I traveled to South Korea earlier this year, an injectable trend taking over Seoul with the cutest name imaginable came to my attention: “cherry lips.” The Korean word for the fruit is basically the same as it is in English (체리 or cheli), so I was excited whenever I caught it in interviews with dermatologists before my trusty translator/best friend CJ interpreted their answers back to me.

The trend isn’t called cherry lips just for the sake of being adorable and fun — it’s a reference to the shape this filler technique creates. In the past, Angelina Jolie‘s iconic voluminous lips inspired filler trends just like they did in America, according to Kang Jong Bum, the head dermatologist at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. Now, Koreans prefer a cherry-like aesthetic for more natural-looking volume and dimension.

Instead of giving lips an all-over plumping effect, dermatologists focus on filling in only the middle areas. “We call it cherry lips because the lips are not volumised at the [outer corners], but you can see the two areas that are plump on the top and the bottom,” Kang explains. Imagine two pairs of cherries hanging horizontally from the corners of your lips like the diagram below — that’s where cherry lips get its name from.

Once I got back home to New York City, I chatted with Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology about cherry lips for more context. She travels to Seoul frequently throughout the year to learn about the latest advancements in cosmetic dermatology and bring some new treatments and techniques to her patients in New York. “Koreans are highly driven by a desire to stay young,” she explains. “Cherry lips give a fuller, more youthful appearance.”

From my own observations, several K-pop stars are known for their cherry-like lip shape. I have a feeling they helped popularize the look, too. Just search “체리입술” (cherry lips) on Twitter, and you’ll see dozens of examples, including, but not limited to, Monsta X’s Joohoney and Hyungwon, Seventeen’s Hoshi and S. Coups, Chung Ha, and almost every member of BTS.

What kind of filler is used for cherry lips?

When the cherry lip shape is the ultimate goal, Chang has to take the patient’s desired look into consideration before choosing which hyaluronic acid filler to administer.

If her patient wants a more natural look, Chang reaches for a filler with a thinner consistency, like Belotero Balance and Juvéderm Volbella. More noticeable volume can be achieved with Juvéderm and Restylane Silk. However, “I typically use Juvéderm Ultra and Volbella for the lips to create a plumping effect,” she adds.

Can you get cherry lips done in America?

You can definitely achieve the cherry lip aesthetic without buying a ticket to Seoul. “The concept of cherry lips is not limited to Korea, as women and men in New York also come in looking for fuller-bodied lips,” Chang says. She compares the cherry lip trend in Korea to the Cupid’s bow lip filler trend in America, as they have similar effects.

For those unfamiliar, the Cupid’s bow technique accentuates the V area in the center of your lips with microdroplets of filler. From what I gathered, cherry lips adds rounder definition to the Cupid’s bow area and echos the same shape on the lower lip, whereas Cupid’s bow lip filler has a pointier look only on the top lip à la Rihanna. No matter which route you go, Chang estimates the lip filler will cost you about $950 in the United States.

After the procedure, you can expect the same side effects as any other lip filler technique, such as swelling, soreness, and bruising, Chang says. Cherry lips will also last about six months, which is also the standard. However, they can last for as short as three months or as long as a year. “Because we use our lips a lot throughout the day — talking, chewing, smiling — lip filler tends to last shorter than filler in other parts of the face,” Chang explains.

In fact, it just occurred to me that I happened to get lip fillers done in a similar cherry formation last year. I’ve gotten my lips done a handful of times, but this was the first time I was completely satisfied with the results. Knowing a name for the look exists will come in handy next time I get injections. I know exactly what to ask for now, and you do, too.

Devon’s trip to Seoul was made possible by the Korean Tourism Organization. This article was first published on Allure.





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.