A minimalistic line drawing of a human face with open eyes and a detailed nose with nostrils, and a slightly smiling mouth with visible teeth, set against a black background.

barcode lips

What does it do?

Barcode lip lines, also known as vertical lip lines, can develop above your lips due to a combination of aging, collagen loss, and repetitive muscle use from daily activities. Despite the common misconception, these lines are often found in non-smokers.

At NÜ Clinic, we often advocate for a combination of treatments to achieve the best results for this area. A very fine filler and anti-wrinkle injections are often employed to relax the muscles around the lips and improve the appearance of barcode lines.

  • For milder cases of barcode lines, Botox® alone may be sufficient to achieve improvement. However, if you have experienced a loss of lip volume, we strongly recommend addressing this with lip fillers first. This approach enhances structural support, texture, and hydration within the lips.

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who is it for?

This treatment is generally suitable for most individuals who have concerns with their barcode lip lines. However, it is essential to appreciate that complete erasure of the lines may not be possible. Additionally, if you naturally have a full or prominent upper lip area (philtrum), filler in this region may not be the best option for you. To determine the most appropriate course of action, we recommend scheduling a consultation.

If your skin has good tightness and your lips already have sufficient volume, we would recommend starting with wrinkle relaxing injections to see the improvement they can offer. These injections typically take around 2 weeks to show the full effect of treatment.

However, if you have experienced a loss of volume within or above the lips, or an increase in skin laxity, a fine filler may be recommended. In many cases, the best outcome is achieved through a combination of wrinkle relaxing injections and fillers.

While it is unlikely that we can completely erase the lines, we can significantly soften them and slow down the aging process by providing structural support and relaxing the muscles. It's important to note that there are limits to how much filler can be used for each patient.

TREATMENT + recovery

Appointment duration is 30 minutes, with the actual treatment time lasting approximately 5 minutes with very minimal downtime. The longevity of results vary; dependent on whether the area has been treated with Filler, Botox or a combination. 

frequently asked questions

  • As with any medical treatment, there are potential side effects and risks to consider. Mild bruising and swelling are common after the treatment.

    When receiving filler injections, it is normal to experience subtle bumps or irregularities in the treated area initially. Most of this is due to swelling and will gradually resolve as the filler settles and integrates with the surrounding tissues.

    If you have a history of cold sores, it is essential to inform the medical professional in advance. The use of needles in the face can potentially trigger a breakout of cold sores, so precautionary measures may be taken to minimise the risk of this happening.

    One of the more serious risks associated with filler injections is a vascular occlusion, where the filler inadvertently enters a blood vessel, blocking off the blood supply to the skin. This is a rare but serious complication that can lead to skin damage and, in extreme cases, permanent scarring or blindness. As a responsible medical clinic, we have the necessary equipment and enzymes available to reverse the vascular occlusion if it occurs. It is crucial to recognise this condition promptly, and the clinic is available for communication within the first 48 hours after the treatment to address any concerns.

  • At NÜ Clinic we use topical anaesthetic to ensure our patients are as comfortable as possible but some mild discomfort can be expected.

  • We cannot administer this treatment to individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Or those who are allergic to bee or wasp stings.

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Testimonials

  • “Dr Oonagh is truly the best - I wouldn’t go to anyone else. I trust her to give me her honest opinion on the treatment which would be best for me, and that includes her telling me what isn’t what’s right for me at this moment in time. I know she would never push a treatment; instead, she’ll offer you her highly knowledgeable advice to help you find the best option for you. so lovely, and makes you feel completely at ease.”
    – Phoebe

  • “I am so happy I started my Botox journey with Oonagh; from the first consultation to treatment to aftercare she has been absolutely fantastic. She takes time to explain everything, and made me feel at ease. She is so knowledgeable and friendly. The whole experience was fantastic and I can only highly recommend Oonagh. I am left with a natural finish, feeling great and am looking forward to continuing my journey in Oonagh’s trusted hands.”
    – Carolin

  • “I came to see Dr McSwiney to address the lines in my forehead and above my mouth which I felt made me look older, and tired! She listened to my wishes to not look ‘done’ and gave me the subtle result I desired. I get compliments on how well I look, and when I tell people I’ve had a little help they can’t believe it. Oonagh is fabulous!”
    – Catherine

  • “Thank you Dr Oonagh for looking after me. I'm looking forward to seeing how the muscle relaxing treatment takes. The only facial aesthetic provider that I'd trust my face with.”
    – Raymundo

  • “I am so pleased with my results and my whole experience at Nü Clinic with Dr Oonagh McSwiney. Dr Oonagh McSwiney fully explained the whole procedure to me and made me feel really comfortable throughout my visit. My lips look really natural and I am over the moon with the results, thank you!”
    - Amy

  • “Oonagh is professional and friendly. I completely trust her and the results of the treatments are always what I want. Highly recommend her; she makes you look the best version of yourself. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!”
    - Katherine

  • “Dr Oonagh was so patient throughout the entire process from consultation to aftercare. She is clearly extremely knowledgeable and experienced and provided a lot of reassurance. She took time to understand my concerns and gave me exactly what I wanted in terms of the finished outcomes. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
    – Nina

  • “Dr Oonagh is the best practitioner you will ever find, the only practitioner you will ever need to look like the best ever version of yourself and you will never look or feel anything other than fabulous after your treatment with her - I cannot recommend a visit highly enough! She is amazing!”
    - Judy

  • “From start to finish Dr Oonagh was professional, knowledgable and listened to exactly what I wanted whilst also providing her professional opinion too. To top it off she’s an incredibly lovely and bubbly person, and the appointments have all been so enjoyable. Would highly recommend.”
    – Abby

  • “Dr Oonagh was so welcoming and reassuring at my treatment. Would thoroughly recommend her. Treatment room was clean with a beautiful ambiance and Dr Oonagh is very knowledgeable in what she does.”
    – Florence

  • “Exactly what I wanted for my lips, very subtle but makes a huge difference. Oonagh is the only one I trust to do this, she’s fantastic, highly recommended.”
    – Jackie

  • “I’m a returning client now. I have been so happy with the results of my initial treatment I’d never consider going elsewhere. Dr Oonagh is incredibly patient answering all my questions, and I always feel completely confident knowing I’m in the hands of someone who has such a detailed understanding of facial anatomy.”
    – Nina

  • “Oonagh was brilliant: friendly, knowledgeable and meticulous. Would definitely recommend for honesty and artistry.”
    – Holly

  • “Oonagh was very professional and explained what she felt would be the next treatment for me and my wrinkles! The treatment was painless and no bruising at all.”
    - Rachel

  • “Amazing results with Oonagh. Very professional and I love the fact she encourages a natural look”
    - Georgie

  • “Oonagh makes me instantly at ease and provides a very professional service explaining each stage of the procedure along the way. She constantly checks that I am ok and takes pride in the finishing touches of creams to assist healing. 
Wouldn’t go anywhere else!”
    - Rachel

  • “Oonagh offers a very professional service. She listens to your needs and explains the treatments and option’s thoroughly. Highly recommended.”
    – Vanessa

  • “Dr Oonagh is just brilliant! She listens to what you want to achieve, she guides and advises with expertise, and she’s very nice with it. I would highly recommend her.”
    – Kate

Results

Side-by-side before and after photos of a woman with red hair in a bun, showing improved skin clarity, texture, and reduced pigmentation after skincare treatment at nü clinic.
Side-by-side comparison of a woman with fair skin, red hair tied up, blue eyes, and freckles, showing before and after facial treatment results, with text 'nín clinic ní clinic ní clinic' overlaid.
Side-by-side comparison of a woman before and after cosmetic treatment, showing changes in facial appearance.
Side-by-side comparison of a woman before and after a cosmetic procedure, showing smoother and clearer skin on the right.
Close-up of a woman's lips before and after cosmetic lip augmentation, with the bottom image showing fuller lips. The image includes circular text in Turkish that reads 'nü klinik nü clinic nü.'
Close-up of a woman's face showing her eyebrow transformation, with the top image before and the bottom after the eyebrow grooming and shaping process.
Side-by-side comparison photo of a woman showing improvement in skin condition after skincare treatment. The image on the left shows her with red, uneven skin texture, while the right shows clearer, smoother skin with reduced redness.
Side-by-side before and after photos of a woman's face showing improved skin appearance, with the text 'nu clinic MEDICAL AESTHETICS' overlayed.