Priorities
Thin or uneven lips
An upper lip that disappears when you smile, lips that look thin at rest, or noticeable asymmetry.
Lip concerns usually fall into one of two categories: an upper lip that seems to disappear when you smile, or lips that look thin or uneven at rest, sometimes with one side sitting a millimeter higher than the other. These are different concerns with different treatments, and the first usually costs a fraction of the second.
Many people who book “lip filler” find that a lip flip is the better first step. A quick assessment in front of a mirror, about 60 seconds, shows which one you need.
What we'd want you to know
The amount of filler depends on your anatomy and goals
If your lip looks fine at rest but curls under when you smile, a lip flip is where we’d start. Four to six units of toxin along the upper lip border let it roll out. There’s no added volume, you’ll see the full effect at two weeks, and it wears off in two to five months. It’s also the most affordable way to find out whether you want filler at all.
If your lips are thin with your face still, or one side is smaller, a flip won’t have anything to work with. In that case, we’d suggest hyaluronic acid filler, placed by our nurse practitioners, with a follow-up check at two weeks.
Lip flip or lip filler: how we decide
We’ll ask you to smile, relax, and say “eee.” An upper lip that vanishes on the smile but shows plenty of pink at rest is a muscle problem, and a lip flip fixes the smile. It’s an off-label use of Botox or another toxin, since none is approved for the lip muscle. A 2025 systematic review of seven studies found the side effects mild and short: trouble whistling or using a straw, resolving within weeks, per Archives of Dermatological Research. If you’re a wind player or singer, it’s best to skip it.
If your lips are thin at rest, we’ll talk about lip filler. On the Lincoln Park menu that’s Restylane Silk, which is FDA-approved for lip augmentation in adults over 21, and RHA 2, which is approved for wrinkles and folds and is off-label in the lip. We’ll explain which one we’d use for you and why. In the Restylane Silk trial, lip swelling lasted a mean of 7.3 days and bruising 8.4 days, per the FDA summary. Lips metabolize filler faster than any other site, so plan on it lasting 6 to 12 months. Individual results vary.
For asymmetry, we treat unevenly on purpose, with filler weighted to the smaller side or a few units of toxin on the side that moves more.
Your questions, answered
How long does a lip flip take?
It takes ten minutes, with no numbing and a few tiny injections above the lip line. You may have pinpoint bumps for about 20 minutes and occasionally a small bruise. The effect takes about a week to begin showing, so you can return to work with no visible change.
How far ahead of a wedding should lip filler be done?
Four to six weeks ahead is ideal. That allows time for about a week of swelling, the two-week check, and any refinement. A lip flip can be done two to three weeks out, since the full effect shows up at day 14. Our lip filler duration guide covers top-up timing after that.
Is half a syringe enough?
The amount of filler used depends on your anatomy and goals. Your provider will recommend the appropriate amount during your appointment. We’ll record the volume used in your treatment plan and review your result at two weeks.
Related treatments
Lip filler and lip flip
Lip filler for volume, or a lip flip for a lip that disappears when you smile
From $800
Dermal fillers
Lips, chin, jawline, and cheeks, with your product named up front
From $750
Botox and neuromodulators
Five products to choose from, priced by your plan, not the unit
From $480 a visitFrom the clinic
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