Priorities
Thin or uneven lips
An upper lip that disappears when you smile, lips that look thin at rest, or noticeable asymmetry.
Treatments from $800
The short version
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.
Why it happens
Why lips change shape
Lips change for a few reasons, and the reason points to the treatment. It might be the muscle, it might be volume, or one side may simply have been made a little differently.
The muscle rolls the lip in
The ring of muscle around the mouth can pull the upper lip inward when you smile, so a lip that's full at rest seems to vanish.
Volume thins over time
In an MRI study of 200 adults, upper lips in people aged 65 to 80 were longer and thinner than in people in their 20s, with soft tissue up to 41 percent thinner in women.
No two sides are identical
Most faces aren't perfectly symmetrical. One side of the lip can be smaller, sit higher or move less.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, upper lip aging study
Your options
How we'd approach it
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Step 1We'd start with
Lip flip
Priced at your consult
About Lip flipIf 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.
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Step 2If you need a little more
Lip filler
From $800
About Lip fillerIf 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.
Side by side
Lip flip or lip filler
Both are quick visits with our nurse practitioners. A lip flip changes how your lip moves, and filler changes its shape and volume.
We'd start with
Lip flip
Priced at your consult
- Best for
- An upper lip that disappears when you smile
- Appointment
- About 10 minutes
- Downtime
- None
- First results
- About a week, full effect at two weeks
- Sessions
- One visit, lasting about 2 to 5 months
If you need a little more
Lip filler
From $800
- Best for
- Lips that are thin at rest, or uneven
- Appointment
- 30 to 45 minutes with numbing
- Downtime
- Swelling and bruising for about a week
- First results
- Right away, settled by two weeks
- Sessions
- One visit, with a check at two weeks
Prices are starting prices from our menu. Your provider will confirm the plan and total cost at your consult. Individual results vary.
What to expect
The first two weeks, and beyond
Filler shows the same day and settles by two weeks. A lip flip takes about a week to show and wears off in two to five months.
Day 0
Filler: swollen, uneven, and bigger than the final result. Flip: tiny bumps for 20 minutes, then nothing yet.
Days 2 to 4
Filler swelling drops fast, and bruising may show.
Week 1
The flip effect appears, and any filler bruising is yellowing out.
Day 14
We'll check both together and refine filler if needed. Your flip is at full effect.
Months 2 to 5
The flip wears off.
Months 6 to 12
Filler fades. Book a top-up when you notice it fading.
Timeline for lip filler and the lip flip, from our treatment page. Individual results vary.
Our reasoning
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?
It depends on your lips and the look you're after. We like to start with a small amount, see how you feel at your two-week check, and add more only if you'd like it. We'll record the volume used in your treatment plan and review your result at two weeks.
Why is one side of my lip smaller?
Most faces are slightly asymmetrical, so it's common for one side of the lip to be smaller or sit a little higher. If it's volume, we weight the filler toward the smaller side. If one side moves more when you smile, a few units of toxin can even it out.
Do lips lose volume with age?
Yes. Lips thin and the upper lip lengthens slightly over time, which can make it look smaller. Filler can restore some of that volume, kept in proportion with the rest of your face.
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