Medically reviewed by Dr. Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Last reviewed October 25, 2026.
Here is your guide to one of the loveliest questions we hear in consultation: should my lips be fuller, or should they simply show more? Interest in the lip lift has grown this year, often among people who have had filler for some time without quite reaching the shape they pictured, while others would like the gentlest possible change and have read about a Botox lip flip. For patients from Reston to Great Falls, we offer each of these at The Naderi Center, and each answers a different need.
The short answer: lip filler adds volume and shape to the lips themselves, a Botox lip flip relaxes the muscle along the upper lip so it rolls gently outward, and a lip lift shortens the skin between the nose and the upper lip so more of the red lip shows. If you are weighing lip filler and lip lift in Reston and Chevy Chase, the deciding detail is usually the length of your upper lip, which your physician measures at your consultation.
In this guide
What is the difference between lip filler, a Botox lip flip and a lip lift?
Lip filler is a soft hyaluronic acid gel placed in the body and border of the lips to restore fullness, define the Cupid’s bow and bring the upper and lower lip into balance. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin and is the only filler type FDA approved for the lips, and it can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if a result ever needs adjusting. For lip augmentation we use products from the Juvéderm, Restylane and RHA collections.
A Botox lip flip uses Botox to gently relax the muscle that rims the upper lip. As that muscle softens, the lip rotates subtly outward, so a little more of its pink surface shows at rest and when you smile. Because no volume is added, patients who want the lightest touch are often drawn to it.
A lip lift, also called a subnasal lip lift, is a surgical lip enhancement that removes a small strip of skin at the base of the nose and raises the upper lip. Dr. Naderi performs it under anesthesia at a surgical facility, and the change is permanent.
“When patients come in asking for bigger lips, I first look at how much of the lip actually shows,” says Dr. Shervin Naderi, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. “Some lips are full but tucked beneath a long upper lip, and some are simply thin. Those are two very different situations, and each deserves its own plan.”
How do I know if I need lip filler or a lip lift?
You are likely a lip lift candidate if the skin between your nose and upper lip has lengthened, typically to more than 1.8 cm, so that very little red lip and few upper teeth show when your mouth is relaxed. Some people are born with this length, and for others it develops gradually as the skin above the lip loses elasticity and descends. Lips that have become shapeless or turned inward, or that give the face a stern look at rest, often belong in this group as well.
Filler suits lips that are naturally thin, lips that have lost volume and lips that differ from side to side. With time the lips lose collagen, so they thin, fine vertical lines appear and the corners can begin to turn down. Whether you live in Arlington or Bethesda, these changes are often easier to notice in photographs than in the mirror, and a thoughtfully placed syringe of filler can restore what has faded.
“A long upper lip can’t be shortened with filler,” Dr. Naderi explains. “When product keeps being added to make up for length, the lip becomes overfilled and pushes past its natural border, and that is when lips begin to look done. A lip lift addresses the length, and then only a little filler, if any, is needed for fullness.”
Which lip filler is best: Juvéderm, Restylane or RHA?
The best lip filler is the one your physician matches to your goal, since each gel has its own softness and support. Juvéderm Volbella and Restylane Kysse are lovely for a subtle, refined result and for softening lipstick lines, while Juvéderm Ultra gives a fuller, more pouty shape. RHA 2 is designed for parts of the face that move, so lips look natural at rest and in conversation, and RHA Redensity is made for the fine lines around the mouth. For patients in McLean and beyond who would like lips no one can quite put a finger on, the choice of product is a large part of how we achieve that.
Most lip fillers can last up to 12 months, and RHA 2 up to 15, yet in the lips many patients find they return for a touch-up every 6 to 12 months, since some people metabolize filler more quickly than others. First-time results tend to fade a little sooner. With repeat treatments the body builds its own collagen around the injection sites, so results often last longer and maintenance can take less filler than the first visit did.
“Most of our patients need just one syringe, and we place it in tiny droplets so every part of the lip is shaped by hand,” says Dr. Naderi. “If you would like more fullness, we prefer to add it gradually at a second visit. That patience is what keeps lips soft and believable.”
Is a Botox lip flip right for me?
A Botox lip flip is a good fit if your upper lip seems to disappear when you smile, or if you would like a soft refinement without added volume. It begins working in 3 to 5 days, reaches its full effect at about two weeks and usually lasts 2 to 3 months, since only a very small amount of Botox is used. The same gentle relaxation of the upper lip is also used to soften a gummy smile, where the lip rises high enough to show a good deal of gum.
If a celebration is on your calendar, perhaps a holiday gathering in Washington DC or family photographs in Potomac this winter, we suggest booking your lip flip two to three weeks ahead so the result has fully settled. When the date is closer than that, your physician may suggest Dysport or Daxxify, which are faster acting. Botox can also be paired the same day with a skin treatment such as Sciton BBL, or a HydraFacial at our Reston office; we simply do the skin treatment first and the Botox afterward.
What happens during a lip lift at The Naderi Center?
A lip lift is performed under anesthesia at a surgical facility, so you are comfortable throughout. Dr. Naderi makes an incision where the nose meets the lip, removes a measured strip of skin and soft tissue, and places a few deep stitches to lift the lip before closing the skin in several fine layers. This subnasal technique has largely replaced the older approach of placing the incision along the edge of the red lip, which could leave a more visible scar.
“The base of the nose is a wonderful place to hide a scar, because it follows a shadow the face already has,” says Dr. Naderi. “My goal is a lip that looks as though it has always been that shape, with a scar that is very hard to find once it has matured.”
Most patients return to work within 5 to 7 days, and the fine skin stitches come out around the fifth day. For patients in Vienna and nearby towns who work a full week, we suggest planning the procedure so the first quiet days fall over a weekend. The scar continues to soften for about six months, and any numbness near the incision usually resolves within three months. As with any surgery there are risks, including infection, wound separation and unusual scarring, and Dr. Naderi reviews them with you in detail.
For patients who would like permanent fullness rather than a shorter lip, Dr. Naderi also offers the PermaLip implant, a soft, solid silicone implant placed along the wet-dry border of the lip through small incisions at the corners of the mouth. It can be removed or exchanged for another size if your wishes change. Fat transfer, using your own purified fat, is another longer-lasting option for selected patients.
Can lip filler and a lip lift be combined?
Yes, and for many patients the two work beautifully together. The lift corrects the length of the upper lip, and once healing is complete a small amount of filler can refine volume and the Cupid’s bow. If earlier filler has left the lips overfilled, your physician may suggest correcting that filler first, so the lift is planned around your natural tissue.
“Lips are never planned in isolation,” says Dr. Naderi. “We look at the nose, the chin and the smile together, because a lip that is right for one face can feel out of place on another. The loveliest results are the ones where friends notice you look well and can’t say why.”
Where can I get lip filler or a lip lift near McLean, Bethesda or Washington DC?
You are welcome at either of our two offices, and consultations for every lip treatment are offered at both. Our Reston office is at 1850 Town Center Parkway, Pavillion II, Suite 551, Reston, VA 20190, (703) 481-0002, and welcomes patients from McLean, Vienna and Great Falls. Our Chevy Chase office is at 5454 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1655, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, (301) 222-2020, a short trip for patients in Bethesda, Potomac and Washington DC.
Lip filler in Reston and Chevy Chase is performed by our physicians at both offices, as is the Botox lip flip. If a lip lift is the right choice for you, your consultation can take place at either office, and the surgery itself is scheduled at a surgical facility. Our Chevy Chase office is in the Barlow Building, one block from the Friendship Heights Metro, an easy trip from the District.
Every lip injection at The Naderi Center is performed by a physician, and our physicians have been shaping lips for more than 20 years. Dr. Shervin Naderi is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with nearly 25 years of experience focused on the face, a National Clinical Trainer for Allergan and Medicis who teaches other doctors to inject Juvéderm and Restylane, and one of RealSelf’s Top 25 Most Loved Injectors. Newsweek has named him to its list of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons four years running.
“After nearly 25 years of treating faces, I can usually tell quickly whether a lip needs volume, shape or length,” says Dr. Naderi. “That first judgment matters more than which filler we choose.”
How should I prepare for my lip consultation?
We suggest bringing a few photographs of lips you admire, along with any record of past filler, including the product and the date, so your physician can plan around what is already there. If you are coming from Alexandria or Arlington over a lunch hour, a lip filler visit fits comfortably into that time; please arrive about 30 minutes early so numbing cream can take effect, and wear little or no makeup around the mouth. If you are considering a lip lift, Dr. Naderi will examine your lips and review your medical history at that first visit.
Lip filler and lip lift before and after photos
Real patients of The Naderi Center. Individual results vary.
Explore more lip augmentation results and lip lift results.
Ready to plan your lips?
Whether you are hoping for a little more fullness or a lasting change in shape, we would be delighted to help you plan. You are welcome to book a consultation, and your physician will guide you toward the option that suits your face. “The right lip treatment is the one that still looks like you,” says Dr. Naderi. “Our joy is finding it with you.”
Frequently asked questions
How much does lip filler cost at The Naderi Center?
Lip filler is $900 for a 1 cc syringe, or $700 for a half syringe, and a lip lift is $8,000 to $11,000. At your consultation, your physician will recommend the amount and approach that suit your lips.
Can I have lip filler if I get cold sores?
Yes. If you are prone to cold sores, your physician will prescribe an antiviral medication to begin before your injection, which helps prevent an outbreak.
Will my lips bruise after filler?
Some bruising is common and usually fades within one to two weeks. You can cover it with makeup or concealer the same day, and a slightly deeper lipstick shade conceals it nicely.
When can I wear makeup after a lip lift?
Once your stitches are removed, makeup can be used to cover the incision while it continues to heal.
Do you offer virtual consultations for lip treatments?
Yes. If you live farther away, you can begin with a virtual consultation, and our patient coordinators will help you plan your visit.