Lip treatments are meant to create fullness in the lips and soften lip lines for a smooth, beautiful appearance. At Cool Springs Plastic Surgery, we know that the best results are the ones that those around you can’t even notice — an enhancement to your natural shape, rather than a complete alteration of your look.
What has changed is how many options now exist to get there. Between non-surgical treatments like lip filler and lip flips, and surgical options like a lip lift, the right answer depends on what’s actually bothering you — and what kind of result you’re after.
Here’s a clear breakdown of each option available at CSPS.
Understanding What Your Lips Actually Need
Before choosing a treatment, it helps to understand what’s driving your concern.
- Volume loss? Lips naturally lose fullness and definition with age. Filler addresses this directly.
- Upper lip that disappears when you smile? A lip flip with neurotoxin can create the appearance of more lip without adding volume.
- Long philtrum — the space between your nose and upper lip? A lip lift is often the most effective long-term solution.
- A combination of concerns? Many patients benefit from pairing treatments.
Our nurse injectors and surgeons take time during consultations to understand what you’re seeing in the mirror and work backward from the result you want — not just the treatment you walked in asking for.
Non-Surgical Options
Lip Filler
Lip filler remains one of the most requested treatments across all four of our Aesthetics Centers. Using hyaluronic acid-based fillers — including Juvéderm® and Restylane® — our nurse injectors add volume, hydration, and definition to the lips with precision.
Technique has evolved significantly in recent years. The goal today is rarely “more lip” — it’s better structure. That might mean adding subtle volume to the body of the lip, defining the vermillion border, or softening vertical lip lines. A well-placed treatment should enhance what you already have, not replace it.
What to Expect
- Downtime: 3–7 days of possible bruising and swelling
- Longevity: 6–12 months depending on the product and area treated
- Available at: Brentwood, Franklin, Mt. Juliet, and Nashville
Lip Flip
A lip flip uses a small amount of neurotoxin — Botox®, Dysport®, or DAXXIFY® — injected just above the upper lip to gently relax the muscle and create a subtle outward “flip.” The result is the appearance of more lip without adding any volume.
Lip flips are particularly effective for patients whose upper lip disappears when they smile, or who want a light preview of what filler might look like before committing. They’re also commonly used to reduce the appearance of a gummy smile.
One important distinction: a lip flip does not add volume. If volume loss is your primary concern, filler is the right conversation — and the two are frequently combined in a single appointment.
What to Expect
- Downtime: No downtime; results develop over 7–14 days
- Longevity: 6–8 weeks (shorter due to the natural hyperactivity of lip muscles)
- Available at: Brentwood, Franklin, Mt. Juliet, and Nashville
Surgical Option
Lip Lift
A lip lift is a surgical procedure performed by Dr. John Moore and Dr. Konrad Sarosiek at our Brentwood surgery center. By removing a small amount of skin between the nose and the upper lip border, the procedure shortens the philtrum — lifting the lip upward and outward to restore a more youthful position and reveal more of the upper teeth.
As we age, the distance between the nose and the lip naturally increases, and the lip turns inward, appearing thinner and flatter over time. No amount of filler corrects this structural shift — which is exactly where a lip lift delivers what non-surgical options cannot.
For the right patient, a lip lift is one of the most impactful facial rejuvenation procedures available, with results that last for years.
What to Expect
- Downtime: 4–6 weeks; suture line can typically be concealed with makeup during healing
- Longevity: Long-lasting; some gradual change continues with natural aging
- Available at: Brentwood surgical center — request a surgical consult to discuss candidacy
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need lip filler or a lip flip?
If your concern is volume — lips that feel thin or have lost fullness over time — lip filler is the appropriate treatment. If your lips look flat or disappear when you smile but you still have decent volume, a lip flip may be enough. Our nurse injectors will assess both concerns during your consultation and make a recommendation based on your anatomy.
Can I combine a lip flip and lip filler?
Yes, and it’s a common pairing. A small amount of neurotoxin to flip the upper lip, combined with precise filler placement, can create a balanced, natural-looking result — often in a single appointment.
Is lip filler painful?
Most patients describe mild pressure rather than pain. Topical numbing is applied before treatment to minimize discomfort during injection.
Who performs lip treatments at CSPS?
Non-surgical lip treatments — filler and lip flips — are performed by our nurse injectors and nurse practitioners, working under the direct clinical oversight of our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Moore and Dr. Sarosiek. Surgical lip lifts are performed exclusively by our surgeons at our Brentwood surgery center.
Is a lip lift a better long-term option than ongoing filler?
For patients with a structurally long philtrum, or those who want to move away from maintenance treatments, a lip lift can be a more effective long-term investment. It corrects the foundational anatomy that filler cannot. A surgical consultation will help determine whether you’re a good candidate.
Do lip treatments work well with other facial procedures?
Frequently. Lip filler and lip flips pair well with cheek filler, Botox for forehead and crow’s feet, and laser treatments like Halo® and BBL® to improve overall skin quality. Our injectors take a whole-face approach to ensure treatments complement each other.
Schedule a Lip Consultation at CSPS
Whether you’re curious about non-surgical lip filler and lip flips, or want to explore a surgical lip lift, our team can help you identify the right treatment for your anatomy and your goals.
Non-surgical appointments — including lip filler and lip flips — can be booked online. Lip lift consultations are available by request at our Brentwood location.
Our Aesthetics Centers are available at our Brentwood, Franklin, Mt. Juliet, and Nashville locations.
