Lip TreatmentLip color and lighting differ between the photos.
Dermal fillers
Lip Filler in Buckhead and Cumming
Lip filler is a hyaluronic acid gel injected into the lips to add fullness or soften fine lines around the mouth. The FDA has approved several fillers for lip augmentation in adults over 21. In the Juvederm Volbella XC trial, about 9 in 10 people reported swelling, and 61.8% were still rated improved at one year. A lip flip is a different, off-label botulinum toxin technique.
- 608 Google reviews, rated 4.9 and 5.0
- Board-certified physician who treats every patient herself
Treated by Dr. PaymanBuckhead and Cumming
What it treats
What does lip filler do, and which fillers are approved for lips?
Lip filler adds volume to the lips and, with some products, softens the small lines around the mouth. The FDA lists lip augmentation among approved filler uses for adults over 21, and several hyaluronic acid products carry their own lip approvals, including Juvederm Volbella XC in 2016 and Restylane Kysse in 2020.
The FDA summaries for Volbella XC and Restylane Kysse list the approved uses: Volbella XC is also approved for lines around the mouth, and Kysse for the upper lines around the mouth. The office offers hyaluronic acid lip filler from the Juvederm, Restylane and Revanesse Versa families, and your injector chooses the product for your lips at the consultation. For other areas, see our dermal fillers hub, cheek filler and smile lines filler.
Results
How long does lip filler last?
Lip filler fades gradually, so keeping the look means repeat treatment. The FDA says hyaluronic acid effects last approximately 6 to 12 months. In the Juvederm Volbella XC trial, 61.8% of treated people were still rated improved on a lip fullness scale at one year, and results vary by product, area and person.
The evidence in detail
The FDA's list of filler materials gives the 6 to 12 month range. In the Volbella XC trial, 80.3% of treated people improved by at least one point on a lip fullness scale at 3 months, 71.1% at 6 months and 61.8% at 1 year. In the Restylane Kysse trial, 88% were responders 8 weeks after the last injection and 60% at week 48. A responder gained at least one point on a rating scale, so these figures do not say how much fuller anyone looked.
Before
AfterBaby Lips (Conservative Lip Treatment)Lip treatmentLip gloss in the after photo. Framing differs slightly between photos.
Before
AfterBaby Lips (Conservative Lip Treatment)Lip treatmentLip gloss in the after photo. Framing differs slightly between photos.
Before
AfterBaby Lips (Conservative Lip Treatment)Lip treatmentRed lipstick in the after photo. Framing differs slightly between photos.
Before
AfterBaby Lips (Conservative Lip Treatment)Lip treatmentRed lipstick in the after photo. Framing differs slightly between photos.
Before
AfterBaby Lips (Conservative Lip Treatment)Lip treatmentRed lipstick in the after photo. Framing differs slightly between photos.
Lip TreatmentClothing and lighting differ between the photos.
Lip TreatmentHead angle, clothing and lighting differ between the photos.
Drag the slider across each photo.Tap any photo to see it larger. These are Dr. Payman's own patients, shown with their written consent. These photos show individual results, not typical or guaranteed ones. Your result depends on your anatomy, the product, how much is used and how many visits you have. The number of visits and the time since treatment are not shown for most sets. See the full gallery.
Is it right for you?
Who is lip filler for, and who should wait?
Lip filler suits adults 22 and older who want more lip volume or smoother lines around the mouth and accept that results fade. Wait, or ask first, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active cold sore, rash or infection near the mouth, or have a history of anaphylaxis, multiple severe allergies or allergy to lidocaine.
Tell your injector if you take blood thinners or aspirin, which the label links to more bruising, or medicines that suppress the immune system, which call for caution. Safety in people prone to keloids, hypertrophic scarring or pigment disorders has not been studied. If a laser treatment or peel is planned near the lips, say so, because the label warns of a possible inflammatory reaction at the filler site.
608
Google reviews across both officesWho treats you
Arshia Payman, MD
Board-certified physician with 13+ years in aesthetic medicine. Dr. Payman is the only provider at Derm Clinic MD, and she personally treats every patient. Every plan starts with a consultation, so it is made around your face and your goals.
- Medical schoolGeorge Washington University, Washington, D.C., where she also earned her undergraduate degree summa cum laude and was accepted to the early selection medical program in her sophomore year
- Hospital trainingFour hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area, including the National Institutes of Health and George Washington University Hospital
- ResidencyCompleted in 2008 at George Washington University
- Academic medicineOutpatient internal medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, as an instructor in clinical medicine who taught medical students
Georgia medical license 61513 (NPI registry).
Read Dr. Payman's full bioYour visit
What happens at a lip filler visit?
Every treatment starts with an in-person consultation where Dr. Payman reviews your goals, medical history, allergies and medicines and tells you whether lip filler fits. If you go ahead, you give consent, photos are taken, the filler is placed, and you leave with written aftercare instructions.
- ConsultationGoals, medical history, allergies, cold-sore history and medicines are reviewed.
- ConsentYou go over the product planned, the risks and the cost before agreeing.
- Photos and planPhotos are taken and the plan for your lips is set.
- TreatmentThe lips are prepared and the filler is placed. The Volbella XC gel contains 0.3% lidocaine, and your injector will explain any other numbing.
- AftercareFor the first 24 hours the Volbella XC label advises avoiding strenuous exercise, extensive sun or heat, and alcohol. A touch-up visit may be planned; both FDA lip trials offered one about a month after the first treatment. Your written instructions come first.
Cost
How much does lip filler cost in Atlanta?
Dr. Payman's office quotes your cost at the consultation, after the plan for your lips is made. For scale, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a 2023 national average physician fee of $698 for lip augmentation with injectable materials, down from $743 in 2022, and fees vary by region and provider. Health insurance does not cover dermal fillers.
That average, from the ASPS 2023 fee table, is one figure for the whole category and does not say how much filler it covers, so it does not tell you what a syringe costs. Gold membership is $99 a month, saved toward Botox, Jeuveau or dermal fillers; see membership and pricing. When you are ready to plan, book a consultation at the Buckhead or Cumming office.
Gold membership
$99 a month, saved toward Botox, Jeuveau or dermal fillers
- Jeuveau at $10 per unit, Botox at $11 per unit
- A vitamin B12 injection each month
- A chemical peel in your birthday month
- 10% off other services and skincare
Six-month minimum, then month to month. A $99 fee applies if you cancel before six months.
Compare
What is a lip flip, and how is it different from lip filler?
A lip flip is not a filler. It uses small botulinum toxin injections along the upper lip border to relax part of the muscle around the mouth, so the upper lip rolls slightly outward. In a 2026 study of 17 women it raised upper lip height modestly and did not change lip volume. It is an off-label use, because lips are not among the current Botox Cosmetic label's listed treatment areas.
That 2026 study measured upper lip height 15 days after treatment. Side effects were mild and temporary, including numbness and functional limitation, resolving within 30 days. The study was small and rated level IV evidence by the journal. The Botox Cosmetic label lists glabellar (frown) lines, lateral canthal (crow's feet) lines, forehead lines and platysma (neck) bands. This section describes the technique from published reports for comparison only. It is not a statement about what the office offers, so ask at your consultation which options are available for your lips.
Safety
What are the side effects and risks of lip filler?
Swelling, tenderness, firmness, bruising and lumps are expected, and they are not rare: in the Juvederm Volbella XC trial roughly 9 in 10 people reported each of them. Serious problems are uncommon but real, including a blocked blood vessel, which the FDA says can cause tissue death, vision problems or stroke, and the harm may be permanent.
Full safety details
The Volbella XC label defines a severe response as incapacitating, with inability to work or do usual activity. In its trial, 40.0% of those who logged a response rated their worst one that way during the first 30 days; another 45.3% rated it moderate, meaning it interfered with usual activity. For 59.3% of people every response had cleared within 14 days, while 40.7% had at least one that lasted 15 to 30 days, most often lumps or bumps. About 3.0% had a lump that lasted more than 180 days. No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported in that 224-person trial.
The Volbella XC label lists vision abnormalities reported after injection into the glabella, lip, cheek or periorbital area, and says filler implantation carries a risk of infection, as all procedures through the skin do. The Restylane Kysse summary lists herpes reactivation and ischemia or necrosis among reported events. Some lumps and swelling began weeks to months after treatment. Seek immediate medical attention for unusual pain, vision changes, skin near the injection that turns white, gray or blue, or signs of a stroke. Hyaluronidase can dissolve hyaluronic acid filler if a problem needs it.
Patient reviews
In patients’ words
“She is very kind and pays attention to my requests for minimal treatment”
“I only trust this clinic with my Botox and fillers.”
“Once I met with Dr Arshia Paymen I never felt rushed, she took the time to listen to all my concerns and explained it all in a way that was easy to understand.”
Excerpts are quoted word for word from public Google reviews of Derm Clinic MD. Individual results vary.
Questions
Questions patients ask about lip filler
Short answers here. Your own plan, product and cost are set with Dr. Payman at your consultation.
Ask at a consultationIs $400 a good price for lip filler?
A price alone does not tell you what you are getting. Ask which FDA-approved product will be used, how much of it, who injects it and whether a touch-up visit is included. For scale, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists 2023 national average physician fees of $698 for lip augmentation and $715 for hyaluronic acid fillers, varying by region and provider. The FDA advises choosing a licensed, trained provider, asking about their training and experience injecting filler, and not buying filler online. The office quotes your cost at the consultation.
How much filler do lips need?
There is no single right amount. It depends on your lips, your goals and the product, and Dr. Payman decides it with you at the consultation. In the FDA trials of lip fillers, people often came back for a touch-up visit, and the total amounts varied widely from person to person. Ask the office to explain what your plan involves and what it costs before you agree to treat.
Does lip filler hurt?
Pain and tenderness are common. In the Juvederm Volbella XC trial, 80.5% of people logged some pain in the 30 days after treatment, and 58.9% of them rated it mild while 10.5% rated it severe. The FDA notes that some fillers contain lidocaine to decrease discomfort. Ask your injector what numbing is planned.
Can lip filler be dissolved?
Hyaluronic acid lip filler can be broken down with hyaluronidase, an enzyme. A 2024 review describes its use for lumps, a bluish tint called the Tyndall effect and allergic reactions, and urgently for blocked blood vessels. The office offers dissolving filler as its own treatment.
When can I kiss or get back to normal activity after lip filler?
The Volbella XC label gives no waiting time for kissing or other contact. It does say mild to moderate responses typically resolve within 14 days, and it advises avoiding strenuous exercise, extensive sun or heat, and alcohol for the first 24 hours. Ask your injector what to expect for your plan and follow your written aftercare instructions.
Can I get lip filler if I get cold sores?
Tell your injector before treatment. Reactivation of herpes is among the events reported for Restylane Kysse, and oral herpes was reported in the Juvederm Volbella XC lip trial. Whether anything should be done beforehand is a medical decision for your consultation, not something to start or stop on your own.
Two offices
Two offices. One physician.
Atlanta (Buckhead)
3833 Roswell Rd NE, Tuxedo Atrium, Suite 108Atlanta, GA 30342
Floor 1 of the Tuxedo Atrium
Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Cumming
425 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 345Cumming, GA 30041
In The Shoppes at Brannon Crossing
Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Related treatments and guides
Your first step
Ready to talk about lip filler?
Book a consultation in Buckhead or Cumming and leave with a plan that fits your face, your goals and your budget.
Sources (11)
- Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, content current as of 07/06/2023. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/dermal-fillers-soft-tissue-fillers
- Juvederm Volbella XC Directions for Use. AbbVie, FDA-approved labeling, 05/2023. https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/juvederm-volbella_dfu.pdf
- Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data, Juvederm Volbella XC for lips (P110033/S018). FDA PMA database, approved 05/31/2016. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf11/P110033S018b.pdf
- Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data, Restylane Kysse (P140029/S021). FDA PMA database, approved 03/26/2020. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf14/P140029S021B.pdf
- 2023 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees (archived copy). American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240628010133/https://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/News/Statistics/2023/cosmetic-procedures-average-cost-2023.pdf
- Dermal Fillers Cost. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers/cost
- Lip Flip Revisited: Clinical Outcomes and Neuromodulatory Basis of Upper Lip Eversion. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41915065/
- Botulinum Toxin Type-A for Lip Augmentation: "Lip Flip". Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33170825/
- BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) prescribing information. National Library of Medicine DailyMed, FDA label revised 10/2024. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=485d9b71-6881-42c5-a620-a4360c7192ab
- FDA-Approved Dermal Fillers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, content current as of 11/09/2020. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/fda-approved-dermal-fillers
- Hyaluronidase for Dermal Filler Complications: Review of Applications and Dosage Recommendations. JMIR Dermatology, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38231537/
This page is general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an in-person consultation. Whether a treatment suits you, and what result is realistic, depends on your health history and an examination. Results vary from person to person.
Derm Clinic MD · Last updated October 2026.