Consultation first
Every patient is assessed in person before anything is booked. If a treatment is not right for you, we will say so — and you are never asked to decide on the day.
Injectable treatments · Gold Coast & Melbourne
Lip Enhancement
Hyaluronic acid used to change the shape, volume and definition of the lips. Your lips are assessed in person before a volume is quoted — shape and proportion decide what a treatment can reasonably do, not a millilitre chosen over the phone.
- Conservative first treatment
- Two-week review included
- Afterpay available
At a glance
- Appointment time
- 20 – 30 minutes
- Results appear
- Final shape at about 2 weeks
- Results typically last
- 6 – 12 months
- Downtime
- Swelling 24 – 72 hours, bruising possible
- Reversible
- Yes — hyaluronic acid can be dissolved
Shape first, volume second
Lip shape, the ratio between your upper and lower lip, the length of the space above the lip and the way your mouth moves all change what a treatment can reasonably achieve. Two people asking for the same thing usually need two different plans, which is why lips are assessed in person before a volume is quoted.
Most first-time patients start at 0.5ml. That is a deliberate starting point rather than a step in an upsell: a conservative first treatment lets us see how your lips actually take the product and settle before anything is added at your two-week review. Lips are also the area that swells most, so the first 48 hours are never the result.
If what you are asking for needs more volume than we think suits your anatomy, you will be told that at the consultation. Some lips are better served by a small amount of product and better definition than by more volume, and some are better served by nothing at all.
Why have it with us
AHPRA-registered nurses
Treatments are carried out by registered nurses, not beauty therapists, with registration numbers published on our team page so you can verify them yourself.
Doctor-led prescribing
Schedule 4 medications are prescribed only after a formal consultation with one of our qualified prescribing doctors, in line with AHPRA and TGA requirements.
Written pricing
You get your full cost in writing at the consultation, including the new-patient scripting fee, with Afterpay available. No estimates that change at the counter.
What it is used for
Lip treatments address volume, shape, proportion and definition — usually some combination rather than volume alone.
Volume
Adding fullness to lips that are naturally thin or that have lost volume with age, in proportion to the rest of the face.
Shape and symmetry
Correcting an uneven lip line or an imbalance between the upper and lower lip. Perfect symmetry is not a realistic goal for anyone's face.
Definition
Sharpening the border and the philtral columns, which reads as a tidier lip without necessarily adding size.
Lip hydration
A softer product placed to improve texture and hydration rather than to add volume — useful for lips that look dry and creased rather than small.
Lip lines
The fine vertical lines above the upper lip, which usually need support at the lip border rather than product placed in the lines themselves.
Dissolving a previous treatment
Assessed as its own treatment with its own consultation, whether to correct migration, reduce volume or start again.
Assessed at your appointment
- Upper lip
- Lower lip
- Lip border
- Philtral columns
- Cupid's bow
- Corners of the mouth
- Lip lines
- Chin projection
What's involved
The same sequence at both clinics, every appointment.
- Consultation and assessment: Your nurse looks at your lip shape, the proportions of your face and what you want changed, then talks through whether treatment is the answer to it. Your medical history is reviewed here. The appointment is free and you can leave without booking anything.
- Your quote, in writing: You are told the volume being recommended, the total cost including the scripting fee, and the risks involved, before you decide.
- Numbing: Topical numbing cream is applied and left to work properly before anything starts. Lips are sensitive, and rushing this part is what makes the appointment uncomfortable.
- The treatment: The product is placed in small amounts with a fine needle or cannula, checking shape as it goes. Twenty to thirty minutes, plus the numbing time.
- Aftercare and the first 72 hours: Expect swelling, and possibly bruising, for 24 to 72 hours — lips swell more than anywhere else. Most people go back to work the same day but plan around anything social. You leave with written aftercare.
- Two-week review: Once swelling has fully gone, we look at the actual shape together and adjust if it needs it. This is part of the treatment, not an extra.
Cosmetic procedures carry risks. These are explained to you in full at your consultation, along with the aftercare involved, before you decide whether to proceed.
All treatments require a consultation with a qualified practitioner. Individual results vary. This page is general information only, not medical advice.
Results, downtime and aftercare
Timings below are typical and vary between individuals. Yours are discussed at your consultation.
Onset
Lips look bigger immediately, and that is swelling rather than result. Most of it resolves within 5 to 7 days, with the final shape visible at around 2 weeks.
How long it lasts
Generally 6 to 12 months before softening gradually. Lips are mobile and metabolise product faster than structural areas of the face.
Downtime
Swelling for 24 to 72 hours. Bruising is common and typically clears in 5 to 10 days. Do not book lip enhancement within two weeks of an event.
Reversibility
Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, typically taking effect within 24 to 48 hours — to correct migration, reduce volume or reverse the treatment.
For the first 24 to 48 hours
- Do not press, massage or purse the lips unless your nurse has asked you to.
- No strenuous exercise, saunas, hot yoga or sunbeds.
- Avoid alcohol and very hot or spicy food, all of which increase swelling.
- Use a cold compress, never heat, and sleep slightly propped up.
- If you get cold sores, tell your nurse beforehand — treatment can reactivate them and this is manageable if it is known in advance.
Where to have it
Lip Enhancement is offered at both clinics, by AHPRA-registered practitioners. Each clinic has its own page for this treatment.
- Lip Enhancement Gold Coast — 1/32B Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach, QLD 4218. Practitioners: Charlie Ralph, Sherllesea.
- Lip Enhancement Melbourne — 542 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032. Practitioners: Cat.
New patients: a $35 doctor scripting fee applies. This covers the prescribing consultation required before any Schedule 4 treatment. It applies to new patients and anyone who has not visited in the past 12 months, and is included in the quote you receive.
Who will treat you
Charlie Ralph
Founder & Registered Nurse
AHPRA NMW0002241390. Founder and Clinical Director, based at the Gold Coast clinic.
Sherllesea
Registered Nurse
AHPRA NMW0002195471. Clinical background in emergency nursing, with formal training in cosmetic nursing procedures.
Dr Katie Duncan
Prescribing Doctor & Medical Director
AHPRA MED0002653304. Conducts telehealth consultations for patients at both clinics.
Cat
Registered Nurse
AHPRA NMW0002914224. Based at the Melbourne clinic, with clinical training in cosmetic procedures.
Lip enhancement questions
How long does lip enhancement last?
Most people see their result hold for somewhere between six and twelve months before it softens gradually. How long it lasts for you depends on the volume placed, your metabolism and your lifestyle. Lips are mobile, so they generally do not hold product as long as structural areas like the cheeks.
Does lip enhancement hurt?
Lips are a sensitive area, so numbing cream is applied and given time to work before anything starts. Most patients describe pressure rather than sharp pain. Tell your nurse at any point if you are uncomfortable and the appointment can be paused.
How much swelling should I expect?
A lot, for the first day or two — lips swell noticeably more than any other treated area. Most swelling settles within 5 to 7 days and the final shape is visible at around two weeks. The first 48 hours are not what your lips will look like, which is worth knowing before you look in the mirror.
How much volume do I need?
Most first-time patients start at 0.5ml, and a conservative first treatment is deliberate: it lets us see how your lips settle before adding anything at your two-week review. The volume that suits your lips is assessed in person, because shape and proportion decide it — not a number chosen in advance.
Can lip enhancement be dissolved?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which typically takes effect within 24 to 48 hours. It is used to correct migration, reduce volume or reverse the treatment. Dissolving is assessed as its own treatment and needs its own consultation.
What is a lip flip, and is it the same as lip enhancement?
No. A lip flip uses a small dose of wrinkle-softening treatment along the upper lip to relax the muscle so slightly more of the lip shows. It adds no volume and does not last as long as lip enhancement. Which one suits you — or whether either does — is assessed at your consultation.
Will my lips look overdone?
That is a function of volume and placement, which is why we start conservatively and review at two weeks rather than placing a large volume in one sitting. If what you are asking for needs more volume than we think suits your anatomy, you will be told at the consultation rather than after the treatment.
Who is not suitable for lip enhancement?
Lip treatment is generally not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, over an active cold sore, or for people with certain autoimmune conditions. Some medications also affect suitability. This is assessed at your consultation when your medical history is reviewed.
Risks and side effects
Lip treatments carry risks. Common side effects include swelling, bruising, redness, tenderness and lumpiness while the product settles. Less common risks include infection, cold sore reactivation, product migration and nodule formation. A rare but serious risk is vascular occlusion, where the product obstructs a blood vessel — our practitioners are trained to recognise and manage it, and hyaluronic acid can be dissolved. All risks are discussed in full at your consultation.
- Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Not performed over an active cold sore. Tell your nurse if you get them, as treatment can trigger an outbreak.
- Some autoimmune conditions and certain medications affect suitability — which is why your medical history is reviewed first.
- Severe or increasing pain, skin that blanches or goes mottled, or any change in vision after treatment needs to be reported to the clinic immediately.
- Results differ from person to person. A consultation assesses suitability — it does not promise that a treatment will suit you or that you will achieve a particular outcome.
Important health information
Required disclosure under AHPRA and TGA guidelines
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
- All treatments require a consultation with a qualified practitioner. Individual results vary. This page is general information only, not medical advice.
- All cosmetic procedures carry potential risks, including bruising, swelling, infection, scarring and allergic reactions. Some risks may be serious or lasting.
- Results differ from person to person. A consultation assesses suitability — it does not promise that a treatment will suit you or that you will achieve a particular outcome.
- Schedule 4 medications are prescribed only after a formal consultation with one of our qualified prescribing doctors, in line with AHPRA and TGA requirements.
Start with a consultation
Book a Consultation or call 0483 988 863 (Gold Coast) or 0483 982 999 (Melbourne).