Not every lip concern is about size. Some people feel their upper lip seems to disappear or roll inward when they smile, or that they show less of the pink of the lip than they used to, without actually wanting fuller lips. This is where the real question is about movement rather than volume, and a consultation is the place to work out which one applies to you, because the answer changes everything that follows.
Movement versus volume
The lips are controlled mainly by the orbicularis oris, a circular muscle that works like a sphincter around the mouth and, unusually, has no direct attachment to bone, connecting instead to the surrounding facial muscles. How this muscle behaves shapes how much of the upper lip shows when you talk and smile. For some people, the concern is not that the lip lacks volume but that its movement causes it to roll under or show less.
This distinction is the heart of a lip flip consultation. A concern about how the lip moves is a different conversation to a concern about how full the lip is, and conflating the two is how people end up unhappy with a result aimed at the wrong thing. Part of the assessment is simply observing how your lips move and clarifying what is actually bothering you.
What Does Corey Assess?
- How your lips move when you talk and smile, and how much of the upper lip shows.
- Whether the concern is genuinely about movement or about volume or proportion.
- The balance of your lips with the rest of your face.
- Any previous lip treatment, including what was used and when.
- Your medical history, medications, timing and expectations.
- Your readiness to give informed consent if a treatment pathway were appropriate.
What Next Steps Can Follow The Consultation?
- A discussion of treatment options, where clinically appropriate and suitable for you following the assessment.
- Clarifying that the concern is really about volume or proportion, which is a different conversation.
- Waiting and reviewing.
- No treatment, which is a entirely valid conclusion.
No outcome is claimed, and any treatment is only discussed where it is clinically appropriate following assessment.
How Does Corey Anderson Approach This Consultation?
Corey Anderson is a Registered Nurse who has been registered with AHPRA since 1996. He brings a calm, honest and conservative approach to the lips, and is comfortable advising restraint or clarifying that a different approach fits better. You see the same practitioner throughout.
How Do Natural Looking Goals Stay Grounded?
With lip movement, the aim is a subtle, natural result that still lets you speak and smile comfortably. A careful assessment of how your lips actually move is what keeps any discussion grounded and prevents over treatment.
What a lip flip consultation is not
- It is not a commitment to any treatment.
- It is not a certain result of a particular result.
- It is not a single template approach.
- It is not a sales appointment, and you will not be pressured.
- It is not the right step if something feels physically wrong. If you ever have severe or worsening symptoms after any treatment, contact your treating practitioner, seek urgent medical care, or call 000.
When Might Treatment Not Be Appropriate?
There are circumstances in which treatment would not be recommended. Some health conditions, certain medications, active infection in the area, and situations such as pregnancy or breastfeeding may mean treatment is not appropriate, and this is always assessed individually. Where the real concern turns out to be volume, a different conversation is more relevant. Lip treatment is for adults only.
How Are Consent, Risk And Time Handled?
If a treatment discussion forms part of your consultation, it will include clear information about relevant risks and limitations, including any effect on speech or function. You will never be asked to consent to something you do not fully understand or are not ready for, and there is no pressure to decide on the day.
A typical lip flip consultation
To give a realistic sense of how it unfolds, imagine someone who feels their upper lip rolls under when they smile and shows less than it used to, but who does not want bigger lips. In the consultation, Corey would observe how the lips move, clarify whether the concern is movement or volume, and explain honestly what a subtle approach could and could not address.
He might suggest a conservative option, clarify that volume is really the question, or recommend no treatment. He would make no claims about a specific result.
How Should You Prepare?
- Note exactly what bothers you, especially whether it relates to movement or size, and any questions you have.
- Jot down your medical history, medications and any previous lip treatment.
- Bring records from earlier treatment if you have them.
- Come as you are.
Book a lip flip consultation in Oakleigh
Core Aesthetics is a consultation led clinic in Oakleigh, serving people across the south east of Melbourne including Chadstone, Carnegie, Murrumbeena and Glen Waverley. Every consultation is carried out by Corey Anderson, Registered Nurse.
You are welcome to read our broader lip consultation page, see what to expect at your first consultation, or book a consultation when you are ready.
Sources And Further Reading
The anatomy, skin quality or clinical background on this page is general education, not a diagnosis or treatment recommendation.
Clinic Details And Verification
Core Aesthetics is at 12A Atherton Road, Oakleigh VIC 3166. Every consultation is carried out by Corey Anderson, Registered Nurse (AHPRA NMW0001047575). You can verify Corey and the clinic, use the contact page for practical questions, or use bookings when you are ready for assessment.
Regulatory Context
This page is general information for adults. The page language is consultation led and reviewed against Australian guidance for regulated health services and higher risk non surgical cosmetic procedure advertising.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- You want upper lip movement assessed before choosing a pathway
- Your upper lip turns inward or appears less visible when smiling
- You want risks, function and suitability discussed before any treatment decision
- You are open to waiting, broader lip assessment or no treatment if that is more appropriate
This may not be for you if
- You want true lip volume or structural lip change rather than movement assessment
- You are not an adult seeking elective cosmetic care
- You need precise upper lip control and are not comfortable with temporary functional changes
- You have active infection, unhealed skin, unresolved swelling or a medical concern that needs review first
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lip flip consultation about?
It is for people whose lip concern may be about movement rather than volume, such as an upper lip that rolls under or shows less when smiling. The consultation works out whether movement or volume is the real question, since the two call for different conversations.
How is movement different from volume?
Volume is about how full the lip is, while movement is about how the lip behaves when you talk and smile, governed largely by the orbicularis oris muscle. Some people want neither more nor less fullness, just a change in how the lip moves.
Will I be told I need treatment?
Not necessarily. A consultation may lead to a treatment discussion where appropriate, to clarifying that volume is the real question, to waiting, or to no treatment. The aim is the most suitable next step for you.
Could it affect my speech?
Any approach involving lip movement carries considerations for speech and function, which is exactly why a careful assessment and an honest discussion of risk come first. These would be explained clearly before any decision. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
Are there times treatment is not appropriate?
Yes. Some health conditions, certain medications, active infection, and circumstances such as pregnancy or breastfeeding may mean treatment is not appropriate. This is always assessed individually, and lip treatment is for adults only. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
Do you see people from outside Oakleigh?
Yes. The clinic is based in Oakleigh and sees people from across south east Melbourne, including Chadstone, Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale and Glen Waverley. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
What is a lip flip consultation?
It is a consultation focused on upper lip movement, especially when the upper lip turns inward or becomes less visible when smiling. Corey assesses whether that concern is suitable for treatment discussion. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
Does a lip flip consultation add volume?
No. A lip flip consultation is about movement. If the concern is lip volume, shape, border support or proportion, broader lip consultation or lip volume planning may be more relevant. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
Who may not be suitable?
It may not suit people who need precise upper lip control, whose main concern is true volume, whose previous treatment needs review, or whose expectations go beyond what a movement focused option can address. Corey may recommend another lip pathway, waiting or no treatment.
Can treatment happen on the same day?
Some adult patients may be suitable for same day treatment, but this is not automatic. Corey first assesses the concern, medical history, suitability, risks, alternatives, expectations and consent. If proceeding is not appropriate, he may recommend waiting, review, referral or no treatment.
What risks are discussed?
Corey may discuss temporary changes in lip control, altered smile feel, uneven response, bruising, tenderness, dissatisfaction, difficulty with some mouth movements and what to do if you have concerns. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
Should I book this or a lip consultation?
If your concern is mainly upper lip movement when smiling, this page may fit. If you are unsure or your concern includes shape, support, volume or previous treatment, a broader lip consultation is also appropriate.
What should I bring?
Bring previous treatment records if available, a medication and supplement list, relevant medical history, and examples of when the concern appears. Mention work or hobbies that need precise lip movement. The consultation can also cover suitability, risks, timing, alternatives and whether waiting or no treatment is the more appropriate next step.
Where is Core Aesthetics located?
Core Aesthetics is based in Oakleigh and sees patients by appointment. The full address and practitioner registration details are available on the verification page, and booking should still begin with an individual suitability discussion rather than an assumed treatment plan.
Clinical references
- TGA: Advertising health services that involve therapeutic goods
- Ahpra: Guidelines for advertising higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- Ahpra: Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- TGA: Advertising health services and cosmetic injections frequently asked questions
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbicularis_oris_muscle
- StatPearls: Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lips