Bulge above upper lip - can Botox fix? (Photos)

Question

I have a small bulge along the upper lip on the right side. I don’t have it on the left side. What is this? And can it be fixed with Botox? Or is it something else, seems odd it’s only on one side

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hello,

Thank you for your question, asymmetries like a bulge above the upper lip can be both puzzling and frustrating, especially when they appear on only one side.

A small bulge above the upper lip on one side could be due to several possible causes:

Muscle hypertrophy or asymmetry of the orbicularis or surrounding muscles

Volume loss or fat pad shift that makes one side appear fuller

Scar tissue or past trauma/injection effects

A benign cyst or salivary gland prominence

Less commonly, vascular or nerve-related causes

Can Botox Fix It?
If the bulge is due to muscle overactivity or imbalance, Botox may help by relaxing the overactive muscle fibers, thus creating a more symmetrical appearance. This approach is commonly used in cases of lip asymmetry, gummy smile correction, or muscle-induced dimpling.

However, Botox would not be effective if the bulge is due to:

Structural fat pad differences

Scar tissue or cysts

Volume deficits on the other side

Next Steps
A proper in-person or virtual evaluation is essential to:

Palpate the area

Assess muscle activity

Rule out other structural or soft tissue causes

From there, we can determine whether Botox, dermal fillers, or another treatment (such as microneedling or minor surgical correction) would provide the most natural and effective result.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

It's hard to know what is causing the contour above your lip.  If you had filler near that area it may be migrated filler which can be dissolved.  It could be a natural occurrence for you.  Botox will not fix it as Botox works on lines and wrinkles caused from muscle activity, which this is not.

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

The bump you're seeing by the side of your lip may be a results of too much filler injected to the NLF or the lips which can easily be corrected with hyaluronidase. If you've never had fillers it could be a result of volume loss, in which case a bit of filler injected to the area should be a huge help. Last but not list, to keep up with skin tightening is key to healthy skin, and I recommend IPL, Morpheus of the combination of both.
Best from Boston!

Chris Atkinson, MD · Answer

Hi, I wonder if you sleep on that side of your face? Could be a static line from sleep position. Botox typically doesn't do much on static lines. If the line changes with your facial expressions it might be amenable to trying botox, but it is not really a place we usually use botox. I bet a tiny bit of filler or possibly microneedling might be another treatment option to consider, so it is worth getting a consultation to see if you are a good candidate.

Arif Eroglu, MD · Answer

Hello,This issue will not be corrected by Botox, as Botox is designed to treat dynamic wrinkles and muscle-related concerns.

Bulge above upper lip - can Botox fix? (Photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Face wrinkle

Answer: Face wrinkle

Answer: This issue will not be corrected by Botox

Answer: This issue will not be corrected by Botox

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Bulge above upper lip - can Botox fix? (Photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Face wrinkle

Answer: Face wrinkle

Answer: This issue will not be corrected by Botox

Answer: This issue will not be corrected by Botox

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.