2025 August issue of InMaricopa Magazine

2025 August issue of InMaricopa Magazine InMaricopa.com InMaricopa is Maricopa's premier local news source InMaricopa is your go-to source for hyper-local news and information about Maricopa, Arizona. Stay informed with the latest community updates, events, and stories that matter to our city. InMaricopa is the only dedicated news outlet focusing exclusively on the city of Maricopa, ensuring residents are always in the know.

August 2025

www.InMaricopa.com

Back to cool Summer’s end brings new beginnings for students, seniors, survivors and sommeliers

COMMUNITY • BUSINESS • GOVERNMENT • SPORTS • HOME • MORE

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WE ARE SQUEEZING THE COMPETITION FOR 2025!

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Make us your last call! WE ARE SQUEEZING THE COMPETITION FOR 2025!

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OIL CHANGE

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We honor extended warranty programs.

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† Buy 3 get the 4th free or Buy 2 select tires and get 2 free. Select tires only. Must purchase tire protection plan and nitrogen package, which includes valve stems, balancing, free tire rotations, free alignment checks, free flat repairs and free replacement for the first 25% of tread wear on a tire that is not repairable (with the nitrogen and tire protection plan purchased). Restrictions and exclusions apply. See store for complete details. Offer may not be combined with any other discounts unless otherwise stated. No dealer or carryout. (Buy to get two free other brands may be substituted, but will carry the same warranty as purchased)**. Offer ends 8/31/2025.

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State or local taxes or surcharges for Environmental protection will be an extra charge.

CONTENTS

LEADING OFF Editor’s letter 6 Contributors 6 HISTORY This month in history 8 Where Maricopans used to get their fix 9 COMMUNITY A guide to surviving the annual fly-pocalypse 13 15 years later, we catch up with a mom who survived a horror-movie-like crime 16 How the city celebrated America’s birthday 22 HEALTH & WELLNESS Lip filler or lip flip. Which one should you choose? 24 GOVERNMENT Permits 26 SENIORS Couple, collectively aged 175, show it’s never too late to say ‘I do’ 28 BUSINESS The cautionary tales of claustrophobic Maricopans 32 Mapping business news 37 Restaurant inspections 39 Mandy’s menu moves online and more exciting wine bar updates 40

SPORTS Little League made history this season 42 HOME The state of the city’s real estate market 44 Tips to elevate your backyard birdwatching 50 Extreme home sales 51 Debunking new-build myths 52 How to protect your investment when tenants don’t pay 53

EVENTS Calendar 54 TRENDING A look at what’s hot on InMaricopa.com 63 PARTING SHOT Sonoran Creek Sunset 64

ON THE COVER Victor Moreno captures Butterfield Elementary School student Calliope Begonja boarding the bus on her first day of class.

InMaricopa.com | August 2025

Maricopa’s Choice for Online Education Serving Grades 6-12 Maricopa Virtual Academy

FROM THE EDITOR

E Off to a hot start EVERY AUGUST, MARICOPA’S HEAT SEEMS to press pause on everything. But even in this relentless sun, life finds a way to start fresh. Our cover this month captures one such moment: kids climbing aboard buses outside Butterfield Elementary, after heading back to school. There’s something special about those early-morning scenes — the new backpacks, the nervous smiles. And that’s the theme threading through this issue. We begin with love at any age. Brian Petersheim Jr. brings us the heartwarming story of two local seniors (a combined 175 years young!) who tied the knot this summer. The twist? They said “I do” on an MUSD campus, adding a sweet undertone of full-circle-ness. In another school-related story of new beginnings, Petersheim revisits one of Maricopa’s most harrowing true crime stories — when a woman survived an attack by someone who tried to steal her unborn baby. That child, now a teenager, is thriving here in Maricopa. Talk about a powerful second act. Then there’s the 15-year-old local business

Publisher SCOTT BARTLE

Editorial Director ELIAS WEISS

In 2021, MUSD launched Maricopa Virtual Academy (MVA), an online school with virtual classes taught by local teachers. Students can attend from home, a library, or anywhere with an internet connection. Whether you attend one of our neighborhood schools or prefer the flexibility of online education, Maricopa Unified School District offers families a choice. Now Enrolling

that just cleared its permitting hurdles after a tense standoff with a neighbor who also happens to work for the city. Monica D. Spencer meets us at the corner of business and bureaucracy. Of course, some things don’t

Advertising Director VINCENT MANFREDI

Advertising TAWNI PROCTOR AMBER ROGALLA BRITTANY RUSSELL MICHELLE SORENSEN

change, like the annual invasion of the flies. But even that’s got a twist: David Iversen tracked down entomologists (and the folks at Ace Hardware) to help us understand these persistent pests — and how to send them packing. We’re back next month with our

Writers AMANDA ATLER KRISTINA DONNAY

JUSTIN GRIFFIN DAVID IVERSEN DAYV MORGAN

long-awaited Food & Beverage special section. Until then, here’s to finding your own new beginning — even in the dog days of summer.

BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. BRIAN PETERSHEIM SR. CHERYL PURVIS MONICA D. SPENCER SHERMAN AND EUPHEMIA WEEKES

Photographers DAVID IVERSEN VICTOR MORENO

ELIAS WEISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Elias@inMaricopa.com

BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. MONICA D. SPENCER

Send your reactions with a photo of yourself at the QR code to be published in a future edition of InMaricopa magazine.

Designer CARL BEZUIDENHOUT

MISSION Inform readers/viewers. Enrich advertisers.

2024-2025

BELIEFS We believe in: • An informed citizenry. • Holding ourselves and others accountable. • The success of deserving businesses.

CONTRIBUTORS

SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE

VALUES

• Integrity • Accountability

• Open, honest, real-time communication • Prosperity for clients, community, company

MARICOPA VIRTUAL ACADEMY PROGRAM FEATURES: • Tuition-free online school — Serving grades 6-12 • District-issued laptop with technical support • Certified teachers • Rigorous, engaging, structured, and research-based curriculum • Local, in-person learning labs available

Ideal for students who are: • Self-motivated • Gifted • Home-schooled • On-the-go

Volume 20, Issue 8 InMaricopa 44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 101 Maricopa, AZ 85138

520-568-0040 Tel News@InMaricopa.com Advertising@InMaricopa.com

• Flexible schedule • Open Enrollment

AMANDA ATLER Sommelier Mandy shares exciting updates about her wine bar and shop.

BRIAN PETERSHEIM SR. Realtor Brian sees us edging further into a buyers’ market.

CHERYL PURVIS A little birdie told master gardener Cheryl where to find native feathered fauna.

Published advertisements are not an endorsement of products or advertising claims by InMaricopa . No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of InMaricopa . Copyright 2025.

For more information visit mva.musd20.org or call 520-568-5196 ext. 1072

InMaricopa.com | August 2025

HISTORY

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The grand opening of Iconic Tire & Service Center at 19945 N. John Wayne Parkway was a huge success. “Forty years in this business, I’ve never seen a store take off the way this one did. I mean, it was just amazing,” CEO Jeff Darrow told InMaricopa at the time. The Darrow family expected a busy opening but quickly realized demand in Maricopa was even higher than they anticipated. Initially short-staffed, the shop added more employees by October to keep up with the growing number of customers.

Nate Ford, a 16-year-old baseball and football player at Maricopa High School, was killed when his pickup truck collided with a cattle truck on State Route 347 near Farrell Road. His death became a rallying point for MHS athletics throughout the school year. The Rams football team finished the season 7-3, while many students, staff and community members showed their support by wearing #StateForNate apparel.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Ak-Chin Village man accused of brutally murdering another man and leaving the body in a county-owned gravel pit. One hot day, county employees near Farrell and Hidden Valley Roads discovered the body and alerted authorities. Terrence Peters, 22, admitted to drinking with the victim, 45-year-old Charles Pablo, before a fight broke out. Peters reportedly knocked Pablo down and then threw large rocks at him until he died. Peters was jailed on first-degree murder charges and later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

While the South braced for Hurricane Katrina, Maricopa faced its own flood threat. Severe storms in northern Mexico and Tucson pushed flood-stage waters into the Santa Cruz River, forcing a traffic detour at the Santa Rosa Wash. The flood never reached Maricopa, but the scare led the Red Cross to recruit local volunteers for future disasters. “Because of the growth in Pinal County, and Maricopa in particular, we’re looking to boost our volunteer base and expand our reach by training more people,” said a Red Cross representative at the time.

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HISTORY

400+ Reviews

5.0 HHHHH

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Texaco tales Under the hood or at the bar, this is where Maricopans got their fix

This recollection was written by the late Harry C. Brock, husband of the late Patricia Brock, beloved Maricopa historian and author of Reflections of a Desert Town.

— along with Jim’s jeep and two other cars. Louise’s nephew, Dick Stensrud, who was working the cash register at the time, suffered a broken leg. Jim and Louise were living in the back of the station when it happened. This was their second devastating fire, following the earlier destruction of the Dallas Smith house. After the fire, the Slacks built two Jim Walter prefab homes on McDavid Road, west of Maricopa High School, where they lived for several more years. Though they never got rich in Maricopa, Jim and Louise Slack were rich in friendship and good times. They later moved to Grants, N.M., and eventually returned to Casa Grande. There, each of them fought courageous battles against cancer before passing away.

Both Jim and Louise were known for their warmth and generosity. When Jim didn’t charge for repairs, he’d say something to the effect of, “Just write it up as a hammer job.” Andy Cole, a man who briefly worked at the station, recalled Jim’s signature move at cocktail time: stirring his drink with his thumb. Finding substitute mail carriers was always a challenge in Maricopa, and I was fortunate to have Jim as mine on Route 1 for five years. He was always dependable and never said no. Once, Pat and I were returning late from a trip to Mexico with another couple in a Volkswagen Beetle. From a service station in Magdalena, Sonora, I called the Slacks’ number to say I couldn’t make it back in time for work. Louise answered, and I told her, “I’m stuck here in Sonora.” I then overheard her yell to Jim, “Brock is in jail in old Mexico!” before the phone cut out. Still, Jim stepped in and delivered the mail the next morning. The Slacks faced tough times during their years in Maricopa. In 1959, their eldest daughter, Mickey, died in a car accident. Not long after, a woman from Casa Grande drove a 1959 Oldsmobile into their Texaco station, causing a fire that burned it to the ground

INSURANCE IS THE WORST, UNTIL YOU REALLY NEED IT. Quotes are free. Regret isn’t.

IM AND LOUISE SLACK MOVED to Maricopa in 1956 from Casa Grande with their three children. They leased the Texaco station

from businessman Harry Little, which included an auto repair bay and lube service. Jim had previously worked as service manager for Blinky Wilson Lincoln Mercury in Casa Grande and also at Walton Pontiac. The Slack family lived in the old Dallas Smith “big house,” located just south of what is now the Business Barn. The house, originally built by Perry Williams in 1884, was later destroyed by fire. At the station, Jim handled car repairs while Louise pumped gas — at least until 5 p.m., when the cocktail hour began. Jim’s drink of choice was Calvert whiskey and Coke. The Calvert label featured a cavalier in a large hat, prompting Jim’s daily announcement: “It’s time to kiss the man with the hat.” The back room often turned into a lively gathering place, and many joined in.

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COMMUNITY

Chrysomya megacephala Oriental Latrine Fly

T’S MID-JULY IN MARICOPA and Ashley Cross, an assistant store manager at Karsten’s Ace Hardware, is standing in front of a A perfect swarm Why flies are loving life in Maricopa — and how to reclaim your patio BY DAVID IVERSEN I

“House flies breed in very wet, organic matter. Think cow manure and compost heaps,” said Gouge. “If you live near those conditions and it’s over 100 degrees? Congratulations. You’ve just invited a fly nursery to flourish.” The science behind their breeding is as grotesque as it is fascinating. “They don’t bite. They don’t even have teeth,” Gouge said. “They regurgitate enzymes from their stomachs onto food to liquify it, then slurp it back up through sponge-like mouthparts.” Not all flies are equal What residents call “flies” can encompass a handful of winged interlopers. Some are house flies, the iconic black buzzers landing on your lunch. Others are drain flies, born from the gunk in your pipes. Then there are outdoor specialists, lured by color rather than scent. While the problem is acute in Maricopa, it’s not unique. Gouge said flies follow us humans wherever we’ve made the desert bloom. “We build lakes, irrigate fields and run sprinklers,” she said. We’re building an insect oasis. Maricopa is also home to the Maricopa Agricultural Center, part of the University of Arizona’s world-renowned agricultural research network. Just outside town, teams of entomologists like Gouge study pests in cotton fields and experiment with natural predators to reduce pesticide use. “Some of the brightest insect scientists in the country are based here,” said Gouge, “and

towering display of fly traps. She holds as many as she can from the store’s large assortment of insect deterrents: A pop-top trap in her left arm, an odorless sticky strip dangles precariously from her right. She doesn’t have the space for the infamous Bug-A-Salt gun, although that is her personal favorite. “We fly through about 200 to 300 of these each season,” said Cross with a knowing look. “People come in with a specific need and we have a specific answer.” This year, the flies in Maricopa aren’t just bad — they’re relentless. Or so it seems. No one necessarily counts the flies, but they’ve arrived in such thick, barbecue-ruining swarms that have made people ask: Why? It turns out this invasion wasn’t random. According to scientists, Maricopa’s beautiful new developments are rolling out the welcome mat for the insect world, too. Poops, I did it again Flies need three things, explained Dr. Dawn Gouge, a Maricopa-based public health entomologist who studies disease-carrying and nuisance insects across Arizona. “Organic matter, moisture and heat,” she said. “Maricopa’s got all three.” At the heart of the fly explosion is Maricopa’s proximity to dairies, flood-irrigated fields and man-made oases.

House flies breed in very wet, organic matter. Think cow manure and compost heaps. If you live near those conditions and it’s over 100 degrees? Congratulations. You’ve just invited a fly nursery to flourish.” DR. DAWN GOUGE, PUBLIC HEALTH ENTOMOLOGIST

InMaricopa.com | August 2025

August 2025 | InMaricopa.com

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Psychodidae Moth Fly

Chrysopilus Snipe Fly

Atomosia Robber Fly

Diogmites Hanging Thieves

Thevenetimyia Bee Fly

Surviving the fly-pocalypse What can you do if the flies become too much to bear? Don’t pack up and leave town just yet. It’s the basics that make the biggest difference. “Flies can fit through the tiniest gaps,” said Gouge, recommending closed doors and windows in the summer. She also recommends reducing standing water, clearing pet waste and sealing trash tightly.

they’re working on both the flies you see and the ones you don’t.” In fact, the city has become a hotspot for studying how human development interacts with insect behavior. With its rapid suburban growth, lush green lawns and dairy-adjacent neighborhoods, Maricopa has become a textbook case of how well, and quickly, nature adapts.

Community-wide efforts, like coordinated cleanups and irrigation management, can help, too. “It takes a village, or at least a cul-de-sac, to get insects to move on,” Gouge said. For those still battling the bugs, Ace’s Cross offered one final piece of advice: “Find what works for your yard. Traps, lights, foggers; every house is different. But don’t give up. The flies may be winning now, but we’ve got the tools.”

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InMaricopa.com | August 2025

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NGELIQUE ROBLEDO HAS QUITE a story to tell — one that began in high school and nearly ended in tragedy when someone tried to She rebuilt from the ashes From surviving a suspected fetal abduction to raising a family in Maricopa, Angelique Robledo finds her new normal BY BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. A steal her unborn child. Today, her child, now a teenager, is starting his freshman year at the very same school. More than 14 years ago, Robledo survived a suspected attempted fetal abduction that ended with her closet in flames inside her Cobblestone Farms home. The incident sparked a media frenzy and transformed her into a public figure overnight. But despite the trauma — and the attention — Robledo and her now larger family have worked hard to build something close to normal in Maricopa. When mutilation failed, she turned to arson A Southern California native, Robledo moved to Maricopa in seventh grade after her stepdad, who managed a phone packaging company, transferred to a new plant in Arizona. Her family — mom and three stepbrothers — went from a mobile home trailer park in Orange County to a five-bedroom house with a swimming pool. By 15, Robledo was working at the city’s new Jack in the Box — one of several early fast-food spots where teenagers hung out frequently. The city was growing. When Robledo was a senior at Maricopa High School in 2011, the population hovered just below 44,000. John Wayne Parkway was lined with dirt lots, and Amtrak trains still stopped traffic at the tracks before the overpass was built.

Angelique Robledo pregnant with Ryland

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and being the girl that almost got killed once ... they put it all over the news, like, everybody recognized me, everybody knew who I was.” At first, the trauma was too much to talk about. She stayed silent for nearly a year. Two days before the anniversary of the attack, Toruga pleaded guilty to attempted arson by reason of insanity. She was sentenced to 7½ years in a mental health facility. Once stabilized, she was ordered to serve out her sentence in a state prison. “I didn’t make my first statement until sentencing,” Robledo said. “That was the first time I ever spoke to the media because it was just too overwhelming to deal with, and to come to terms with what happened, because then it made it all so real.” Shortly after, she appeared on Dr. Phil in Hollywood — a regrettable media debut that “blew up in my face,” she said. “That experience literally altered everything in my brain. It was the worst experience of my life,” Robledo said. “He put a bulletin board up and told me, and the world, everything that I did wrong.” She left feeling more alone than ever, believing somehow she deserved what happened. After that, she disappeared from the public eye. Daring to come home In the months after the attack, Robledo, her newborn Ryland and the rest of her family left Maricopa. “I was having really bad PTSD, and I just couldn’t stay in the house anymore,” Robledo said. “Every time I went in that room, all I could see were flames.” After several times when her parents found her screaming and swinging her arms as she woke from nightmares, they decided to move to Chandler for a fresh start. There, Robledo chose not to share her story or reveal her identity. She worked at a Valley restaurant for about six years. Then, after becoming pregnant with her third child, the family moved back to The Villages at Rancho El Dorado in 2017. “Maricopa is home. Even when a tragic event happens, it’s home,” Robledo said. “It’s where I grew up. It’s where Josh grew up. It’s where we would just want to have our family.” Ryland is now a freshman at Maricopa High School, while his younger siblings Maddox, 10, and Scarlett, 7, attend Butterfield Elementary. “I told myself I was never going to come back to Maricopa, but here I am,” Robledo said. “My son’s going to the same high school that I went to. It’s kind of surreal and crazy to see.”

Ryland and Angelique Robledo pose for a photo at Copper Sky Regional Park just before sunset on June 26.

chase Robledo, Toruga used a lit tea candle to start a fire in the bedroom closet. She was arrested a month later and charged with attempted murder, burglary and arson. According to a police report, Toruga confessed that she “was going to kill Angelique and take the baby.” However, a grand jury dropped the attempted murder charge. “Maricopa was a lot smaller back then, and I was very well known at the time, obviously, just because of it being a small town,” Robledo told InMaricopa in July. “I knew a lot of people

On Feb. 16, 2011, while the two were alone at Robledo’s home, she sensed something was wrong. What she could have never expected was that Toruga had allegedly planned to perform a C-section and abduct her baby. Toruga reportedly sat behind Robledo on her bed in the dark, saying she had a gift for her. As she began to count down from three, Robledo’s instincts kicked in — she sprang up and ran from the room. Police say Toruga was holding a diaper bag that contained two butcher knives. Rather than

Robledo was 17 when she found out she was pregnant with her then-boyfriend, now- husband Josh Cruz’s child. The news was a pivotal moment, she said — pulling her away from a rough stretch of teen partying and substance use. But just weeks before she was due to give birth, something unthinkable happened. She had recently befriended another 18-year-old named Kassandra Toruga, who told her she was also pregnant. That turned out to be a lie.

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RYLAND’S LIFE IN PHOTOS 2011 2016

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‘A typical, normal family’ Sports play a big role in the family’s life and healing journey. Last year, Ryland played wide receiver for the Maricopa Junior Rams on the Maricopa High School football field. “The first time we ever saw that was so surreal because my husband was a football player for Maricopa and I played soccer on that field before there was turf,” Robledo said. “It was a really cool feeling being like, ‘Me and your dad played those sports on this field and now you’re following in our footsteps.’” Scarlett plays softball and Maddox plays soccer. “Our weekends are pretty busy,” Robledo said with a laugh. “We live a normal life. We go kayaking, we have quads, we go camping, we go on vacations, just like a typical, normal family.” Ready to be seen by the world After several years away from the media, Robledo returned in 2019, visiting the Maricopa Police Department to read the full police reports and find answers to questions she had avoided.

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featured in People magazine, The New York Post and the U.K.’s Daily Mail. She has appeared on several podcasts, and her story was featured on Investigation Discovery’s show Frenemies. Using her large social media platform, Robledo is now writing a memoir-style book titled She Wasn’t Just a Story. Through her voice, she helps others facing similar struggles. “People want to tell me their story because they don’t feel comfortable enough to tell it to the world,” Robledo said. “I’ve had the privilege of helping people just talk, which makes them feel better, which makes me feel good. “Trauma is trauma, no matter how big or small it is ... It’s been really nice to have people understand me from different perspectives and to also relate to me so much.”

“I understood things that I didn’t know, and I became more open-minded,” Robledo said. She soon realized she wasn’t alone in her experience. When social media apps like TikTok surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, Robledo began sharing her story there. She has since gathered over a quarter-million followers on TikTok and nearly 50,000 on Instagram. “People recognized me on TikTok from the Dr. Phil show,” Robledo said, adding people wanted to hear her side of it. Her TikTok series telling her story has earned millions of views, and she regularly answers viewers’ questions. She described it as learning to shift from victim to survivor. “It’s almost like I took my story, and instead of people feeling bad for me, I empowered myself and made sure that I don’t want to be a victim,” Robledo said. “I’m not a victim, I’m a survivor.” Robledo has connected with other well- known survivors, such as Kara Robinson, a South Carolina teen who escaped a serial killer’s kidnapping in 2002. She’s become part of an online community of violent crime survivors. Her story has reached global headlines —

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Red, white and oooh! The Great American 4th celebration returned to Copper Sky Regional Park for a night filled with family fun, live entertainment, food and an incredible fireworks show. Families cooled off at a pool party, kids dove in a mountain of foam and jaws dropped as the Superhero Stunt Team pulled off high-flying BMX tricks. Live entertainment kept the crowd buzzing, capped by a thunderous set from AZ/DZ, a local AC/DC tribute band, right before fireworks lit up the night.

MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THE FIREWORKS.

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Pillow talk Lip filler vs. lip flip — which one’s right for your pout?

BY DR. KRISTINA DONNAY DNP, FNP-C

I N THE EVER-EVOLVING WORLD OF aesthetic beauty, there’s no shortage of ways to perfect your pout. But when it comes to enhancing your lips, two non-surgical options are making major waves: Revanesse Lips+, a next-gen dermal filler, and the Jeuveau lip flip, a subtle tweak using neuromodulators. Both promise fuller, more flattering lips, but the method, effect and vibe couldn’t be more different. If you’re toying with the idea of a lip upgrade, let’s break down the difference between filling and flipping so you can kiss uncertainty goodbye. What’s the difference? Revanesse Lips+ is a hyaluronic, acid-based filler specifically designed for the lips. It’s the go-to for volume, contour and definition. Think of it as the couture version of lip enhancement: refined, custom and statement- making. Results are immediate, and if done by an experienced injector, can look stunningly natural and not overdone. The lip flip, on the other hand, is all about illusion. With a quick injection of Jeuveau (a neuromodulator, like Botox), the muscle

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and gives you a fresh, “something’s different, but I can’t tell what,” allure. An added bonus is that it can prevent lip lines from straw use. How long does the magic last? One of the key differences comes down to longevity. Lips+ filler lasts anywhere from six months to one year, depending on your metabolism and lifestyle. It’s the longer lasting of the two and more of an investment. Lip flip typically lasts eight to 12 weeks. Shorter, yes, but also much gentler on your budget and your calendar. What does an appointment look like? Lips+ treatment takes 30 to 45 minutes. You’ll be numbed with a topical anesthetic, and while you may have a little swelling or bruising, the glow-up is worth it. Lip flip is a blink-and-it’s-done procedure. Five minutes and virtually no downtime. So... Which one should you choose? Here’s the vibe check: Go for Lips+ filler if you want long lasting volume, enhanced shape and a bit of drama (or hydration and symmetry in a

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very natural way). Try a Jeuveau lip flip if you’re testing the waters, want a smile-smoothing lift, or crave subtle enhancement with zero recovery time. And yes, you can absolutely do both. A filler for fullness plus a flip for finesse? That’s the high-low mix we live for. Your lips, your rules. Whether you’re craving a bold bombshell look or a barely- there enhancement, both Revanesse Lips+ and the Jeuveau lip flip offer elegant, needle- based solutions to help you feel like your most confident self.

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around your upper lip is relaxed just enough for the top lip to “flip” slightly outward. It doesn’t actually add volume; it simply reveals more of your natural lip, creating a soft, effortless fullness that’s perfect for first timers or minimalists. Which one gives you the perfect selfie-worthy lips?

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Revanesse Lips+ delivers that plumped, pillowy look. Ideal if your lips have thinned with age or if you were born with a naturally slimmer shape. It enhances volume, symmetry, and hydration. Plus, it can help smooth out vertical lip lines and define the cupid’s bow. Jeuveau Lip Flip is far more subtle. It’s like a whisper of enhancement, perfect if your upper lip disappears when you smile or if you want a hint of extra oomph without the commitment of filler. The flip effect kicks in within a few days

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