If you think your lip filler is on the move – be it days, weeks, months, or years after your injections – you may not be imagining it. Fillers that are incorrectly injected or not suitable for the lips can end up migrating outside the vermillion border, resulting in a 'trout mouth' or 'duck lip' appearance.
Migrated lip filler is visibly noticeable and usually presents as lumps, but can also appear as a puffy upper lip, lack of a defined border between lip edge and above and/or below the lip border – think duck lips.
It's important to note that lip flips are not permanent. Results last around 2 to 3 months, since only very small amounts of Botox are injected into your lips. Once you start to notice that the effects are wearing off, you can choose to maintain your results by having additional Botox injections.
Lip Flip Treatment Recovery
Patients should avoid exercise for the remainder of the day and avoid sleeping face down that night. For a few hours after treatment, patients can expect to have a small bump at the site of injection.
In a nutshell, the corner lip lift takes any downward drooping at the corner of your mouth — which can be due to the natural aging process, among other factors — and reverses it, giving the corner of your lips a lifted look that can brighten your entire face.
Just as with traditional facial Botox, lip flip results take time. While some patients see the results in as early as three to four days, you'll get the full lip flip look 10 to 12 days after your injections.
During this time, the orbicularis oris muscle relaxes, which allows the upper lip to lift and “flip.” People should see the full results about a week after treatment. A lip flip lasts for about 2–3 months. It only lasts for a short duration because the upper lip muscle often moves, causing its effects to wear off.
Answer: Botox migration
The botox can migrate either at the time of injection or for a little while afterwards. The effect may only come on after days to 2 weeks later as the botox starts to work. The greater the volume injected the greater the risk of migration.
As with all injectable treatments, there is some downtime involved after a BOTOX lip flip. According to Dr. Dauwe, all patients should abstain from putting pressure on their lips for 3 – 4 days after their appointment. This includes activities like kissing.
Calcium hydroxylapatite is biosynthetically produced, which means that no animals or animal products are used. This lowers your risk of an allergic reaction and no skin testing is required. This type of dermal filler is known to produce a very natural result, doesn't migrate and side effects are rare.
Fillers that are incorrectly injected or not suitable for the lips can end up migrating outside the vermillion border, resulting in a 'trout mouth' or 'duck lip' appearance. While there is no surefire way to prevent this from happening, choosing an expert injector is one of the best ways to ensure an optimal outcome.
In some cases, we recommend our patients massage their fillers following treatment to smooth them out below the skin; however, too much massage too soon may cause the filler to migrate slightly.
The upper lip's skin and the nose's base are very closely linked. As such, if a plastic surgeon doesn't have the appropriate skills or experience, a lip lift can distort the appearance of the nose, particularly the base and the nostrils. However, this only occurs when a lip lift is done poorly.
The BOTOX lip flip doesn't actually increase volume in the lips, although it can make the upper lip look a bit fuller when it's performed by a skilled injector. Doesn't address the lower lip.
Done incorrectly or performed on unsuitable patients, a Botox lip flip can easily impact the integrity of the lip structure and affect how you talk, smile, etc.
Drooping eyelids
When Botox migrates to either the forehead or the area between the eyes, this can result in a droopy eyelid. One reason people choose Botox may be to reduce the appearance of forehead or vertical frown lines.
More importantly, rubbing or massaging can cause the injected BOTOX to migrate to other parts of the face. Avoid lying down or bending over for several hours after the treatment to help prevent facial swelling and migration of the toxin. If possible, avoid lying down until bedtime.
Botox stays only where injected, it does not roam through the body. "If I inject it in your face, it's not going to work [or show up in] your toe," says Rowe. "It does not have a systemic effect." However, it may migrate up to 3 cm from where it was injected.
It is important to keep in mind that the Botox lip flip only lasts three to four months, and you'll need to return for treatment about two to three times as often as you would for filler injections.
With lip flips, your lips only appear plumper. The actual volume of your lips doesn't increase. Instead, it gets rearranged to make your lips look full and natural. During a dermal filler, your lips are injected with a substance made from hyaluronic acid, which creates a structured and hydrated appearance in your lips.
Normal lip flip side effects
Your skin should return to normal within a few hours. Bruising is also possible, but uncommon, with proper technique. It is normal to feel a sensation of heaviness as the Botox lip flip takes effect.
If you're interested in having lip flips, you'll need around 4-6 units. If you aim for plumper lips, Botox is best paired with dermal fillers. With just a few simple injections, our providers can erase your wrinkles and fine lines in no time with Botox. Call us today to book your appointment.
As with any surgical procedure, not everyone's smile is suitable for a lip flip – even those who may be good candidates for lip fillers. "The ideal patient is someone who has a hyperactive muscle around their mouth that causes their upper lip to turn in or pull up dramatically when they smile," Dr. Amalfi says.
The Russian technique accentuates the cupid's bow to resemble a heart-shape by injecting additional volume and lift into the center of the lips, while the sides still remain relatively in line with the face. The result is doll-like while still appearing naturally full and plump.