“An ideal candidate for a lip flip would be someone who has a thin-appearing upper lip and is interested in increasing the appearance of it,” says Dr. Garshick. She adds that it can also be helpful for someone who's bothered by their lip curling under when they smile.
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.
About two to three days after a lip flip, patients will notice that their upper lip appears larger as the muscle relaxes. The maximum results are evident a week to 10 days after treatment. These are not drastic results, but they are noticeable to patients, especially when comparing pre- and post-treatment photographs.
It takes about one week for your lips to look fuller. If you want your lips to look fuller before a big event, like a wedding, you should schedule the procedure at least two weeks ahead of time to make sure that the Botox has taken full effect and that you've completely recovered from the lip flip procedure.
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.
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.
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.
For removing lip lines, you'll need about 6 average units. 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.
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.
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.
A doctor injects botulinum toxin A, popularly known as Botox, into the upper lip to create an illusion of a larger lip. It relaxes the muscles above the lip, resulting in the upper lip “flipping” slightly upward. Although the procedure makes the lip look more prominent, it does not increase the size of the lip itself.
Doesn't address the lower lip.
While the lip flip can create the illusion of fuller lips overall, BOTOX is not injected into the lower lip during this procedure.
Will a Lip Flip Give Me “Duck Lips”? No. Because lip flips do not actually add volume to the lips, they will not create a duck-like appearance.
Shah says, "An ideal candidate for a lip flip would be someone who has a thinner upper lip and is interested in making the upper lip look slightly bigger. Also it's ideal for someone who is not ready to have fillers injected and wants only a natural and subtle look."
While a full syringe of lip filler costs between $500 and $1000, the Botox lip flip typically requires only 4-6 units of Botox, which cost between $10 and $15 each.
Possible Side Effects for Botox Lip Flip
It may affect your: whistling, speech, and or drinking. These only last a few days as your body adjusts for them, and also depends on how much your lip lifts as well.
If you already have a decent amount of volume in your lips but would like to alter the shape, a lip flip might be the better choice. If you want added volume and longer-lasting results, then lip fillers may be what you're looking for.
In order to get the most attractive results, there are a few things you should avoid after lip injections. First, stay out of extreme temperatures for at least 48 hours following your appointment. Avoid going into a hot tub or sauna and abstain from smoking.
Answer: Gummy smile versus lip flip
The location to fix a gummy smile is typically near the nose to lower the lip, while a lip flip is injected directly about the pink lip to evert the lip.
Its results cannot be reversed so you have to wait for the injection to wear off before receiving other treatments to fix them.
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. While waiting for results, make sure to ice your lips, and don't work out for at least 24 hours after to avoid sweating the active ingredients out (it's a real thing!).
Avoid wearing lipstick or lip balm. Avoid sleeping face down. Avoid touching, pressing, or picking at your lips.
Your doctor will advise that you avoid certain things beginning several days before your lip flip procedure. You should avoid ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as other products that thin the blood. You should also abstain from smoking, alcohol, taking multivitamins, and even fish oil.
Lip flips have no impact on kissing, and your partner will not be able to feel any difference in the texture of your lips aside from the more “flipped out” lip position. Though any impact on oral sex will be extremely minimal, it may become a bit more difficult to cover your teeth with your lips.