For more information, visit our medical review board. A lip flip is a procedure that gives your lips a more pouty look. During the procedure, a doctor injects Botox into your top lip only.
Unlike other lip flips, the Nurse Shara technique allows for both the top and bottom lips to be flipped to create a kissable pout that does not require the use of filler.
For starters, it can only be performed on the upper lip. This is great for those who are happy with the volume of their lower lip and only want to enhance their upper lip—but what if you have thin upper and lower lips? That's when you might want to stick with HA fillers, or maybe combine lip fillers with a lip flip.
The Botox lip flip involves injecting 4-6 units of Botox above the upper lip at the center (near the cupid's bow) and near the corners of the mouth.
While dermal fillers increase lip size, a lip flip only creates the illusion of a larger lip without adding volume. Lip flips are less invasive and expensive than dermal fillers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is normal to feel a sensation of heaviness as the Botox lip flip takes effect. After a few days, patients will notice a slight feeling of heaviness in the lip, indicating that the Botox has taken effect.
Hyaluronic acid, or HA, naturally occurs in the body and not only attracts moisture (and volume) to the lips but also stimulates the lips' own ability to produce more collagen. This means you get immediate, natural-looking results and you also see a gradual improvement in your lip area as collagen increases. Dr.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Lip Flip? Most people are good candidates for this procedure, but you are particularly well suited if you want fuller lips without going through a surgical procedure, or if you feel that your upper lip thins too much when you smile.
You can carefully eat or drink shortly after your lip flip procedure. However, take care not to eat any messy foods that may cause you to wipe your face or lips for at least three days. Avoid using drinking straws or smoking for at least three days. Puckering or contracting your lips may cause the Botox® to migrate.
Overall, Botox Flip Lip should not be a painful treatment, patients may feel a sharp scratch at the injection points but overall this is just described as minimal discomfort rather than pain. Patients may continue to feel mild discomfort after treatment, but this will fade over 24 hours.
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.
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.
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.
You should NEVER leave a tip for your PA/NP or nurse injector. Injectables are medications, just like a blood pressure pill or a thyroid medication. You would not tip your primary care provider for doing an EKG on you so no need to tip on our medical services either.
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.