During a lip flip procedure, your healthcare provider injects Botox into parts of your upper lip. After about a week, the injections make your lip look fuller or “poutier” without adding any volume to your lip. Lip flips generally look more natural than lip fillers.
The lip flip effect wears off in about 3-4 months
The effects of Botox last about 3-4 months. By comparison, lip filler may last up to a year or longer, and surgery can give you lasting results.
The Botox lip flip can be an excellent alternative to fillers for patients who want a more subtle lip enhancement, as well as those who want to enhance the shape of their upper lip with minimal effort.
The results of a lip flip are temporary. For most patients, the effects will last up to 12 weeks. You can then have another lip flip procedure immediately afterward. If you want longer-lasting results, you might want to consider a lip lift procedure (surgery) or dermal filler injections.
If you're looking for both added volume, as well as control over the shape of your lips, then a combination of the two may be best to achieve your desired end result. The lip flip will define your cupid's bow and provide your desired shape, while the lip filler will add volume and plump the lips.
Although the procedure makes the lip look more prominent, it does not increase the size of the lip itself. Lip flips may be particularly beneficial for individuals who have smiles that expose much of their gums. Following a lip flip, less gum shows when the individual smiles because the upper lip elevates less.
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.
During the procedure
Here are a few things to know about the lip flip procedure itself: It should take only around 10 minutes. The doctor likely won't numb your lips beforehand, because the procedure isn't very painful. Some people have compared it to the sensation of having a pimple on your lip.
When Will I See Results of a Lip Flip? 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.
Cons: A lip flip can negatively impact your lip functions and change the way you speak in some instances. If you're unhappy with your results, you have to wait about three months for the effects to wear off.
Botox injections work to enhance the lips through a series of injections made in the muscle just above the upper lip. The toxin will then relax the muscle, causing the lip to roll outward and appear more voluminous and defined. This will also cause lines and wrinkles on and around the lips to diminish.
A BOTOX® lip flip uses about 4 to 6 units of BOTOX® injected along the upper lip to “flip” it outward and upward. This subtly creates the appearance of a larger, more lifted upper lip.
Things to Avoid After a Lip Flip
First, do not drink with a straw. Also, don't rub the treated areas around the mouth because that will prevent the neurotoxin from spreading.
Can you Kiss After Lip Filler? Kissing can apply a lot of pressure to the lips and increase risk of infection (there is a lot of bacteria in the mouth!), so it is best to avoid kissing for 48–72 hours after getting lip filler treatment.
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.
During the lip flip procedure, there is a quick nonsurgical injection of Botox into the muscle above the top lip. I found this to be almost pain-free aside from a slight sting and it was over in less than a minute with minimal bleeding.
In order to be a good candidate for the lip flip procedure, you must be in good health and you should not have a history of sensitivity to botulinum toxin treatments. The lip flip procedure is ideal for anyone with a thinning upper lip and/or upper lip wrinkling who is interested in a fuller, more natural looking lip.
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.
There are a plethora of fillers on the market that are perfect for restoring volume loss, it just depends on how much volume or plump you want to add. Kylie prefers Juvederm, a brand of filler that's owned by Allergan. While there are different types of Juvederm fillers, Kylie's team goes for Juvederm Ultra Plus.
One of the injection techniques that patients are looking for is the “Keyhole Lip”. This is where the lips are filled with a small gap in the center of the lips where the top and bottom lip meet that looks like a “keyhole”. This look is also referred to as “the keyhole technique” or “keyhole pout.”
Restylane Kysse is the newest FDA-approved lip filler that offers a more natural, long-lasting result and is specifically formulated for the lips. The innovative technology behind Kysse enhances lip volume and hides fine lines above the mouth, allowing for a more natural expression compared to traditional fillers.
Similar to fillers, a lip flip can provide an inviting, attractively enhanced smile by causing the upper lip to unfurl and tilt upward, but it doesn't provide the same amount of volume that fillers do. Instead of using fillers, a lip flip is done with a neuromodulator (a Botox like substance).
Unless you go to extremes with lip fillers or choose a very unskilled injector, your lips won't be permanently stretched. This means that if you choose to stop having lip filling injections, your lips will likely return to their normal proportions.