Your healthcare provider injects botulinum toxin into the corners of your mouth (oral commissures) and the edges of your lips (vermillion border). The botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles around your upper lip, which makes your lip “flip” upward a tiny bit (eversion) and appear larger than normal.
A lip flip involves injecting a type of abobotulinumtoxin A, such as Botox, Dysport, or Jeuveau, into the top lip. The goal is to relax the orbicularis oris muscle, which helps form and shape the lips. The injection encourages the top lip to relax and “flip” outwards, giving the subtle illusion of a fuller lip.
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.
Patients can expect up to 10 units of Botox with every Botox lip flip to achieve the full, maximum volume look. Compared to other Botox procedures in the face, that's not too much Botox, making the Botox flip one of the more affordable and quicker Botox treatments.
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.
That's right: the original Nurse Shara Lip Flip is a stand-alone treatment for the top or bottom lip that doesn't call for additional lip fillers.
Sobel says that "if you inject [the needle with Botox] too deep, very often you can hit a blood vessel and bruise." What you do after the injection can also make a difference: Take care not to rub or massage the treated areas, as this can cause the toxin to migrate.
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.
A good injector should know where to never inject.
A qualified, experienced injector should never inject the area near the orbital bone right above the pupil. If Botox is injected here, it can drift down toward the upper eyelid and cause an eyelid droop. This can last from weeks to even months.
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.
It typically takes about 4 weeks for the filler to settle in and achieve the final, desired look. The results will typically last about 6 months.
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.
The lip flip amplifies the natural shape of your lips, without exaggerating, for an all-natural effect. It's a less-invasive option for lip enhancement. In fact, it's considered to be one of the safest and most widely used injectables on a global level. It's not as expensive as a lip filler.
Cons of the BOTOX lip flip
Before undergoing treatment, consider the following cons: Doesn't increase volume. 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.
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.
When the doctor injects Botox into your forehead, you may hear a crunching sound. This noise occurs because the needle goes through the galea — a fibrous sheet of connective tissue that forms the middle layer of the scalp.
However, when it is not performed properly, Botox can result in a "frozen" or fake look. The most common causes of botched Botox are: Improper injection techniques. Many unskilled injectors make the mistake of injecting Botox too deeply or too superficially into the skin.
Even the best physicians can cause a patient to bruise after administering BOTOX. It often occurs when the needle knicks a blood vessel, allowing blood to leak below the skin's surface and causing the surface to appear reddish and/or purple.
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!).
Lip flip results are temporary and last about 8 weeks. The effect wears off quicker than other areas where Botox is injected because the amount of Botox used is necessarily small and the lip muscles are particularly active.
A lip flip is a cosmetic procedure that uses Botox to enhance the appearance of your lips, specifically your top lip.
Botox lip flip is not a permanent cosmetic procedure. To maintain the results, you'll need to repeat the procedure roughly every 3 to 4 months, or as long as it takes for the effects of the Botox injections to wear off.
Patients typically experience tenderness and swelling in the lips during the first 24 hours after their BOTOX lip flip. To aid in recovery and optimize results, patients should carry out the following for the first few days: Apply cold ice packs for 10-minute intervals to reduce inflammation.