I Got a Lip Flip Instead of Filler and I'm Never Going Back

When it comes to adding volume to your lips, you can either reach for a plumping lipgloss or you can try lip filler for longer-lasting results. But did you know that Botox can also add volume to your lips? Yes, the muscle relaxer can actually make your top lip look fuller when it’s injected by an experienced professional. If you’re after a more subtle result from injectables, then the Botox Lip Flip Treatment may be the right treatment for you.

I sought out several plastic surgeons and a dermatologist to explain everything you need to know about the Botox Lip Flip treatment. She also tried out the treatment myself at Le Jolie, a boutique spa that sits on the edge of West Hollywood and champions a deft, light-handed approach to layering treatments.

What Is the Botox Lip Flip Treatment?

Rather than overloading patients on lip filler, plastic surgeon, Parvaneh Rafaeloff, MD, is a big fan of the "lip flip," a Botox treatment that helps relax the top lip and "flip" it out, revealing a less gummy smile. For me, it's also a decidedly less invasive approach to creating the illusion of fuller lips, since it kind of just zhuzh-es up my natural shape without adding a ton of extra volume. But let's get a little more technical about it, shall we?

"In general, Botox prevents the release of the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which nerves release in order to make muscles contract," says plastic surgeon, Dara Liotta, MD. "When [injecting] Botox into a specific muscle, the effect is that the targeted muscle relaxes. Using Botox to perform a Botox lip flip can help relax a very small area of the orbicularis oris muscle (the muscle that surrounds the lips). Relaxing tension in this muscle can allow the lip to flip upwards, creating a poutier look."

"You can do the same with the muscle responsible for the gummy smile," Dr. Rafaeloff adds. In other words, if you're working with lip volume that in my case, I didn’t even know I had—you’re just flipping the lip up to make it more visible. Botox is injected in extremely small quantities around the corners of the mouth and near the cupid’s bow, creating the illusion of fuller, poutier lips, without fillers or other treatments.

Benefits of Botox Lip Flip Treatment

• Cost-effective alternative to lip fillers
• Won't cause a drastic change to the look of your lips
• A fuller-looking upper lip
• Little downtime/recovery
• Results in a few days

"The botox lip flip keeps the upper lip from thinning, or 'disappearing' when you smile, and can also prevent excess teeth [showing], or the 'gummy smile,'" Dermatologist, Jessie Cheung, MD, shares. There is a con, though—and it is why you'll want to visit a certified injector before jumping in. "Too much Botox can weaken your upper lip so that your smile looks flat. You can't use a straw or kiss, and [it] may even affect how you speak," Dr. Cheung reminds us. As someone who chats a lot, I live in fear of losing my ability to speak.

"A lip flip provides many benefits including a subtle and natural-looking enhancement, increased lip definition, and it also improves lip symmetry," plastic surgeon, Ariel Ostad, MD, says. "The results last 4-5 months depending on the patient and the procedure is noninvasive as well as relatively quick."

The Best Candidates for Botox Lip Flip Treatment

The best candidates for a Botox lip flip are those who have a thinner upper lip and desire additional volume in that area. Patients who feel their upper lip recedes, curls, or completely disappears when smiling or speaking, even exposing excess teeth or gums when smiling, can benefit from the lip flip and achieve a poutier aesthetic.

"Many patients are candidates for some degree of lip enhancement. Careful review of the patient's goals and expectations will determine if a lip flip alone or if a lip flip with additional filler will be required," Lyle S. Leipziger, MD, a plastic surgeon, adds. "In patients with very thin lips, a lip flip may not be enough to produce the desired effect."

Potential Side Effects

As with any medical procedure, there are a potential side effects. Botox can lead to bruising or temporary swelling and, as we've explained before, headache and flu-like symptoms. In more severe and less common cases, it's even led to temporary drooping of the skin and there is a slight risk of creating an asymmetrical smile. These risks are rare and generally reversible, so be sure you go to a licensed practitioner.

Cost of Botox Lip Flip Treatment

The cost of Botox can vary widely, though a single unit of Botox usually ranges around $20. As a lip flip usually requires roughly six units of Botox, you can expect to spend between $120-$300 total. But, it's important to note that the experience and location of your injector will have an impact on pricing.

How to Find a Qualified Provider

The best way to find a qualified Botox injector is to do your research and ensure that wherever you go is an established medical and cosmetic clinic. Look for practitioners who focus on Botox and other injectables, and have lots of before and afters (and solid ratings) on the cosmetic service. For the record, some practitioners might note that this particular use of Botox is technically off-label—that is, it hasn’t been specifically approved by the FDA. But that also just means finding a board-certified practitioner is a must, to ensure that you’re getting a safe (and quality) application.

Aftercare Tips

"Immediate post-treatment aftercare consists of icing the upper lip for several minutes to reduce swelling," Dr. Leipziger says. "I also ask patients to refrain from exercise for the rest of the day and to limit any dental appointments for one week after they get the treatment done. In addition, I ask lip flip patients to return in two weeks to check the symmetry of the upper lip." 

Dr. Ostad says it's best to avoid alcohol, laying down or bending over for an hour after getting injections. Also, avoid chewing anything hard immediately after the treatment.

Remember, the treatment isn't a permanent fix. The fullness subsides over time and must be maintained with regular top ups every three months or so.

The Botox Lip Flip Treatment vs. Traditional Lip Fillers

The cool thing is that both the Botox Lip Flip treatment and traditional lip fillers can be applied at once. The piece de resistance might actually be adding a smidge of filler for a highly personalized approach—perhaps along your vermillion line (the edge of your lip), in your cupid’s bow, or for a little additional volume– in your upper or lower lip. "Filler is used to create volume in a lip and to help enhance or change the shape of your lips to your liking,” adds Dr. Rafaeloff. “Botox just [targets] muscles that need relaxing.”

Filler tends to be far pricier than Botox: While a Botox lip flip can run anywhere from roughly $50 to $500 (depending on how much you need), a lip filler treatment can start at anywhere from $500 to $1000. That makes this a cost-effective approach to lip enhancement, and with minimal downtime, too. (Typically, the results from the lip flip tend to kick in five to seven days after your treatment, just like regular Botox).

My Results 

The Final Takeaway

It’s all worth it to me when it means getting a little touch-up that feels very me—and not even in a Facetuned, airbrushed kind of way. I prefer a je ne sais quoi; the kind of subtlety that can’t even be traced to my mouth. “Wow—you look so glowy,” said a coworker the day after my last appointment. "Fresh-faced." Mission accomplished.

If you're interested in a lip flip, do your research and book an appointment for a consultation ahead of committing to anything. Your injector may tell you that Botox for fuller lips may not be the most impactful route for you, but then you can figure out what is.