A "lip flip" is a procedure that uses botox to tighten muscles between the nose and upper lip, which can make the lips appear fuller and eliminate a "gummy smile" and/or fine lines above the lip. Most experts say you need 4 to 6 units of botox for the procedure, but there is a lot of variation among sources out there.
The amount of Botox units needed for a lip flip typically ranges between 2-10 units. The more units used, the longer a lip flip will last.
The effects of Botox will eventually fade. A lip flip typically lasts between two to five months.
How Much Botox Is Needed for a Lip Flip? Botox lip flip involves injecting between 2-8 units of Botox depending on what results you are trying to achieve. To enhance the top lip and add the subtle appearance of volume requires fewer injections than correcting a gummy smile.
The Best Candidates for Botox Lip Flip Treatment
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.
How Long Does a Lip Flip Take To Settle? Since no filler is injected, the lip flip doesn't have to relax or settle, but it takes 1-2 weeks for full effect of the Botox™, although the onset of relaxation begins in about 4 days for most patients.
In terms of this procedure, the upper lip refers to the area between the base of the columella (the middle column of the nose) and the reddish pink of the lip. Throughout facial plastic surgery, the ideal length of this area is said to be 12-15 millimeters.
On average 25 units of Botox will give your skin by your glabellar a full correction and will remove the 11 lines. The '11 lines' are the glabellar lines in between your eyes and eyebrows. The amount of units botox between the eyebrows and eyes that you need for your 11 lines is dependent on how severe your lines are.
How do you perform a Lip Flip? Generally, four injection points of 1 unit each, are used. The injections are superficial, above the vermillion border of the upper lip, in the white lip. Four evenly spaced injection points along the lip are required.
Lip flips are one of the most affordable cosmetic treatments on the market. Botox typically costs anywhere from $11-$15 per unit, and a lip flip generally requires only 4-6 units depending on each person's anatomy. For anyone new to Botox at The Urban You, book in June for exclusive Botox pricing at $11.50 per unit!
Typically, people start to see a noticeable difference after one week, but Dr. Garshick says the effects can begin to kick in after just a couple of days. “Results should be in full effect after two weeks,” she adds.
Botox Lip Flip Aftercare
Avoid alcohol and nicotine for 24 hours. Don't apply pressure to the treated area. Avoid exposure to the sun and heat.
BOTOX lip flips are simple, but they can have a major impact on your appearance. They use a small amount of BOTOX to help you achieve the results you want – fuller, more attractive lips. Lip flips produce natural results, so you can be confident in the way your lips look after your procedure.
Dysport is the brand name for type A botulinum toxin called abobotulinumtoxinA (ABO). Dysport can contain 300 or 500 units of ABO and is diluted to create varying effects. Dysport is used by cosmetic and plastic surgeons to provide lip flips and smooth wrinkles on the face and forehead.
Whether you choose a lip flip with BOTOX® or lip fillers (or both!) is entirely up to you and your individual aesthetic goals. 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.
On average, our 30-40-year-old patients treat between 90 and 120 days with about 40-50 units when treating all 3 upper face areas including the forehead, frown, and “crow's feet.” We customize each treatment to your unique facial features. No cookie-cutter injection patterns here!
As a baseline, you'll need anywhere between 4 to 6 units for smaller areas, and upwards of 25 to 50 units. This will all depend on the discretion of your plastic surgeon and the treatment plan that they might propose. Other things to consider are your muscles, metabolism, budget, and overall goals when getting Botox.
A trained provider will watch your facial movement to see exactly where injections should be placed. Number of units – The manufacturer suggests up to five units per injection site (25 units total) to achieve the desired results, but dermatologists say they provide between 20 and 50 total units in this area.
As we age, the upper lip elongates and forces the corners of the lips downward, which can make you appear angry, sad or worried even if you're happy. A corner lip lift is a relatively simple cosmetic procedure that lifts the corners of the mouth for a more youthful appearance and happier expression.
Patients considering lip lift surgery should keep in mind that the procedure does not physically add volume to the lips in the way that lip fillers and lip implants do. Instead, the appearance of a fuller upper lip is created by repositioning and/or manipulating certain features of the lips, like the vermilion.
A lip flip uses Botox injections to expose more of the upper lip for a plumper and more symmetrical appearance. The results are temporary and need to be refreshed for continued results. A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and upper lip.
You likely will be happy with the Botox lip flip if:
You would like a subtly more prominent “pout” to your lips. You feel your upper lip looks invisible when you smile. You want fuller-looking lips but do not want additional volume. You want a more temporary treatment (3-4 months)
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.
Most people will begin to notice a difference in the appearance of their lips several days after the procedure, as the Botox takes up to two weeks to reach full effectiveness. Over the course of the next few weeks, you may notice that your lips have more volume and definition and appear fuller than before.