BOTOX® LIP FLIP
Lip Flip
A lip flip is one of the smallest injectable treatments we offer, and one of the most quietly transformative. With just a few units of Botox placed along the upper lip, the lip gently rolls outward and shows a little more of itself when you talk and smile. There is no filler involved, nothing added for volume. It is a subtle shift, and for the right person it is exactly enough.
At Esthetica Medspa, every lip flip is performed by a licensed medical provider after a real consultation. We look at how your lip moves, how much of it shows when you smile, and what is actually bothering you, then we decide whether a lip flip alone will get you there or whether another option fits better. That honesty is the whole point of starting with a conversation.
What to Expect With a Lip Flip
Subtle, Natural-Looking Lift
A lip flip relaxes the muscle along your upper lip so it gently rolls outward, revealing more of your natural lip. You look refreshed and balanced, never overdone.
Quick, Five-Minute Treatment
A lip flip uses just a few units of Botox along the upper lip and takes about five minutes. Most clients feel only a few small pinches and head straight back to their day.
When You'll See Results
The flip develops gradually over a few days, with the full effect at about two weeks. A lip flip typically lasts 2 to 3 months.
Safe, FDA-Approved Care
Performed by a licensed provider, a lip flip is very safe. Mild redness or small bumps can occur and settle within hours. We use only FDA-approved neuromodulators.
A Fuller-Looking Smile, Naturally
What is a lip flip
A lip flip is a quick treatment that uses a few units of Botox along the border of the upper lip to relax the muscle that pulls it down. As that muscle eases, the upper lip rolls slightly outward and appears fuller, without adding any volume. The effect is natural and understated, and it usually takes about five minutes to perform.
Because it relies on Botox rather than filler, a lip flip changes how your lip sits and moves rather than its actual size. It is a favorite for people who want a soft, believable enhancement that no one can quite put their finger on. The treatment is also popular with patients who feel their top lip disappears when they smile, since relaxing that muscle keeps more of the lip visible.
It is a favorite for anyone who wants a soft, believable enhancement that no one can quite put their finger on.
The muscle that circles your mouth is called the orbicularis oris. When it is active, it curls the edge of your upper lip inward and downward, which is why some people feel their top lip looks thin or vanishes in photos. A lip flip places a tiny amount of Botox at a few points along the upper lip border to relax just the edge of that muscle.
With the pull eased, the lip naturally everts, meaning it rolls outward to reveal a touch more of the pink surface. Nothing is filling or stretching the lip. You are simply seeing more of what was already there. This is why the result reads as natural: the shape is yours, just presented a little more generously. Placement and dosing are everything here, because too much product in the wrong spot can affect how you sip or pronounce certain sounds, which is exactly why this is a medical treatment and not a quick add-on.
A lip flip uses Botox to relax the upper lip so more of it shows, while lip filler uses hyaluronic acid gel to add real volume and structure. A flip is subtler and shorter-lived; filler is more dramatic and lasts longer. Many patients are choosing between the two, so here is how they compare.
If your lips are a reasonable size but your top lip rolls under or shrinks when you smile, a lip flip is often the smarter, lighter choice. If you genuinely want more fullness, a defined border, or to balance a thin upper lip against a fuller lower one, lip fillers will do what a flip cannot. The two are not rivals, and some patients eventually combine them, using a small amount of filler for volume and a flip to keep the upper lip from tucking away. During your consultation we will tell you plainly which one matches the result you are describing.
A lip flip typically uses about 4 to 6 units of Botox placed along the upper lip. That is a small amount compared with treating forehead or frown lines, which is part of why the effect is subtle and the treatment is quick. Your provider chooses the exact number based on your muscle strength and your goal.
A stronger lip muscle, or a desire for a slightly more noticeable roll, may call for the higher end of that range, while a very light, just-barely-there result may need less. Because we dose conservatively, especially on a first visit, we would rather start modest and add a touch at your follow up than overdo it and affect your speech or your smile. There is no single correct number that fits every lip, and any provider who quotes you one without looking at your face is guessing.
A lip flip usually lasts around 2 to 3 months. Because it uses only a few units in a very active area of the face, it tends to wear off faster than Botox placed in the forehead or between the brows. Most patients who love the look come back two to four times a year to maintain it.
You will not lose the effect all at once. As the Botox gradually relaxes its hold, your upper lip slowly returns to its usual position over a couple of weeks, and you simply book a maintenance appointment when you feel ready. Some patients use a lip flip seasonally, ahead of an event or a holiday, rather than keeping it up year round, and that is a perfectly reasonable way to enjoy the treatment.
A lip flip suits people who want a natural, low-commitment enhancement rather than a visible change in size. It is especially good for a top lip that thins or disappears when you smile, for a gummy smile where too much gum shows, and for anyone curious about lip enhancement who is not ready for filler.
It is less suited to someone who truly wants more volume or a reshaped lip, because Botox cannot add fullness. If that is your goal, filler is the honest answer, and we will say so. A lip flip also is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for people with certain neuromuscular conditions, which is one of the reasons we review your health history before treating. The best way to know if you are a candidate is a short consultation where we watch your lip actually move.
A lip flip is usually one of the more affordable injectable treatments because it uses so few units. The exact price depends on how many units your provider uses and the location you visit, so we give you a clear, itemized quote at your consultation before anything begins. There is no pressure to add treatments you did not come in for.
If you are comparing a lip flip with filler on cost, remember that they are not the same purchase. A flip is a smaller, shorter-lived treatment, while filler costs more per session but lasts longer, so the better value depends entirely on the result you want rather than the sticker price alone. We are happy to walk through both at your visit so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.
Your visit starts with a consultation. We talk about what you want to change, watch how your lip and smile move, review your medical history, and agree on a plan together. The treatment itself is fast, usually around five minutes, and most patients describe the injections as a few quick pinches. A topical numbing cream is available if you would like the area more comfortable.
You can head straight back to your day afterward. Mild redness, tiny bumps at the injection points, or a little tenderness are normal and usually settle within an hour or two. The flip is not instant. The muscle relaxes gradually over the next few days, with the full effect visible at about two weeks, which is also when we like to see first-time patients for a quick check.
Lip flip aftercare is simple. For the first 24 hours, avoid rubbing or massaging your lips, skip strenuous exercise and excessive heat, and try not to press your lips firmly together, through a straw or otherwise, so the product settles where it was placed. You can eat and drink normally, just gently. Most people notice the change beginning around day three to four, with the result maturing by two weeks. If your first treatment needs a small adjustment, we handle that at your two week check.
Benefits of a Lip Flip
- A fuller-looking upper lip without any filler
- Subtle, natural-looking results
- Softens a gummy smile
- Quick five-minute treatment
- Little to no downtime
- Wears off naturally in 2 to 3 months
Explore More Treatments
Botox is a registered trademark of its manufacturer. A lip flip is an off-label use of botulinum toxin performed at Esthetica Medspa by licensed medical providers following a personal consultation. Individual results vary. This page is for general information and is not medical advice.
Lip Flip Near You
Lip Flip is available across our Esthetica Medspa locations. Book your complimentary consultation at the location nearest you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book your lip flip consultation
A lip flip is one of several injectable treatments we offer. To compare your options, visit our injectables overview, or look at lip fillers if you want real volume and Botox if movement lines are your main concern. You can also browse all of our services.
Esthetica Medspa has seven locations across Tampa and Lakeland (FL), Louisville and Bellevue (KY), King of Prussia (PA), Newark (DE), and San Antonio (TX). Book a consultation with a licensed provider near you and we will tell you honestly whether a lip flip is the right call for your smile.
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