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.