What is a lip flip?

Lip flip Charlotte

Full lips are a sign of youth and beauty, and are highly sought after. Many people are seeking fuller lips. If that’s your goal, cosmetic medicine offers you a few options. One of these is a procedure known as a “lip flip.” Although it’s not a new procedure, it’s been getting more attention recently. What is a lip flip? How can you know whether it’s the right choice for you?

A lip flip uses botox

A lip flip involves using botox. This is an injectable substance that’s used to relax particular muscles. When it’s injected, it binds to certain receptor sites on nerve endings, which blocks the nerves from activating the muscles. The effect lasts for a few months and then gradually wears off. Botox is the most popular injectable cosmetic treatment, and it has been for years.

For a lip flip, botox is injected just above the upper lip. This relaxes particular areas of the muscles around the mouth, which normally act to pull the upper lip upward and outward. The injections are usually done around the corners of the mouth and around the cupid’s bow (the small curve in the middle of the lip). 

When there’s less pull from the muscles above the lip, the top of the lip will flip upward and outward a bit. This can make the upper lip look fuller. A lip flip doesn’t actually add any volume to the lips. Instead, it helps to make better use of the volume that’s already there. A lip flip may also help those whose upper lip turns inward or flattens out excessively when they smile or laugh, causing it to appear too small.

Lip flips vs other lip augmentation options

If you’re seeking to have fuller lips, another option is fillers. These are substances that are injected into the lips to add volume. The fillers used in the lips are generally composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that acts to hold water in the tissues.

Lip flips may work well for younger people who want a relatively subtle augmentation of the lips. Some people find that a lip flip looks and feels more natural than fillers. However, for those whose lips have lost volume (often due to aging), then a lip flip won’t be able to add back that volume. In this situation, fillers may be a better option.

For those who desire a more permanent solution, surgical lip augmentation with implants is also an option. This is a way of adding volume to the lips, without requiring a repeat treatment every few months in order to maintain the results. Good candidates for this option are those who have already gotten lip fillers and like the results, so they want to maintain those results permanently.

Lip flip Charlotte

If you’re looking to have fuller lips, you have a few different options. To learn more about lip flips and to determine whether this might be a good option for you, we invite you to book a consultation with Dr. Miles. He’ll be happy to talk with you more about the various lip augmentation options, and to let you know which one would be most likely to achieve the results that you’re looking for. To book your appointment, please contact our office.