Botox Lip Flip

What Is a Botox Lip Flip?

A Botox lip flip places a few very small amounts of Botox just above the upper lip border. It acts on the orbicularis oris, the ring of muscle around the mouth, at the point where that muscle holds the upper lip in against the teeth. Those fibers relax, the lip stops being tucked under, and the pink vermilion edge turns outward, so the upper lip looks fuller at the size it has always been. The flip changes the position of the lip border; no volume goes into the lip. The change appears across the first week and is complete at about two weeks, then fades sooner here than in areas where the muscle moves less. The FDA has not approved Botox for the lip, so treating it this way is off-label.

The Lip Flip at Beauty and Fly

Lip flip injections at the Bronxville and Bridgehampton offices are placed by Catherine Curtin, MSN, FNP-C. Each side of the lip is dosed for how hard it pulls, the first round is kept light, and the lip is examined again at two weeks, with a small addition at that visit if more is needed.

Is a Botox Lip Flip Right for You?

• A lip flip suits adults whose upper lip is a normal size but looks thin because muscle holds it in against the teeth, and those whose lip curls under while they speak. A mild gummy smile responds to lighter dosing.

• It addresses an upper lip that flattens or disappears in a smile, a border that rolls inward during conversation, and a mild gummy smile where the lip lifts high above the teeth.

• Medical history and current medications are reviewed at the consultation. A lip short on volume needs filler, and anyone whose work depends on exact lip control, such as singers and wind players, is assessed first.

What Are the Benefits of a Botox Lip Flip?

The upper lip shows more of its pink edge and looks fuller without any volume being injected, and the smile still moves the way it always has. A lip that curls under in conversation stays turned out, and a mild gummy smile shows less gum above the teeth. The appointment is brief and there is no social downtime afterward. Because the effect wears off on its own, a flip is a low-commitment way to see how a fuller upper lip suits your face before choosing filler. Botox is $15.50 per unit, and the number of units is set at the examination. Consultations are complimentary and there is no deposit.