Lip Flip vs Lip Fillers
Botox Lip Flip – 1 syringe
Even before Kylie Jenner first used non-invasive lip enhancement to create a luscious pout, voluminous lips have been an exciting option for patients seeking to create fuller lips and a more youthful appearance. In the world of dermatology, a variety of different cosmetic treatments have been developed to boost the volume and contouring of the lips without the need for any downtime.
Injectable treatments such as dermal fillers and lip flip procedures have become incredibly popular for plumping the lips without the need for plastic surgery, particularly for those looking to create natural-looking lip augmentation. Hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvederm or Restylane, are frequently used to contour the lips and create subtle lip volume in order to make your lips appear poutier and fuller. Recently, lip fillers have risen to popularity as a way to create the appearance of fullness in the upper lip without relying on added volume. Both are excellent treatment options for those seeking to carefully improve or restore fullness in the lips without any need for invasive procedures that a plastic surgeon might offer.
If you’re interested in creating added volume, improving the appearance of thin lips, or reducing the appearance of a gummy smile, Dr. Green is here to help. Dr. Michele Green is known as the “lip queen” injecting some of the most beautiful lips in NYC. From subtle lip enhancement with Botox for a lip flip, to “Kardashian” or Kylie Jenner fuller lips, Dr. Green will help you decide the best cosmetic results for you. With Dr. Green, you can develop a carefully tailored lip enhancement treatment plan that best fits your cosmetic goals.
What is a Lip Flip?
A lip flip is a cosmetic procedure typically used to amplify the natural curvature of the lips, and is applied solely to the top lip. Typically, a lip flip relies on FDA-approved injectables like Botox and Dysport in order to relax the muscles surrounding the lips. The procedure relies on a neuromodulator to target and relax a small area of the muscle surrounding the lips (orbicularis oris muscle). In turn, the relaxed muscles encourage the upper lip to “flip” outwards, creating subtle lip enhancement that relies on your natural lip shape.
A Lip Flip is ideal for patients who are interested in creating fuller lips without using a dermal filler or engaging with plastic surgery, as well as those who feel they have a thin-lipped or gummy smile.
How does a Dysport or Botox Lip Flip work?
The process of a Dysport or Botox Lip Flip is fast and simple. Generally, a patient will receive four injections of Botox to create the lip flip: two injections into the Cupid’s bow (the double curve above the upper lip), and one injection into each corner of the mouth. These injections are able to essentially “freeze” nerve signals that activate movement within these particular muscles, causing the muscles to relax around the lip and encouraging the lip to “flip” upward in order to create a fuller look.
In order to provide this natural, fuller look to the lips, very few units of Botox are needed, which is part of why it’s become a popular option for patients who want to maintain the look of lip enhancement. Overall, the injection process lasts about 10-20 minutes, and patients experience very few side effects, though slight bruising or swelling of the lip can occur immediately post-treatment.
How long does Dysport or Botox Lip Enhancement last?
For most patients, the appearance of additional volume provided by a lip flip will last between 2-4 months. As the procedure requires no downtime and is quite cost-effective, most patients will engage with quarterly touch-up appointments to maintain their luscious new pout.
What is Lip Filler?
Lip filler typically refers to hyaluronic acid dermal filler, which uses the naturally-occurring substance of hyaluronic acid to kickstart collagen production in the body. Unlike a lip flip that makes your lips appear fuller, lip filler actually increases the volume of the lips. Hyaluronic acid lip fillers, such as Juvederm Volbella, Juvederm Ultra, Restylane Kysse, and Restylane Silk, can be applied to both the upper and lower lip in order to provide lip volume and clear definition along the border of the lips. Additionally, hyaluronic acid fillers do not have any effect on the muscles surrounding the mouth; they simply ignite new collagen production near the injection site, which in turn creates a plush fullness to the lips.
Lip filler is an ideal treatment for patients looking to increase the overall volume of thin lips, as well as for patients who are looking to reduce the appearance of aging around the mouth.
How long does lip filler last?
Lip filler treatment tends to last longer than a lip flip procedure, with added volume that lasts from six months up to a full year. Most patients will choose to engage in touch-up appointments on an annual or semi-annual basis to maintain their luscious, natural-looking pout. Restylane typically lasts 6 to 9 months and Juvederm generally gives fuller lips and lasts 9 to 12 months.
Does Non-invasive Lip Augmentation Hurt?
Non-invasive lip augmentation is generally considered to be a fast, easy, and relatively painless procedure. Like any injectable, you may feel a slight pressure upon injection, but any discomfort can be mitigated through the use of topical numbing cream. For both a lip flip and a lip filler cosmetic procedure, the process takes no more than 10 minutes, and patients are able to resume normal daily activity as soon as they leave the office. Non-invasive lip enhancement has become so popular in part due to its convenience and its painless nature, providing full results that improve the appearance of the lips without any need for recovery time or general anesthesia.
What is the Best Lip Injection?
When it comes to choosing the right lip injection for you, it’s easy to be torn between different treatment options. Patients often ask which lip injection is the ultimate lip injection but, in fact, there is no one “best” lip injection procedure. The best lip injection to meet your needs will be entirely based on your specific lip shape and aesthetic goals. In general, those who are looking for subtle lip enhancement to improve a gummy smile tend to opt for a lip flip, and those looking for all-over lip augmentation are likely to choose a dermal filler to create fuller lips. When you work with Dr. Green, she’ll closely examine your lips, carefully listen to your treatment goals, and discuss your medical history in order to determine which lip injection will provide you with the best possible results.
Dr. Green’s “less is more” philosophy will help tailor the type and amount of dermal fillers to have the best cosmetic results. From Juvederm Volbella, Restylane Kysse, and other dermal fillers, the key is matching the best product based on your lip shape and desired cosmetic lip enhancement. With over 25 years of experience in cosmetic injections, Dr. Green will help pick the best hyaluronic acid injectable for you for the ultimate lip plumping.
Juvederm Ultra Plus – 1 syringe
When it comes to developing your lip injection treatment plan, it is important to consider who your injector is. Severe side effects from lip fillers can occur if the filler is injected into a blood vessel, which is much more common with an inexperienced injector. Additionally, as a lip flip is an off-label use of neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport, it is crucial that your injector be a board-certified medical professional. Dr. Green is an expert in cosmetic injectables and anti-aging skincare, and the satisfaction and wellness of her patients is her top priority.
Lip Lift vs. Non-invasive Alternatives
A lip lift is a form of cosmetic surgery that is performed under local or anesthesia or sedation. During this procedure, a cosmetic surgeon removes tissue from the area below the nose, which reduces the space between the nose and the lips and, in turn, causes the upper lip to “lift” upwards. It is an option for patients who have a considerable amount of distance between the edge of the upper lip and the nose, though it does require recovery time, as it is a surgical procedure.
When it comes to lip enhancement, most patients seek natural-looking results that don’t require recovery time. Further, the permanent nature of a lip lift can be off-putting to some who are engaging with lip augmentation for the first time. For our patients, the ease and convenience of treatments like lip flips and lip fillers far outweigh the temporary nature of the treatment. The near-immediate results of lip flip and lip filler treatments, without the need for any downtime or invasive surgery, have made the result of lip injections an incredibly popular pout.
If you’re frustrated or self-conscious about your thin lips, a gummy smile, the appearance of wrinkles around the mouth, or want to enhance and create more luscious lips, lip injections may be right for you. Dr. Michele Green is an expert in NYC in lip augmentation and has been practicing cosmetic dermatology in New York for over two decades. Contact the office today to have Dr. Green help you create your own custom lip enhancement.
To find out more, please contact our NYC based office today or call 212-535-3088 to learn more about whether Botox, or a combination of Botox injections with dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Sculptra or Restylane, might be the best choice for you.