Most of you know I practice regenerative and aesthetic medicine in the Nashville area, but I’ve yet to share a before and after on GITG. Well, this patient is near and dear to my heart and results of this lip flip before and after just too pretty not to share, so here we go!

Recently my BFF visited from Pennsylvania. Danielle has always been one of those people that wakes up looking photo ready for a Victoria’s Secret sunset shoot. She’s gorgeous in an effortless way. She mentioned to me that she had been wanting to add a little extra plump to her top lip but had never tried injectables and was really back and forth on filler. She hadn’t heard of the lip flip, so we talked about it and she did some research and decided it was worth trying. If she got it and ended up wanting more, we could always add filler. Well, we both ended up loving the results! See her beautiful face below in a raw untouched before and after.

I’ve also included some really helpful info on what exactly a lip flip is, and how to determine if it’s a good treatment option for you.

What is a Lip Flip?

A lip flip is when we inject a very small amount of neurotoxin (Botox, Xeomin, Jeuveau) right outside of the lip line to evert it slightly. This helps your lip look a little more plump or full. Neurotoxins work by minimizing the action of a muscle, so in the case of the lip flip we are trying to weaken the action of the orbicularis oris muscle. This is a round muscle around the mouth that allows us to do things like pucker and drink from a straw. With the lip flip, you can still perform these actions but it might feel a little different than before because the muscle isn’t as strong.

Lip Flip vs Lip Filler: Product Difference

The lip flip requires a neurotoxin (Botox), lip filler is hyaluronic acid. Neurotoxins work to weaken or paralyze a muscle, while filler is a thicker substance that is injected to add volume and stays there for a period of time (the amount of time filler lasts depends on the product used, usually around 6 months to a year or so).

Lip Flip vs Lip Filler: Results Difference

The lip flip produces a very subtle, very natural looking result while filler adds more volume and can give a more dramatic effect. The lip flip lasts roughly 4-8 weeks for most people, less than the usual neurotoxin treatment because we use our lips so much that the lip flip tends to fade faster than say upper face Botox (however I’ve personally had lip flips last closer to 3 months, everyone is different). Lip filler has the potential to provide a very dramatic result, literally adding volume to the lips.

Lip Flip vs Lip Filler: Downtime/Aftercare

The Botox lip flip takes 1-2 weeks to take full effect. There is no downtime, swelling is very minimal if at all present and resolves within a day. Bruising is a risk with any injection but not as common with the lip flip. You should avoid laying flat for 6 hours following the injection, and avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours following. Also avoid massaging the area after injection.

Filler results are immediate, but noticeable swelling is expected for about 72 hours or so, and bruising up to a week. Although not required, typically it’s preferred that lip filler injections are performed when you have a few days to lay low. 

Who should NOT get Botox

• Patients with a history of ALS, myasthenia gravis, or other neuromuscular condition
• Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Patients with history of significant keloidal scarring
• Patients with known allergy to injection ingredients

Conclusion

if you are wanting a very subtle, natural looking result the lip flip might be the best option for you. If your goal is to add volume and a more noticeable result, then filler might be a better option. If a patient is really unsure, I typically recommend starting with the lip flip because it costs less, is more temporary and if you decide you want more volume we can always do filler after that. Some patients even like to combine the lip flip and filler to add both volume and eversion of the lip.  

Before and After

*** These are by NO means professional pictures, just some we took with a cell phone and not great lighting, but you get the just of her subtle, yet noticeable plump.

Let me know if y’all like aesthetic before and afters and I’ll start sharing more of them.

If you are in the Nashville area and interested in an aesthetics consult, check out our clinic, Invigorate Health. We do some other fun things like wellness IVs and microneedling too (& more).

*As always, consult with your provider to determine if you are a candidate and which treatment option would be best for you.