The lip flip is the least invasive lip enhancement in aesthetics: a few strategic units of Botox that make the upper lip appear fuller without adding any volume at all. It’s fast, cheap relative to everything else on an injectable menu, and one of the most popular “first treatments” in the industry.
How a lip flip works
The orbicularis oris muscle rings your mouth and slightly curls the upper lip inward, especially when smiling, which is why some upper lips all but vanish in photos. A lip flip places 4–10 units of Botox (or Dysport equivalent) along the upper lip border, gently relaxing that inward curl. The lip relaxes outward, showing more pink, a subtle but real change in shape and proportion.
Nothing is added, nothing is filled. That’s the entire point: it reads as your lip, slightly more visible.
What to expect
This is a true 10-minute appointment. A topical numbing cream is optional (many skip it: the injections are shallow and quick), the injector places a handful of tiny injections along the lip border, and you’re done. Skip straws, hard workouts, and face-down massages for the rest of the day.
Results develop over 3–7 days and settle fully by two weeks.
Results and duration
A lip flip lasts 8–12 weeks, shorter than forehead Botox, because the mouth muscle works constantly. Maintenance is 4–6 visits a year, which the low per-visit price makes reasonable.
Expect a subtle change: more visible upper lip, a softer “gummy smile” if you have one (a common secondary use), and better lipstick real estate. If you want obviously fuller lips, this isn’t the tool. That’s lip filler.
Is a lip flip right for you?
Great candidates:
Your upper lip disappears when you smile
You want enhancement that no one can point to
You’re filler-curious but hesitant: this is the low-commitment test drive
You have a mild gummy smile (the same technique, sometimes with a couple of extra units, reduces gum show)
Skip it if you rely on precise lip control professionally (wind instruments, some vocalists) or want dramatic volume.
What affects the cost
Flat pricing vs per-unit. Most clinics price lip flips flat ($80–250); per-unit pricing at high unit rates can quietly exceed that.
Combining treatments. Adding a flip to a same-day Botox or filler appointment is often discounted.
Injector skill. Placement is precise. A heavy hand causes straw-sipping problems. Experience matters more than product cost here.
Browse lip flip providers near you on ClinicCompass, or compare against lip filler if you’re deciding between the two.
Why people choose Lip Flip
Subtle, natural-looking enhancement (no added volume)
One of the most affordable injectable treatments offered
10-minute appointment with zero downtime
Great "test drive" before committing to lip filler
Are you a good candidate?
People whose upper lip thins or disappears when smiling, anyone wanting subtle enhancement without filler volume, and filler-hesitant first-timers
By location
Find Lip Flip near you
4,907 clinics across 334 cities list Lip Flip on ClinicCompass. 2,535 of them (52%) say on their own websites that they offer financing or payment plans;
ask about approval and interest before you book.
Filler adds physical volume inside the lip with hyaluronic acid gel. A lip flip adds nothing. A few units of Botox relax the orbicularis oris muscle at the upper lip border, letting the lip relax and roll slightly outward so more of it shows. Flip = subtle shape change, filler = real volume change. Many patients eventually combine both.
How many units does a lip flip take?
Usually just 4–10 units of Botox (or the Dysport equivalent) placed along the upper lip border. That's why it's one of the cheapest injectable treatments on any menu, often priced flat rather than per unit.
How long does a lip flip last?
Shorter than most Botox treatments, typically 8–12 weeks. The lip muscle is active constantly (talking, eating, drinking), so it metabolizes the product faster than the forehead does.
Will drinking through a straw feel weird?
For the first 1–2 weeks, some people notice mild weakness with straws, whistling, or pronouncing certain letters. It's temporary and dose-dependent. A conservative first dose minimizes it. If your work depends on your embouchure (wind musicians, for example), mention it; this treatment may not be for you.
Can I get a lip flip and lip filler together?
Yes, it's a popular combination. The flip enhances the visible portion of the upper lip while filler adds volume and structure. Some injectors do both in one visit; others prefer to flip first, assess at two weeks, then fill.
When will I see results?
The flip develops over 3–7 days as the Botox takes effect. Full result at about two weeks. Unlike filler, there's nothing visible immediately after the appointment except tiny injection points that settle within the hour.
Sources
Where this information comes from
Clinical facts on this page are checked against these primary sources.
2.Lip Filler Versus 'Lip Flip': Longitudinal Public Interest and a Brief Review of Literature, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (National Institutes of Health, PubMed Central)That a lip flip is an off-label use of botulinum toxin injected to relax the upper orbicularis oris muscle, the typical 4 to 6 unit dose, the roughly 8 to 12 week duration of results, and temporary trouble pronouncing words, drinking through a straw, and whistling as side effects.
3.Lip Flip Revisited: Clinical Outcomes and Neuromodulatory Basis of Upper Lip Eversion, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (National Institutes of Health, PubMed Central)That full results peak around day 15 (about two weeks), that a typical total dose is 4 units, and that the treatment should be skipped by people wanting dramatic volumetric lip enhancement.
4.Botulinum Toxin for Lip Inversion in Gummy Smile, Cureus (National Institutes of Health, PubMed Central)That the same botulinum toxin lip-flip technique is used as a secondary approach to reduce gum show in a gummy smile, and that transient difficulty using a straw is a recognized mild side effect.
