One question we commonly hear, especially given its popularity, is whether or not a lip flip is the same as Botox, which it is. Many patients also wonder what the difference between a lip flip and lip filler is, and which might be best. Each of these treatments at Spa West offers its own pros and cons – let’s go through them to help you decide which makes sense for your lips.
Botox® Lip Flip
Botox temporarily alleviates moderate to severe wrinkles. It is especially effective against some of the most common and persistent signs of aging, leaving a naturally enhanced appearance. When done correctly, your face should never appear “frozen” or overdone.
Some of the popular benefits of a lip flip include:
- Creating a plumper, natural looking upper lip
- No downtime after treatment
- Less Botox units make it more affordable
- Results that last up to three months
- No commitment is necessary unless you want to keep the results
- Enhancing your natural features
- Improving a gummy smile
A highly requested use for Botox at Spa West is injecting a few units of it above the upper lip to achieve the favored “lip flip”. It’s a very quick treatment, where a certified injector will strategically place Botox units into the lip line, near the vermilion border and near the corners of the mouth. Using Botox to perform a lip flip relaxes a small area of the orbicularis oris muscle, the muscle that surrounds the lips. By relaxing tension in this muscle, this allows the lip to flip upwards and makes the upper lip volume more pronounced. As a result, a lip flip creates a fuller, plumper, yet natural-looking upper lip.On average, you will notice the effects of a lip flip within a few days following treatment, with full results in about one week.
Patients with gummy smiles particularly appreciate Botox lip flips, as they reduce the amount of lip movement when smiling. If your upper lip curls upwards, recedes, or disappears completely when you speak, you may be a perfect candidate for a lip flip. This technique prevents excess teeth from showing, hides the gums better and achieves a more balanced and poutier look.
However, Botox might not be for everyone. If you want immediate results, you won’t want to wait for Botox to take effect and are better off opting for lip filler. We like to note that some patients have stiffer lips after treatment, which can take some time to get used to. Also, those with very thin lips might not see the benefits they want with Botox and instead should consider fillers.
Hyaluronic Acid Lip Fillers
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is the main ingredient and the key to achieving plump, healthy lips while retaining moisture.
Some of the popular benefits of HA lip filler include:
- Plump, hydrated lips
- Sculpted and defined lip shape
- Improved lip smoothness
- Instant, noticeable results
- Reduction in lip lines and wrinkles
- Results last up to 1 year
- Reversible
Unlike the simplicity of a lip flip, lip fillers take a more custom approach. Your aesthetic provider will carefully inject filler in different areas of your lips to strategically fill them. Depending on the results you are hoping for, dermal fillers offer a much more dramatic finish without waiting to see results.
There is a lot of versatility with HA lip fillers, making them quite popular for balancing your aesthetics. However, it’s important to note that fillers are more expensive than Botox along with being more invasive.
Comparing Lip Flip & Lip Filler
The biggest difference between the two is the results you can expect. Lip flips don’t add volume, but they do make your lips appear fuller for a few months. Lip filler does add volume directly to the lips, smoothing lines as it works. Additionally, Botox lip flip only targets the upper lip, while lip filler is injected into both the upper and lower lip. As a result, lip filler provides a more dramatic, overall enhancement for either the shape of your lips, the fullness of your lips, or both. Botox requires more treatments to uphold results, but it reshapes your existing features without adding anything to your lips. As a result, Botox lip flip lasts about 3 months compared to lip filler, where you can expect the results to last upwards of 1 year.
When comparing lip flips and lip filler procedures, pain tolerance is another difference to consider. On average, a lip flip hurts less than lip fillers. Injecting Botox into the lip area is like injecting small amounts of water into a few specific areas, so the pain is generally more minimal. With a lip filler treatment, it may be more uncomfortable due to the volume and the thickness of the product being injected. Additionally, the lips have more than a million different nerve endings, making them one of the most sensitive areas on your body. As a result, this may increase discomfort when getting lip injections, as they are administered on different areas of the upper and lower lip.
Another big difference between a Botox lip flip and lip filler is that a lip flip is irreversible. If you are unhappy with your treatment, you cannot reverse the results and must wait until the Botox wears off in a few months. Lip filler on the other hand, can be reversed right away by dissolving the HA with injections of hyaluronidase. Within 3-4 days, lip filler will have dissolved, and your lips will return to their natural appearance.
Neither treatment is considered to be better or worse than the other. Essentially, it comes down to the look that you’re hoping to achieve, and the maintenance you’re willing to keep up with. If you are desiring a more dramatic enhancement to your pout, then lip filler would be the best option for you. However, if you are looking for a more subtle improvement, but you’re not ready for the commitment that is lip filler, Botox will likely be the option for you.
Enhance Your Lips in Westlake with Botox and Fillers
If you’re ready to enhance your natural beauty, consider a trip to the spa for your choice of transformational treatments. Rejuvenate, relax, and pamper yourself – you deserve it, after all. From relaxing the muscles with Botox to adding volume with fillers, our team is here to help.
Spa West is proud to be a leading provider of Botox in Westlake, Ohio. In addition, we are also a primary provider of safe, effective lip fillers in Westlake. When you select our medspa for lip augmentations our team will evaluate your lips, listen to your aesthetic goals, and determine which method of enhancement is best for you.
Give us a call at (440) 517-5228 to learn more about non-surgical lip augmentations.
*Results vary depending on your natural lips, the treatment of choice, and your body’s response to treatment. Any cosmetic treatment comes with the possibility of side effects. We do not guarantee results, but we do share results that our patients regularly achieve to give you an idea of how you might benefit from Botox or lip fillers.
