It depends on whether you want subtle lift or added volume.
Broadly speaking, there has been an increase in lip enhancement market ever since social media filters have popularized “perfect” lips. But it makes the decision harder for the patients. Should they go for the trendy Lip Flip that sells like hotcakes on TikTok or genuinely retain the Lip Filler?
The question “Which is better?” is akin to “Is a high-heeled shoe better than a sneaker?” The answer depends on your unique facial structure and what you want aesthetically, just like the answer depends on the event and which foot is used.
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, we have the Lip Flip or Filler argument almost every day. The scenario is like this: quite a few patients come in with the intention of a Lip Flip because they are scared of “duck lips” and a few of them realize that what they want is actually volume, later on. On the other hand, there are those who come in asking for filler when they only need the relaxation of a hyperactive muscle. What makes choosing easier is to get to the root of the difference, their working principle: one relaxing a muscle, the other physically inflating a tissue. To help you decide which treatment suits your needs best we take a detailed look at the two procedures.
The Lip Flip: The Slight “Roll” (Botox)
The Lip Flip is a kind of neuromodulator treatment that uses toxins such as Botox or Dysport, rather than a filler. Naturally, it is not concerned with volume but rather a mechanical problem. Several people have a very strong Orbicularis Oris muscle that surrounds their lips. This muscle very tightly contracts the upper lip inward and thus hides it completely when they smile.
Many microdoses of Botox are injected into the vermilion border (the outline of the lip) to weaken the muscle temporarily. This muscle relaxation causes the lip to come “out” and “up.” This treatment does not physically add volume in any way. What it does is that it reveals the pink mucosal skin, which was kept hidden inside your mouth before. Lip Flip or Filler? If you have a plump lip that disappears on smiling or if you reveal an excessive amount of your gums (gummy smile), the Lip Flip will be the better alternative. It gives a rather flat, subtle, and natural result that is hardly noticeable, as if you were just born with a slightly poutier mouth.
Lip Filler: The Volume Maker (Hyaluronic Acid)
Lip Filler is the undeniable leader when it comes to structural changes. The treatment includes implanting a gel made of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) which is a naturally occurring substance in your body very close to skin, the lips in particular. This gel is injected straight into the lips. The results of lip filler are beyond pure visual trickery that Lip Flip can only offer.
If it happens that your lips look inherently thin, dull, irregular, and asymmetrical, hence making your whole face look dull, a Lip Flip won’t do you any good. You can’t invert non-existent lips. Lip Filler can physically double the height of the Cupid’s bow, add more prominence to the side view, and replenish the tissue. It is the mastermind of the lip. People have the fear of “duck” lips while at the same time, advanced procedures and great-quality fillers (such as Juvederm or Restylane Kysse) enable us to create a shape that is defined and sharp without looking over-inflated. In case you want a transformation noticeable even without a smile, Lip Flip or Filler is no contest: you have to pick filler.
The Fear of “Duck Lips”
The fear of migrating and ending up with the “Simpsons” upper lip is what most people want to get a Lip Flip for. This fear is totally understandable but often misplaced. “Duck lips” are caused by an incompetent injector who places too much filler in the wrong plane or when filler migrates into the white skin above the lip (the cutaneous lip).
In this respect, a Lip Flip is “safer” since it does not add any volume and consequently, can never protrude. The profile will stay completely flat. Nonetheless, a Lip Flip also involves the risk of aesthetics. That is, if the muscle is over-relaxed, the lip might look stretched out or the smile might look “droopy” and flat, like lacking the natural “lift” of a smile. Lip Flip or Filler safety is not only about migration, but also about maintaining the natural facial expressions. A bad Lip Flip would result in you looking like a stroke victim whereas the bad Filler would turn you into a cartoon character. Both treatments require highly skilled practitioners.
Longevity and Lifestyle: The “Straw Rule”
One of the biggest distinctions of Lip Flip or Filler is how long their effects last and in what ways they influence your daily life. The adoption of a Lip Flip is a short-term decision. Botox effect fades rapidly, typically in 8 to 12 weeks, since the mouth is a high-usage area. So, you would have to do this 4-5 times a year.
In contrast, Lip Filler can be considered as saving up for something special. Depending on your metabolism, a good quality HA filler will last you between 6 and 12 months. Nevertheless, a Lip Flip has an exclusive functional side effect: for approximately 2-3 weeks, you may find difficulties with a straw, whistling, or forcefully spitting out toothpaste. That is because, after the loss of muscle strength, one cannot make a tight seal. Filling does not interfere with muscle activity. Therefore, if you are a trumpet player or speaker by profession, the functional limitations of Lip Flip might point to Filler as your best bet.
The Best of Both Worlds: The Hybrid Lip
Who says you have to choose? For many patients at Lin Health Europe Clinic, the solution to Lip Flip or Filler has always been “Both.” We mostly carry out a Hybrid Lip procedure.
With a bit of filler, we provide structure and moisture to the vermilion border as well as the body of the lip. We mix Botox at the upper angle to make it flip. This is a really strong combination. The filler is the baseline, and Botox keeps the lovely volume from hiding under your smile edges. With this method, the visible area of the lip (the “show”) is magnified without necessitating very large amounts of filler volume. It is sometimes the secret behind the most glamorous celebrity lips.
Lin Europe Experience: Customization
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, there is no “menu” for you to just choose from. We study your smile dynamics. During the consultation, we ask you to smile, talk and pucker. If the top lip is long (a long philtrum), we might suggest not doing a Lip Flip as it will make your lip look longer.
In case we detect that your lips are extremely thin, we won’t just tell you about the disappointment of the Lip Flip but also we take you to the correct path of a soft and well-hydrated filler. We weigh your lips, chin, and nose ratio first. Whatever method you pick, Lip Flip or Filler, our aim is a harmonious result. Our micro-droplet technique is used for filler and accurate electromyography-guided placement for Botox to make sure your outcome is what you expect, safe, and authentic to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Flip or Filler
If you compare the cost per session, the Lip Flip is much cheaper since it uses only a small amount of Botox price.
No. A Lip Flip only feels like a couple of very minor pinpricks and takes no more than a minute. Lip Filler requires a bit of manipulation and pressure though nowadays, fillers contain numbing lidocaine to help with the pain.
Of course! This is the so-called “Hybrid” method. Lip Flip targets the muscle, whereas Lip Filler increases the skin volume. These two treatments are an ideal match for a lifted, pouty look.
Normally, a Lip Flip shouldn’t ruin your smile, but it can certainly alter it. The Lip Flip limits the extent to which your top lip can elevate. It’s possible that if you normally show a lot of teeth when you smile, your smile might look “flatter” or lower during the few months that the treatment lasts.
By and large, a Lip Flip looks more natural since it does not alter your anatomy but just your facial expression. That said, a talented injector may produce a Lip Filler result so natural that it is impossible to see the treatment as he/she observes the inherent proportions.
Teixeira, J. C., et al. (2021). Lip Repositioning and Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Treatment of Gummy Smile. Case Reports in Dentistry.
Sahan, A., & Karaosmanoglu, N. (2019). The versatile use of hyaluronic acid fillers in the face. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Benecke, R. (2012). Clinical relevance of botulinum toxin immunogenicity. BioDrugs.
