Have you heard the term lip flip or lip lift and wondered what the differences are between these treatments versus your typical lip filler or implant? Let’s dive into more detail about these procedures to see which may be best for you!

A lip flip is a non-surgical treatment that is performed with a neurotoxin (Dysport or Botox) to evert the vermilion border of the upper and/or lower lip. With a lip flip, the neurotoxin is injected into the orbicularis oris muscle, which is a muscle that naturally constricts or ‘purses’ the lips. By relaxing this muscle, you can ever so slightly evert the pink part of your lip to heighten the body of the lip. This treatment has minimal downtime (with few injection points) and lasts for a few months.

Lip filler is another non-surgical treatment where hyaluronic acid, like Restylane or Juvaderm, is injected into the vermilion border and/or the body of the lip to enhance and plump your underlying anatomy. This treatment has minimal downtime, but you can expect swelling and potential bruising in the days after the procedure. Plan your lip filler accordingly and make sure to have the treatment done at least two weeks prior to any special event. Lip filler can last anywhere between six months and a year.

A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the distance between the base of your nose and the upper lip (philtrum). This procedure will provide eversion of the upper lip vermilion border. A lip lift has relatively minimal downtime, but you will have sutures along the base of your nose that will need to be removed after one week.

A lip implant is a more permanent solution to lip filler – a silicone implant will be placed inside the body of the lip to provide uniform enhancement. Sutures are usually dissolvable with the lip implant. Surgical procedures require a little more upfront downtime with bruising and swelling but are longer lasting than our non-surgical options. Both surgical procedures can conveniently be done in the office with local anesthetic.

If you are looking for the least invasive treatment with a subtle change, a lip flip can be the best place to start. If you are looking for a little more volume but something less permanent, lip filler is a great option. Alternatively, if you are looking for a more permanent option to evert your lip or add volume, the lip lift or implant may be the best choice. If you don’t know which treatment is best for you, our providers can help guide you! Layla is a nationally board-certified PA who would be happy to discuss with you the non-surgical options for lip flip or filler. If you are interested in the surgical lip lift or implant, schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel today!