There’s a little moment that happens in our chair at least a couple of times a week. Someone books a lip appointment, sits down and says something like “I want fuller lips, but nothing obvious, you know?” and then we ask them to smile, and we ask whether their top lip kind of disappears when they do. If they say yes, the whole conversation tends to go somewhere they didn’t expect when they walked in.
That’s really the heart of the lip flip vs lip filler debate. People compare these two all the time as if they were rival versions of the same thing, but they aren’t, because one of them changes the shape and the other one adds volume, and once that clicks for you, choosing between them gets a whole lot easier.
What Is a Lip Flip?
So, what is a lip flip, in plain terms? A few drops of Botox (Dysport works too) go in along the edge of your top lip, right into that ring of muscle around the mouth that anatomy textbooks call the orbicularis oris, and the whole thing takes about as long as it takes you to read this paragraph.
The muscle loosens its grip a tiny bit, the top lip tips outward, and suddenly there’s more pink on show when you grin. We haven’t put anything into the lip itself. You’re just finally seeing the lip you had all along, which is why most people simply call it a Botox lip flip.
It’s lovely for a top lip that vanishes when you laugh, and it can calm down a gummy smile too. Think of it this way: the flip changes the shape and how much lip shows, and whenever you want extra volume, more symmetry, a crisper border or a fuller bottom lip, that’s where filler comes in.
What Is Lip Filler?
Filler is the one that actually adds stuff. It’s a hyaluronic acid gel that goes right into the lip for volume, shape and a sharper outline, and since HA is a sugar your own skin is full of anyway, it tends to sit pretty comfortably in there. HA fillers are FDA-approved for lip augmentation, too (here’s the FDA overview of dermal fillers if you like reading the official stuff).
Dose is where people get nervous. 0.5 ml lip filler, the so-called half syringe, is our usual pick for a first-timer or someone who just wants a bit of hydration and polish. 1 ml lip filler is a full syringe, and on most mouths it’s noticeable without screaming “I got my lips done.”
“Okay but how much lip filler should I get?” is probably the thing we’re asked most at the mirror. If a natural lip filler look is the goal, start at a half or a whole syringe and add later if you want, since you can always add and it’s a lot more annoying to take away. With lip filler for thin lips we usually chase shape before size, and if crisp and lifted is your vibe, have a read of our piece on the Russian lip filler technique.
Lip Flip vs Lip Filler, Side by Side
| Lip flip | Lip filler | |
| What it changes | Shape and visibility of the upper lip | Volume, structure, definition |
| Product | Neurotoxin (Botox, Dysport) | Hyaluronic acid gel |
| Amount | About 4 to 8 units of Botox, or about 10 to 20 units of Dysport | 0.5 to 1 ml per session |
| When results appear | 3 to 5 days, full at 2 weeks | Immediately, settles in 2 weeks |
| How long it lasts | About 2 to 3 months | About 6 to 12 months or longer |
| Downtime | Almost none | Swelling for 2 to 4 days |
| Can it be reversed? | No, it wears off | Yes, HA can be dissolved |
If you want the one-line version, lip filler vs lip flip is basically a choice between having more lip and seeing more of the lip you’ve got.
Lip Flip Before and After: Lip Flip Day by Day
Lip flip before and after photos are subtle, and that’s sort of the point. Here’s roughly how the lip flip day by day timeline goes for most people:
- On days one and two you won’t see anything yet, maybe a couple of tiny bumps where the needle went in that are gone within the hour.
- Around days three to five the upper lip starts relaxing and rolling outward a little.
- By days ten to fourteen you’ve got your full lip flip results, with the top lip looking a bit fuller, especially when you smile.
Comparing lip flip vs lip filler before and after shots side by side, filler shows an obvious change on day one (along with some swelling), and lip filler before and after pictures tend to show much bigger differences in size, whereas a flip mostly changes how the lip sits.
The Sommelier Team says: “The people who end up loving their lip flip the most are the ones whose lip basically vanishes when they smile. For them a few units do more than a whole syringe of filler ever would.”
How Long Does a Lip Flip Last?
A lip flip Botox result usually lasts somewhere around two to three months, sometimes a bit less, and people are often surprised it’s shorter than Botox in the forehead. There’s a pretty simple reason though, which is that the dose is tiny and the muscle around your mouth never really gets a day off, it’s working every time you talk, eat, sip a coffee or kiss someone. Lip filler, by comparison, tends to last about six to twelve months or longer depending on the product and your metabolism.
How Many Units for a Lip Flip?
If you’re wondering how many units for lip flip treatment you’d need, most people land somewhere around four to eight units of Botox. With Dysport the numbers look bigger, usually somewhere around 10 to 20 units, but that’s only because Dysport units are measured on a different scale, not because you’re getting a stronger dose. The exact number depends on how strong your muscle is and what effect you’re after, and getting it right matters, because too little and you won’t notice anything while too much can make the lip feel a bit weak for a while. Our guide on how much Botox you need explains how units work in general if you’re curious.
How Much Is a Lip Flip?
A flip only uses a handful of units, so it’s usually the cheaper visit of the two. Lip flip cost is mostly about how many units go in, whereas lip filler cost is usually by the syringe. If you’re asking how much is a lip flip next to filler, think smaller bill today but more trips back over a year, so it kind of evens out depending on how you look at it.
Lip Flip Side Effects (and the “Gone Wrong” Stories)
Most lip flip side effects are small stuff, a bit sore, a bit pink, maybe one little bruise. The funnier part is that with the muscle a little lazy, the first week or two can make straws weirdly tricky, whistling goes out the window, your “p” and “b” might come out softer, and swishing mouthwash can turn into a dribble situation.
When people search for “lip flip gone wrong,” it’s usually those effects they mean, or a smile that looks slightly uneven for a while. The good news is it’s all temporary and wears off as the product fades, and choosing an experienced injector who starts with a conservative dose cuts the risk down a lot.
Lip flip aftercare is pretty simple: stay upright for about four hours, don’t rub the area, skip heavy workouts for the rest of the day and leave the straw alone for the first day. There’s more detail in our Botox aftercare guide, and if you’re going with filler instead, have a look at our lip filler aftercare tips.
When Another Option Suits You Better
It’s low risk, and for most people it’s a great fit, but in a few situations we’ll point you toward something that suits you better. Trumpet players, flutists, professional singers, anyone whose job lives and dies on exact mouth movements, even a few weeks of a slightly lazy lip can drive you up the wall. If you’re after bigger lips rather than a new shape, filler is the tool for that, and the same goes for very thin lips, where adding a little volume first gives the flip something to work with. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with a neuromuscular condition, we’ll hold off for now. A bit of filler, or simply waiting, usually makes more sense for those folks.
Three Myths Worth Clearing Up
Myth 1: “A lip flip is just cheaper lip filler.” It’s a different treatment with its own result: the flip reshapes, filler adds volume, so if volume is the goal, filler is your friend.
Myth 2: “Filler always looks fake.” A conservative amount, placed well, just looks like you were born with nicely full lips.
Myth 3: “You have to pick one.” You can have both, and combining them is pretty common.
Which One Should You Choose?
Grab a mirror for this bit. Smile big: does the top lip kind of disappear? Then a lip flip is a strong option. Relax your face: are you wishing your lips just looked bigger sitting there? That’s filler territory. Do you show a lot of gum when you smile? A lip flip for gummy smile cases can soften that nicely. And if this is your first time trying any lip treatment at all, a few units of neurotoxin or half a syringe of filler is a pretty low-commitment way to start.
A lip flip for thin lips works best when there’s some fullness that’s hidden by the muscle pulling it in. If the lips are naturally very thin, filler usually gives a more satisfying result.
Can You Get a Lip Flip and Filler Together?
Oh, absolutely, it’s one of our favorite combos. When you do a lip flip and filler together you can get away with less filler, since the filler adds a little body and the flip props the lip out so more of it shows, and to our eye the result tends to look softer than filler on its own.
Quick Answers
Will a lip flip make my lips bigger?
Not in terms of volume, no. It makes the upper lip look fuller by letting you see more of it.
Does lip flip work for everyone?
Not always. It works best when the upper lip tucks inward when you smile, and your injector can usually tell you in a few seconds whether you’re a good fit.
Is the procedure painful?
It’s very quick, usually just a few small pinches, and most people don’t even bother with numbing cream.
Will it affect how I talk or drink?
Maybe a little, for a week or two, mostly with straws and the odd “p” sound. Then it settles.
I already have filler. Is a flip still worth it?
A lot of the time, yes. It shows off the filler you’ve already paid for without adding another drop.
The Takeaway
Strip it all down and lip flip vs lip filler is shape against volume. If you want more of your lip to show, a few units might be all you need, if you want more lip, filler is the answer, and if you want both, they work beautifully together. And if you’re tired of scrolling through endless “lip flip near me” results, our Forest Hills med spa clinic is an easy trip for anyone in Queens looking for a lip flip NYC appointment away from the Manhattan rush.
Not sure which camp you’re in? Just smile at us. One look at how your upper lip moves tells our injectors whether a Botox lip flip or lip filler will get you closer to the look you want, with no pressure and no upselling, just an honest answer from our Forest Hills team.
