Lip Flip in Huntersville, NC

What a lip flip does

The muscle around your mouth pulls the upper lip inward when you smile or talk. A lip flip places a small amount of neurotoxin along the top edge of the lip so that muscle relaxes a little. The lip rolls slightly outward, and more of the pink part shows.

That's the whole effect. The lip isn't bigger, and the shape you see at rest may barely change. People who like a lip flip usually want their smile to show more top lip, not a different mouth.

Lip flip or HA filler?

They solve different problems. A lip flip changes how the lip moves. HA filler changes how much lip there is, and it can define the border. If what bothers you is thin lips at rest, filler is usually the better fit, and the details are on my page about HA filler for lip volume. Some people do both, and some start with a flip to see whether that's enough.

How much a lip flip costs

The pricing page lists a lip flip at 4 to 6 units. All neurotoxins are $13 per unit, so that's $52 to $78. You pay for the units used, and I confirm the number at your free consult before anything is injected.

If you're also treating the forehead, the 11s, or crow's feet, those units are the same $13 each. Botox in Huntersville covers those areas.

Does it hurt, and what's the downtime?

The lip is more sensitive than the forehead, so expect a few sharp pinches. It takes a couple of minutes. Most people go straight back to work. A small bump, a little redness, or a bruise at an injection site is possible.

If you sing, play a wind instrument, or talk for a living, tell me at the consult. The muscle we relax is the one you use to purse your lips, so we'll talk about dose and timing.

How long a lip flip lasts

You'll notice a change over the first several days, and it's settled at about two weeks, which is when your follow-up happens. MedlinePlus says cosmetic Botox for frown lines, forehead lines, and crow's feet may be repeated every 3 to 4 months, depending on how long the effect lasts. Those are the areas that guidance covers. The lip isn't one of them, so I won't promise a number for a flip. We'll look at how yours held up and plan from there.

An honest note about labeling

The FDA prescribing information for Botox Cosmetic lists specific approved cosmetic areas, such as frown lines, forehead lines, and crow's feet. The upper lip isn't on that list, so a lip flip is an off-label use. Off-label use is common in aesthetics, and I'd rather tell you up front than have you find out later.

Your first visit

We start with a free consult. I watch your lip at rest, when you smile, and when you talk, and I'll tell you honestly whether a flip will show. If you want to go ahead, it can usually happen the same visit. At two weeks we check the result together, and I add a unit or two at no charge if it needs it.

When to wait

Tell me at your consult, before anything is injected, if any of these apply:

• You're pregnant, planning to be, or breastfeeding.
• You have a condition that affects muscles or nerves, such as myasthenia gravis, ALS, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, or you've had trouble swallowing or breathing.
• You've had a side effect from any botulinum toxin product before.
• You have a big event in the next two weeks.

The CDC has tracked people hurt by counterfeit product or by someone without a valid license. Its page on botulinum toxin injections is worth reading before you book anywhere.