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Differences between a Lip Flip and a Lip Filler

Phone the plastic surgery clinic team for Dr Hunt or Dr Maryam on 02 9327 1733 to make an enquiry or book an appointment. For more information or to request a consultation with Dr Jeremy Hunt or Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Please contact us and a member of the plastic surgery team will be in touch shortly.

With ageing, your lips may start losing their definition and fine lines can form around the edges. Lip flip and lip filler procedures are aimed at addressing this concern. A Lip flip and lip filler are totally different procedures, so you need to know the difference between the procedures in order to achieve the desired result.

For more details about the lip flip or other lip procedures, contact the team at Dr Jeremy Hunt, a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with cosmetic clinics in Sydney and Wollongong NSW.

What is a Lip Flip?

A Lip flip is a new procedure in which cosmetic injections of botulinum toxin are used on the lips. These injections can relax the nerves of orbicularis muscles which are in the upper lip. The procedure allows the upper lip to ‘flip’ outward and provide fullness. The procedure is suitable for you if your upper lip is smaller than your lower. A Lip flip can be helpful to reduce a gummy smile.

How is the Lip Flip Performed?

2 to 3 days before the procedure you need to avoid drinking alcohol or taking blood thinner. The procedure takes up to 10 minutes. Usually, the injecting nurse will not use anaesthesia because the procedure is generally not painful. The nurse injects the substance to relax the muscle and create the flip effect.

Reason Why Patients Choose Lip Flip:

  • A Lip flip procedure is an efficient procedure for lip enhancement
  • The procedure is recommended for those who wish to address a gummy smile
  • A Lip flip can take up to 10 minutes
  • The treatment is less costly as compared with lip filler
  • There is generally no downtime after the lip flip procedure, so you can start your normal routine after the completion of the treatment
  • You can see the significant results within 1 to 2 days and can lasts up to 8 to 12 weeks

Cons of Lip Flip:

  • The results of lip flip don’t last as long as the results of lip filler
  • You may feel numbness and swell on the treated area after the treatment

How Long Do the Results Last?

Lip flip results are not permanent and last up to 2 to 3 months. When you notice that your lip flip results are wearing off, you should consult your injector. You need a touch-up treatment to maintain the results.

Potential Complications after Lip Flip:

There are usually no complications after the lip flip, but you may experience minor side effects. They can include:

  • Bruising
  • Swelling

What Is a Lip Filler?

The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.

Lip fillers are injections with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is naturally formed in our body that can be helpful to provide volume and restore moisture to the skin. Fillers are injected into the Vermillion border of the lip to increase volume. It can be an effective procedure to get soft, poutier, and fuller lips. Lip filler also fills in the lines around the lips with the aim of smoothing the appearance of the skin.

Lip Filler Procedure:

During the lip filler procedure, the nurse injector may apply topical anaesthesia to numb your lips. The procedure may take at least 30 minutes. The injector may use thin needles to inject the hyaluronic acid filler into the lips. Lip filler can be injected in all areas of lips including vermillion border, corners of your mouth, and Cupid’s bow. During this process, you generally do not feel any pain but you might experience a pinching sensation. The injector might also apply ice packs during the process to minimise the swelling and bruising.

Why Patients Choose Lip Filler:

  • Lip filler can provide longer-lasting results – up to one year
  • The chances of allergic reactions are very low
  • You can notice the results of lip fillers immediately
  • Fillers can be helpful to make your lips plumper and smooth the lines around the lips
  • The treatment has a short downtime
  • The lip volume depends on how much hyaluronic acid gel is injected into your lips and can be controlled by your injector

Cons of Lip Filler:

  • The Lip filler procedure is more expensive than lip flip
  • You may experience some side effects but they do not last for a longer period

How Long Does Lip Filler Result Last?

You can see immediate results after lip filler treatment. The results can last up to one year and you can talk to your surgeon about the touch-up procedure.

Potential Risks and Complications after Lip Filler:

After lip filler, you may experience the following side effects.

  • Bruising
  • Redness
  • Tenderness
  • Mild pain
  • Swelling and inflammation

How Can I Choose between Lip Flip and Lip Filler?

Lip flip is used to alter the shape of the lips and lip filler is used to increase the volume of the lips. You can consult your injector and they will tell you which is more suitable for you. If you want to get more volume to the lips then you should choose lip filler treatment. If you are satisfied with the volume of your lips and want to add projection on your lips, the lip flip may be the most suiitable option for you.

Combination of Lip Flip and Lip Filler:

If you want to increase the volume and control the shape of your lips, then you can combine both lip flip as well as lip filler procedures. During this process, the lip flip can alter the shape while lip filler can increase the volume of the lips.

FAQs about Lip Procedures

Is lip flip more effective than lip filler?

  • The lip flip is a procedure to alter the natural shape of your lips. The procedure is considered efficient for lip enhancement. A Lip flip is a different procedure than lip filler, but lip flip is less expensive as compared with lip filler. A Lip flip also accentuates the results of the lip filler process.

Does lip flip make your lips appear bigger?

  • Lip flips contain botulinum toxin which relaxes your upper lip and it points upward. The procedure does not make your look appear fuller, it is used to adjust the shape of the lips.

What is the aftercare of lip flip?

  • After lip flip, you should not do exercise for at least 24 hours. Then, you may experience a small bump at the injection sites, so you can apply a wrapped ice pack on it. You should avoid sleeping face down after the treatment for some days.

At what age can you start getting lip flips?

  • Lip flip is approved for people who are 18 years or older. Most injectors agree to perform lip flips on people who are in their 20s and 30s.

Does lip flip change the smile?

  • The lip flip can make your appear lips fuller, and poutier and also add more definition to the upper lip. So, it can show relaxed fullness during a smile and change the shape of your natural smile.

How do I maintain the results of a lip flip?

  • Lip flip is a procedure that changes the shape of your lips. During this procedure, the injector injects botulinum toxin into the top of your upper lip. For maintenance, you need to get touch-up treatment after every 2 to 4 months.

Do my lips look natural after a lip flip?

  • During the lip flip procedure, your surgeon injects botulinum toxin into the upper lips. After some days, the injections aim to make your lips appear fuller. Lip flip looks more natural as compared with lip filler.

Do my lips go back to normal after a lip filler?

  • Since lip filler is a temporary procedure, it can dissolve in your body and your lips look as they were before the procedure. The speed of absorbing the hyaluronic acid gel depends on the metabolism and lips return to the normal volume after the hyaluronic acid is completely dissolved.

Does my lip volume reduce if I stop lip fillers?

Does lip filler cause pain?

  • Lip filler is a procedure that does not generally cause pain.

Can I get a combined treatment of lip filler and lip flip?

  • Yes, you can get combined treatment of lip filler and lip flip at the same time. These two treatments have different primary ingredients, in other words, hyaluronic acid is used in lip filler while botulinum toxin is used in lip flip. Therefore, you can get lip filler and lip flip treatment at the same time but injections target different areas of the lips.

Does lip filler last longer than normal the second time?

  • The longevity of the lip filler depends on the types of filler that are used for the treatment. Often, injectors may use hyaluronic acid filler which lasts up to 6 to 18 months. In some cases, the time period may be a little bit longer or shorter.

Does the injector use anaesthesia on your lips before lip fillers?

  • The injector may apply numbing cream or topical anaesthesia to the lips before the lip filler treatment. It takes at least 30 minutes to start working.

What is better – lip flip or lip filler for my lips?

  • Lip flip and lip filler are two different procedures and are used for different purposes. If you have thinner lips or you may notice a loss of volume, you may consider a lip filler. If you are not satisfied with your lip shape or have dynamic wrinkles due to muscle movement, a lip flip is the suitable option for you.

What is the aftercare for lip filler?

  • You should avoid getting facial massage or microdermabrasion after Lip Filler. Additionally, excessive exposure to sunlight may cause redness, swelling, or bruising around the treated area.

Further Reading about Lip Flip and Lip Filler

Medical References – Lip Flip & Lip Filler


About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has ensured that thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia have received high quality surgical care.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

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