Understanding The Difference Between A Lip Flip With Botox, Lip Filler, & A Lip Lift
The perfect pout. While it’s impossible to pin down exactly what the “perfect pout” looks like— after all, it varies patient by patient based on our aesthetic preferences— there’s one thing that’s undeniable: women (and men) all across the globe have been chasing it for decades!
One of the amazing things about how far we’ve come in the world of plastic surgery and aesthetics is that patients have so many options available to help them accomplish their goals. Whether your dream lips have dramatic volume, are subtle yet shapely, or prioritize symmetry, the reality is that there’s a treatment out there to help make those dreams a reality. The downside? Sometimes there are too many options, and it can be hard for patients to figure out what procedure is really best for them. That’s where our team comes in!
There are three primary treatment options available for patients who are looking to transform their lips: a lip flip, lip fillers (also known as lip augmentation), and a lip lift. We offer all three here at HZ Plastic Surgery, and each one has its own pros and cons. Today we’re walking you through each procedure and its benefits so that you can figure out what works best for your specific needs!
Option #1: Lip Flip With Botox (Injectable)
What Is A Lip Flip?
A lip flip is an injectable procedure that’s used to increase the height of the upper lip conservatively. It’s a great option for more subtle transformations or for patients who are ballin’ on a budget! During the procedure approximately 6 units of Botox are injected along the vermillion border of the upper and/or lower lip to relax the muscle and slightly evert or “flip” the border of the lip outward to give a larger appearance.
Pros & Cons Of A Lip Flip
Some of the biggest benefits of a lip flip are that the procedure is noninvasive (i.e. super quick and super easy!), has zero downtime, looks natural, and is much less expensive than lip filler or surgery. On the flip side, the results from this procedure are temporary (most last about 2 months and require maintenance) and aren’t as noticeable as filler or surgery. For some patients this natural look is a pro, but for those who want a more dramatic look it’s a con!
Many patients end up using lip filler in conjunction with a lip flip to increase the volume and plumpness of their lips since a lip flip alone will not add volume to the lips.
Option #2: Lip Augmentation With Filler (Injectable)
What Is Lip Augmentation?
For patients who want a plumper, more voluminous transformation, lip augmentation through the use of lip filler is a great option! Lip augmentation with filler is an injectable procedure used to increase volume and plumpness in a patient’s lips, improving their shape, definition and structure. Fillers with hyaluronic acid like Juvederm and Restylane products are injected strategically into the upper and lower lips to achieve a fuller, hydrated, more youthful appearance!
Pros & Cons Of Lip Augmentation With Filler
Lip augmentation with filler provides a happy medium for many patients - it’s not as invasive as a surgical lip lift, but the results are more noticeable and last longer than results from Botox lip flips. Additionally, patients can always have their lip filler dissolved down the line if they end up changing their mind about how they want their lips to look! On the downside, HA fillers do provide temporary results (most last between 6-12 months and require maintenance) and have a bit of downtime, albeit minimal. Patients typically experience about 1 week of swelling and possible bruising post-procedure.
A botox lip lift may be used in conjunction with lip fillers for patients who want to increase the height of their upper lip in addition to its volume.
Option #3: Lip Lift (Surgical)
What Is A Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure used to increase the height of a patient’s upper lip. It also shortens the distance between the nose and the top of the upper lip, which increases in distance as we age. The subnasal bullhorn lip lift works by making a hidden incision at the base of the nose and removing a sliver of skin to pull the lip upward. The result? A permanent transformation that’s perfectly tailored to the patients’ needs!
Pros & Cons Of A Lip Lift
The biggest pros of a lip lift are that the surgery is entirely permanent and will provide more noticeable results than a Botox lip flip. The con, unfortunately, is that this is the most invasive (and expensive) option available. A lip lift is a legitimate surgery, and as such is performed under local anesthesia and requires sutures in place for 1 week post-surgery.
Similar to the Botox lip flip, lip lifts are sometimes performed in conjunction with lip filler to increase volume and plumpness in the patients’ lips.
Regardless of whether you’re looking for adjustments to the shape, size, or plumpness of your lips, the team here at HZ Plastic Surgery offers all of the cutting edge aesthetic and surgical treatments available to help you accomplish your goals! Schedule a consultation with our team today to discuss your options and take the first step towards achieving that perfect pout.