A lip flip uses Botox to relax the muscle above the upper lip so more pink shows when you smile, and it fades in about 8 to 12 weeks. Lip filler adds hyaluronic acid gel you can see at rest and holds for about 6 to 12 months. One repositions, the other adds volume.
Key takeaways
Written by Jen Adams, RN. Medically reviewed by Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director. Last updated August 2026.
Medical disclaimer: this article is general education, not medical advice. Botox and dermal fillers are prescription treatments that carry risks, and not everyone is a candidate. Individual results vary. Talk to a licensed provider about your health history before booking any injectable treatment.
A lip flip and lip filler address different aesthetic concerns. Here’s how each treatment works for non-surgical lip augmentation, including their duration and FDA approval:
A lip flip relaxes muscle, while filler adds volume. A lip flip uses Botox; a few units relax the muscle above your upper lip so it rolls outward and shows more of the vermillion, or the pink part of your lips. Lip filler uses hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body, to restore volume and improve hydration in the lips.
Most patients see results that last about 8 to 12 weeks for a lip flip. Lip filler in the lips typically lasts about 6 to 12 months.
Botox is approved by the FDA for frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. Since lips do not officially appear on the FDA-approved label for BOTOX Cosmetic, a lip flip is an off-label use of an approved medicine, which is legal and routine in medical aesthetics. Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is FDA-approved for lip augmentation.
For a more comprehensive overview of the two treatments, here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| What you are comparing | Lip flip | Lip filler |
| Product used | Botox | Hyaluronic acid gel filler |
| What it does | Repositions the lip you already have | Adds volume to the lip |
| Visible at rest? | Barely. It shows when you smile or talk | Yes, whether you move or not |
| How long it lasts | About 8 to 12 weeks | About 6 to 12 months in lips |
| Units or volume | Roughly 4 to 6 units | 0.5 ml half syringe or 1.0 ml full |
| Cost tier | Lower. One flat rate per treatment | Higher. Priced per syringe |
| Reversible? | No. It wears off on its own | Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved |
Two notes on that cost row. Unit counts vary by face, so treat 4 to 6 as a starting range and not a quote. Hyaluronidase, the enzyme used to dissolve filler, breaks down hyaluronic acid gels only. It does not dissolve Sculptra or Radiesse, which are different materials entirely. On cost, a lip flip is a flat $199 and lip filler is $399 for a half syringe or $699 for a full syringe. Our lip flip cost guide breaks the units and the full pricing down, and current figures live on our pricing page.
We will tell you if a lip flip cannot get you the result you are picturing. Individual results vary.
Knowing what a lip flip and lip filler cannot do helps you better understand which of two treatments is more suitable for your aesthetic goal. For example, a lip flip does not add volume or retain hydration in the lips, and lip filler cannot relax the upper lip or fix a gummy smile.
| Treatment | What it cannot do | Who it suits |
| Lip flip | Cannot add volume.Cannot correct asymmetry that comes from lip structure.Cannot rebuild a thin lip.Cannot hold for months the way filler does. | Someone with reasonable lip volume whose upper lip disappears when they smile, or who wants a gummy smile softened |
| Lip filler | Cannot change how much gum shows when you smile.Cannot relax a tight upper lip muscle.Cannot be undone in the same visit.Cannot turn a very thin lip full in one half syringe. | Someone who wants shape, volume, or hydration for their lips at rest and results that last for months |
Many patients combine both and end up with lip filler at InjectCo for shape and a small flip on top of it to stop the upper lip rolling under. Since the flip has to be dosed around the filler that is already there, this should be discussed with your licensed nurse injector for optimal results.
A lip flip gives your lips a visible upper-lip curl when you smile, though it doesn’t make your lips appear fuller at rest. That’s where filler comes in. Since you won’t be smiling all the time, it helps to know what a lip flip or lip filler looks like when your lips are at rest.
After a lip flip, your lip looks close to what it looked like before. Someone who studies your face might notice the upper lip sits a little lower and shows slightly more of the vermillion or pink part. Most people will not notice anything.
Smiling is where it shows most. The upper lip stops rolling up and under, so less gum is visible and more of the lip stays in frame. Most patients describe it as looking like they had stopped tucking their lip in.
At rest, the lip appears fuller, the border reads sharper, and the top edge catches light with lip filler. Through a smile it stays full, though an upper lip carrying too much product at once can flatten a wide smile and give you a stretched look, which is why you should only have a licensed, trained nurse injector perform your treatment.
A lip flip lasts 8 to 12 weeks on average. The muscle circling your mouth works nearly all day. You talk with it, eat with it, and drink with it. Botox placed in a muscle that active tends to wear off faster than Botox placed between the brows.
In comparison, HA lip filler tends to last longer, or 6 to 12 months on average, because it adds a more stable hyaluronic acid gel structure to lip tissue, which your body slowly breaks down over time.
However, deciding which non-surgical lip augmentation treatment is best for you ultimately depends on your specific aesthetic goal. If you want to fix a gummy smile or achieve a more subtle result, then a lip flip would be the right fit.
At InjectCo, a licensed nurse injector will recommend a suitable treatment plan for your goals, including maintenance sessions for optimal results.
Ask a licensed nurse injector what your lips will actually look like at rest, before you book.
Every injection at InjectCo is performed by a licensed nurse injector with physician supervision, across nine Texas locations. If you’re considering a lip flip treatment in Texas, your nurse-led appointment starts with a mirror and an honest conversation, not a needle.
If your goal is a lip that looks dramatically different in photos, a lip flip will not get you there at any dose. Pushing the units up does not add volume. If you want more visible results, lip filler can help you achieve fuller lips.
Here’s a simple breakdown to help you determine which treatment suits you better:
| Lip flip | Lip filler |
| Your lips already have volume and the problem is how they move:The upper lip vanishes when you smileToo much gum showsNervous about injectables like fillerWant a subtle result that fades on its own | Want to see a difference at restWant shape or definition rather than repositioningPrefer results that last through a whole season rather than a few weeks |
Providers decline to treat during pregnancy and breastfeeding because safety data is limited for both treatments. You should also wait if you have any of the following:
Bring your records to your consultation if you have had a bad reaction to Botox or filler before. Results vary, and a good injector will tell you when the answer is no.
These are the questions patients ask most often once they understand that one treatment moves the lip and the other fills it.
No. A lip flip uses Botox to relax the muscle above the upper lip, and filler uses hyaluronic acid gel to add volume. They use different products and produce different results. A lip flip changes how your lip sits, mainly when you smile.
It is a small injection with a fine needle into a sensitive area, so most patients report a quick pinch rather than real pain. It takes a few minutes and topical numbing is available if you want it.
A lip flip at InjectCo is a flat $199. Lip filler is $399 for a half syringe or $699 for a full syringe. Our lip flip cost guide sets out the units, the pricing, and what changes the total.
Often yes, and many patients do. The order and dosing matter, so your injector will plan how much filler goes in and where the Botox sits relative to it. That is a consultation conversation.
Your lip returns to how it sat before. No product remains in the tissue, so there is nothing left behind and no rebound effect. Most patients notice the change fading somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks.
Not directly. There is no reversal agent for Botox the way hyaluronidase reverses hyaluronic acid filler, so a lip flip has to wear off on its own. That is one argument for starting with a conservative dose.
A nurse injector will assess your lip shape and structure and explain what each treatment can realistically do. Individual results vary.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is general education, not medical advice. Botox and dermal fillers are prescription treatments that carry risks, and not everyone is a candidate. Results vary between patients. Talk to a licensed provider about your health history before booking any injectable treatment.
Written by Jen Adams, RN. Jen is a licensed nurse injector at InjectCo MedSpa specializing in facial injectables, lip filler, and natural looking results. Read her full bio and the rest of the clinical team on our meet our team page.
Dr. Allen earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency with Texas A&M. As Medical Director, he reviews InjectCo’s treatments, protocols, and patient education content for accuracy and safety across all nine Texas locations.
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