Medically reviewed by Jacquelyn McDowell, FNP-C, Medical Director, and Courtney Strocky, NP. Last reviewed November 11, 2026.
A lip flip uses a small amount of Botox to relax the muscle along the upper lip so the lip rolls slightly outward and shows more of itself. Lip filler adds actual volume with a hyaluronic acid gel. If you want a subtle change to the upper lip and you are fine with it lasting a few months, a lip flip is the smaller, cheaper first step. If you want more fullness, shape in both lips, or a defined border, filler is the treatment that can deliver it. Plenty of people end up doing both.
What is a lip flip?
A lip flip is a neuromodulator treatment. A few tiny injections go into the orbicularis oris, the ring of muscle around the mouth, right along the border of the upper lip. Relaxing that edge of the muscle lets the upper lip turn up and out a little, so more of the pink part shows when your face is at rest and when you smile.
A lip flip shows more of the lip you already have. A 2025 systematic review in Archives of Dermatological Research found the procedure typically uses 4 to 6 units of botulinum toxin and produces consistent upper lip eversion with improved contour. The same review reported high patient satisfaction and side effects that were mild and short-lived, mainly trouble whistling or drinking through a straw, which resolved within weeks.
The lip flip is an off-label use of botulinum toxin, which is common in aesthetic medicine. The published evidence is still small. A 2021 paper in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery noted how little literature existed on the technique when it first became popular, and the 2025 review found only seven studies that reported injection sites and doses. What the research shows so far is encouraging and modest, which matches what the treatment does.
At Original Glam, the Botox Lip Flip is listed at $95 for a 30-minute appointment on the Botox and injectables page. Glam's page describes the result as "a fuller, plumper, but natural-appearing upper lip."
What is lip filler?
Lip filler is a hyaluronic acid gel injected into the lips to add volume and shape. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule your skin already makes, and the gel holds water, which is part of why filled lips look soft and plump. The FDA lists augmentation of the lips among the approved uses for dermal fillers.
Filler can do several things a lip flip cannot:
- add fullness to the upper lip, the lower lip, or both
- define the border so the lip line looks crisper
- balance a top and bottom lip that are uneven in size
- soften fine vertical lines around the mouth when placed well
At Original Glam, Lip Filler starts at $800 for a 60-minute appointment and includes one syringe. Glam's FAQ says lip filler typically lasts 6 to 9 months, and that results are immediate, with the final look settling in within 5 to 7 days once swelling goes down. Most fillers contain lidocaine, a mild anesthetic, and numbing cream can be applied first. Every set of lips is different, so the filler, the amount and the placement are chosen for you at your consultation.
Lip flip vs lip filler: how do they compare?
What it is. Botox lip flip: A neuromodulator that relaxes the muscle along the upper lip border. Lip filler: A hyaluronic acid gel that adds volume.
What changes. Botox lip flip: The upper lip rolls slightly outward and shows more. Lip filler: Volume, shape and border definition in one or both lips.
Adds volume? Botox lip flip: No. Lip filler: Yes.
Treats the lower lip? Botox lip flip: No. Lip filler: Yes.
When you see it. Botox lip flip: Over several days as the Botox takes effect. Lip filler: Immediately, settling in 5 to 7 days.
How long it lasts. Botox lip flip: A few months (shorter than Botox elsewhere on the face, because the mouth moves constantly). Lip filler: 6 to 9 months, per Glam's FAQ.
Common side effects. Botox lip flip: Temporary trouble with straws, whistling or saying some sounds. Lip filler: Swelling, tenderness and possible bruising for several days.
Reversible? Botox lip flip: No, it wears off on its own. Lip filler: Yes, hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved.
Price at Original Glam. Botox lip flip: $95, 30 minutes. Lip filler: Starting at $800 for one syringe, 60 minutes.
How long either one lasts varies from person to person. Your injector can give you a realistic estimate for your lips at your consultation.
Who is a lip flip best for?
A lip flip suits you if your upper lip mostly disappears when you smile, or if your top lip looks thin next to your bottom lip and you want a little more of it showing. It is also a gentle way to try a change before committing to filler. If you like how a slightly more visible upper lip looks on you, that tells you something useful before a filler appointment.
It suits people who want a change that friends would not quite be able to name. A lip flip does not change the size of the lip, so the result stays close to your own mouth.
It is a poor fit if you want noticeable volume, if your concern is the lower lip, or if you play a wind instrument or rely on precise lip control for work, since the temporary weakness can affect that for a few weeks.
Who is lip filler best for?
Filler suits you if your lips have lost volume over time, if you have wanted fuller lips for a while, or if you want to correct unevenness or blur a soft lip border. Filler can be placed very conservatively, so it is also a reasonable choice for someone who wants a subtle result in both lips. Glam's filler page describes the treatment as "tailored to your natural features," whether the goal is subtle or more dramatic.
Filler is the bigger decision. It costs more, it carries more swelling and bruising, and as with any injectable placed in the face, there are rare but serious risks. The FDA notes that the most concerning risk with dermal fillers is unintentional injection into a blood vessel. That risk is why the experience of the person holding the syringe matters so much.
Can you combine a lip flip and lip filler?
Yes. Many injectors pair them, because they work on different things. Filler builds the volume and shape, and the lip flip lets the upper lip show off that volume, especially when you smile. Some patients find they need less filler in the upper lip when a lip flip is part of the plan.
Whether to do both in one visit, or space them out, is a conversation for your consultation. If you are new to both, starting with one lets you see how your face responds before adding the second.
What if you already have lip filler you do not like?
This comes up often. Filler from a past provider can migrate above the lip line, look puffy, or simply no longer suit your face. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. A 2024 review in JMIR Dermatology describes hyaluronidase as able to safely treat most hyaluronic acid filler complications, while also noting that controlled data are limited and that dosing should be matched to the problem.
Original Glam offers Filler Correction (Dissolve) at $150 per vial of Hylenex, a 60-minute appointment designed to remove unwanted or migrated filler, which Glam's page says is commonly seen in the lips and tear troughs. Starting from a clean slate can make future filler look more natural. A lip flip, on the other hand, cannot be dissolved, but it wears off on its own. How long to wait between dissolving and re-filling depends on your lips and how much filler was there, and your injector will plan that timing with you.
What to expect at each appointment
Both appointments start with a conversation about what you want to change and what you want to keep. Photos of lips you like are helpful as a reference for shape and fullness, and the plan is built around your own lips.
For a lip flip, the injections are quick and very fine. Glam's Botox page says results start appearing within 3 to 5 days, with full effects at around 10 to 14 days. Aftercare from Glam's page: avoid lying down for at least four hours, skip exercise for 24 hours, do not rub or massage the area, and avoid alcohol for a day. If you take a blood thinner, tell your injector beforehand, and do not stop a prescribed medication without asking the doctor who prescribed it.
For lip filler, numbing cream may be applied first, and the filler itself contains lidocaine in most cases. Expect swelling, especially on day one and two. Glam's filler aftercare: avoid touching, rubbing or massaging the lips for at least 24 hours, skip strenuous exercise for 24 to 48 hours, avoid alcohol for a day, and avoid saunas and hot tubs for 48 hours. The same blood thinner advice applies.
Plan either treatment at least two weeks before an event, so swelling has settled and the result is complete.
Lip flips and lip filler at Original Glam
At Original Glam, lip flips and lip filler are performed by Courtney Strocky, NP, one of our injectors. Courtney looks at the whole lower face before recommending anything, including the shape of your lips at rest and when you smile, the balance between the top and bottom lip, and how the lips sit with your chin and nose. Sometimes the best recommendation is a lip flip. Sometimes it is filler, both, or dissolving old filler first.
If you are deciding between treatments, a consultation is the place to start. Glam's Botox and injectables page lists a personalized consultation at $50 for 45 minutes.
Original Glam is at 4635 West Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204.
Frequently asked questions
Does a lip flip make your lips bigger?
It makes the upper lip look fuller because more of it shows, but it does not add volume. If you want your lips to be physically larger, filler is the treatment for that.
How long does a lip flip last compared with lip filler?
A lip flip lasts a few months, and often wears off sooner than Botox in the forehead or around the eyes because the mouth is always moving. Glam's FAQ puts lip filler at 6 to 9 months.
Is a lip flip a good first step before filler?
For many people, yes. It is low cost, low commitment, and it shows you how you feel about a slightly more visible upper lip. If you want more after that, filler is the next step.
Will a lip flip affect how I talk or drink?
For the first couple of weeks, some people notice it is harder to drink through a straw, whistle, or say certain sounds. The 2025 systematic review describes these effects as mild and resolving within weeks.
Does lip filler hurt?
Most people feel a pinch and some pressure. Most fillers contain lidocaine, and numbing cream can be applied beforehand. The lips are sensitive, so expect them to feel tender for a few days.
Can lip filler be reversed?
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Original Glam offers Filler Correction (Dissolve) using Hylenex, at $150 per vial.
Can I get a lip flip and lip filler on the same day?
Often, yes. It depends on your goals and how your lips respond to treatment. Courtney will recommend timing at your consultation.
How much does a lip flip cost at Original Glam?
The Botox Lip Flip is $95 for a 30-minute appointment. Lip Filler starts at $800 and includes one syringe.
Not sure which one fits your lips?
Bring your questions and a few photos to a consultation with Courtney. She will tell you what each option can do for your lips, including when a smaller treatment is the better choice. Book a consultation at Original Glam.