The ‘lip flip’ gained a lot of social media attention in recent months for how injecting the superior portions of the orbicularis oris muscle impact the way the upper lip sits. Read more...
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Can you get botox in your lips?
In recent months, we have been receiving lots of inquiries into botox injections for the lips. Botox is a muscle relaxant. There is a round muscle that surrounds the lips margin called the orbicularis oris that is responsible for pursing the lips and creating various movements of the lips based on how it contracts. Radiating out from this muscle we have other muscles that act as pulleys to pull the outer edges of the lips in different directions to create various facial expressions. Any of these muscles can be injected to impact both the way these muscles contract and the expressions they create while also potentially impacting the facial contours and anatomy based on the thickness of these muscles.
Why would you get Botox in your lips?
The ‘lip flip’ gained a lot of social media attention in recent months for how injecting the superior portions of the orbicularis oris muscle impact the way the upper lip sits. When this muscle is active it can make the lips purse as well as pull the upper lip inwards- especially when smiling. By injecting the superior portions of this muscle, the upper lip is under less tension and relaxes in such a way that it remains full, even when smiling.
What does it feel like when you're getting Botox done and after?
Any injection in the lips hurts, it just does. We can offset much of that discomfort with topical numbing. The injections are quick and only take seconds to perform.
What is a Botox Lip Flip?
The Botox lip flip is an injection technique where Botox is injected into the upper vermillion border of the lips at about 4 sites. This is the portion of the lip where the pink portion of the lip meets the skin border. The orbicularis oris muscle lies deep to this region.
Should you get a lip flip or filler? Why?
The lip flip has turned out to be a bit of a fad in that the results do not tend to last long. Botox tends to last in terms of its muscle relaxant effects for 3 to 4 months. We have been finding that the lip flip effects appear to wear off within 6 to 8 weeks for many. There are other challenges with relaxing the upper lip. Pursing the lips is impacted which means drinking through a straw, impacting some aspects of speech, and keeping saliva in your mouth while talking can be a bit challenging.
Filler is much better tolerated while giving longer-lasting results without impacting the function of the lips.
How long does Botox last in lips?
Botox tends to last in terms of its muscle relaxant effects for 3 to 4 months. We have been finding that the lip flip effects appear to wear off within 6 to 8 weeks for many.
How much does Botox for lips cost?
Although it is true that it does not require many units of a Botox to achieve a lip flip, most practices have a minimum charge for Botox injections.
What about Botox around your mouth? Why would you get this done?
There are a few muscles that radiate out from the orbicularis oris that affect our facial expressions while also aging our look. The most common one to inject with Botox is the depressor anguli oris, It attaches to the orbicularis oris muscle at the upper lip at the corner where it meets the lower lip. It pulls the upper lip down into the lower lip to give a downward turn to the corner of the lips. This can be the beginning of the marionette lines where a line develops between the chin and the cheek. This line can also accentuate the nasolabial folds. If someone has a strong tendency to create facial expressions that recruit this muscle, it is not unreasonable to consider injecting it to stop tugging the upper lip downwards. The being said, it is also reasonable to use filler to achieve a similar result without altering facial expressions.
The upper outer portions of the orbicularis oris muscle under the upper cutaneous lip (the mustache area) can be injected to decrease the appearance of perioral wrinkles. These lines radiate out from the lips like spokes in a wheel project towards the lower edge of the nose and can appear as “smokers lines’ - even if you never smoked a cigarette in your life. Injecting these areas does not tend to affect the lip anatomy or speaking as the lower portions closer to the lip margin remain somewhat active. The placement of Botox is key to achieving good outcomes.
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