Lip Filler, Lip Flip and Gummy Smile Treatments: What’s the Difference?

Posted on: February 20, 2024
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There are many different types of lip enhancement that medical aesthetic treatments can use to improve facial balance and reduce asymmetries. This is also true when it comes to the lips! Cosmetic injectables are a great choice for enhancing your natural facial features and achieving a more harmonious look. Continuous advancements in injectable products and techniques have made these treatments both safe and effective. These treatments are more accessible and less invasive than surgical procedures. 

When it comes to lip injections, lip filler is perhaps the most widely known treatment – but there are other great lip treatments you may also want to consider! Lip flip and gummy smile Botox are two injectable treatments that also produce effective results. The treatment that is right for you will come down to your goals and the overall desired look – whether you are looking for lip augmentation or a subtle lip enhancement. Exploring these alternatives gives you a range of options to achieve your desired results and enhance your natural beauty and lip shape.

Common Concerns for the Lips

People often seek cosmetic procedures like lip filler, lip flip or gummy smile Botox for various reasons.

  • Thin Lips: Individuals with naturally thin lips may seek lip filler injections to create fuller lips.
  • Gummy Smile: Some individuals are self-conscious about their gummy smile, where excessive gum tissue is exposed when smiling. Botox or Dysport injections can help relax the muscles that cause the upper lip to rise too high, reducing the appearance of a gummy smile.
  • Lip Symmetry: Many people have asymmetrical lips, where one side may be thinner or less defined than the other. Lip enhancement treatments can be used to enhance symmetry and create a more balanced appearance. If you’re looking to add more volume to the lips, lip fillers can add plumpness and definition. If there’s unevenness in the overall shape of your mouth, or one lip is shaped differently from the other, a combination of lip filler and a lip flip can fix that and create a more balanced appearance. 

Lip treatments can be used to address various concerns and help you get the look you want – without plastic surgery!

Lip Filler

Lip filler, also known as lip augmentation or lip enhancement, is a cosmetic procedure where a dermal filler substance is injected into the lips to add volume, enhance shape, and improve symmetry. Lip filler is commonly used to address concerns such as thin lips, asymmetry, loss of volume due to aging, and to create a more defined lip border, such as the cupid’s bow.

Lip Filler

How Do Lip Fillers Work?

With injectable fillers, the filler substance, typically composed of hyaluronic acid, is injected into specific areas of the lips, adding volume and shape. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps maintain hydration and volume in the skin. Hyaluronic acid fillers attract and retain moisture, adding lip volume for a plumping effect. This is a great way to address volume loss due to aging or to simply make the lips look fuller.

Who Should Get Lip Fillers?

The best candidates for a lip filler treatment are people looking to improve the fullness, definition, or symmetry of their lips. It is important to consult with a qualified nurse injector to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure and to discuss your goals and expectations. Before your lip filler appointment, your nurse injector will help you determine the right amount of lip filler, as well as the placement for optimal results.

How Long Does Lip Filler Last?

If you’re adding a regular lip filler treatment into your cosmetic routine, results generally last about six to twelve months, depending on factors like filler type, metabolism, and lifestyle. 

Gummy Smile Botox

Gummy smile botox is a cosmetic procedure where Botox or Dysport is injected into the muscles that control the upper lip, causing them to relax and reduce the amount of gum tissue that is exposed when smiling. This results in a more balanced smile with less gum exposure. 

How Does Gummy Smile Botox work?

Unlike lip fillers, this neuromodulator treatment works by targeting the muscles responsible for lifting the upper lip when smiling. When these muscles contract excessively, they pull the upper lip upward, causing more gum tissue to be exposed. By injecting Botox into these muscles, their activity is temporarily reduced or inhibited. With this medical aesthetics treatment, the primary the muscle targeted is called the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (LLSAN).

In individuals with a gummy smile, the LLSAN muscle may be overactive, causing the upper lip to lift excessively when smiling. This results in more gum tissue being exposed. The treatment helps to address the overactive muscle and reduce the visibility of the gums.

Who Should Get Gummy Smile Botox?

Gummy smile botox may be suitable for individuals who are bothered by the appearance of excessive gum tissue when smiling. This procedure is typically ideal for those with a gummy smile caused by overactive muscles in the upper lip area, which cause the lip to lift excessively, revealing more gum tissue than desired. Candidates for this treatment often seek to achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile by reducing the visibility of the gums without invasive surgical procedures.

How Long Does Gummy Smile Botox Last?

The benefits of injecting botox in this area usually last around three to four months. After this time, your muscle activity goes back to normal, and the issue of excessive gum exposure might come back. To keep your results consistent, it’s recommended to space your treatments out by three to four months and get your treatments as you start to notice the muscle activity returning.

Regular treatments help you maintain your desired outcome, and the best part is that it requires minimal downtime post treatment. The entire process is a quick and relatively pain-free process that can be a great way to boost your self confidence.

Lip Flip

A lip flip is a non-surgical procedure where a neuromodulator is injected into the muscles around the mouth to relax the upper lip, causing it to roll slightly upward and appear fuller. This can be appealing for individuals who desire a subtle enhancement without adding significant volume. If you are wanting to enhance your lips but don’t want fillers, a botox lip flip treatment might be right for you.

Lip Flip

How Does a Lip Flip Work?

A lip flip is a treatment that is done by injecting a small amount of neuromodulator (such as Botox or Dysport) into the upper lip muscles. Unlike traditional lip fillers that add volume, a lip flip treatment works by relaxing the lip muscles, allowing the upper lip to gently roll outward. This subtle enhancement is effective in addressing concerns such as a thin upper lip, lip asymmetry, or a lack of definition in the smile. This can be a great alternative to fillers.
Using Botox to perform a lip flip involves precisely injecting the substance into a small area of the orbicularis oris muscle, which encircles the mouth and controls lip movement. By targeting this specific muscle, Botox relaxes its activity, allowing the upper lip to gently roll upward when smiling. This subtle enhancement creates the appearance of a fuller upper lip without the need for additional volume. The procedure is minimally invasive and offers individuals a non-surgical option to improve the aesthetic balance of their smile.

Who Should Get a Lip Flip?

A lip flip with Botox may be suitable for individuals who have specific concerns about the appearance of their upper lip and desire a subtle enhancement without adding volume. This procedure is often ideal for those with a naturally thin upper lip, excessive gum tissue when smiling, or asymmetry in the upper lip.

Additionally, individuals who prefer a non-invasive option for lip enhancement or are hesitant about lip fillers may benefit from a lip flip. Consulting with a qualified cosmetic professional is essential to determine candidacy and discuss goals and expectations thoroughly, as the professional will assess facial anatomy and recommend the most appropriate treatment option for achieving desired results.

How Long Does This Lip Enhancement Last?

The results of a lip flip typically become noticeable within a few days to a week after the injections. The effect is subtle and natural-looking, with the upper lip appearing slightly fuller and more defined. The effects of Botox injections usually last for several months before gradually wearing off, at which point repeat treatments may be necessary to maintain the desired outcome.

A Botox lip flip treatment usually lasts about two to three months, and people often get it done again as needed once they notice the results are wearing off. The timeframe for repeat lip treatments depends on your personal preferences and how your body responds to the procedure, but a general rule of thumb is to space your treatments out by 2-3 months. 

When in Doubt, Get a Consultation

There are several different treatments available for addressing concerns with the lips. These procedures can offer subtle yet effective enhancements to the lips and smile, helping individuals achieve their desired aesthetic goals with minimal downtime and recovery. If you’re unsure which is best for you, get a consultation. A professional nurse injector can assess your lips and help you figure out which cosmetic procedures will be the most effective.

In some cases, they may even recommend a combination of lip treatments to achieve your desired results. It’s very common for lip fillers to be combined with either a lip flip or gummy smile Botox to help create fuller lips to your lips while correcting any asymmetry or excessive gum showing. Combining medical aesthetics treatments can help you meet your goals when it comes to lip augmentation and enhancement.

Book a Lip Injections Treatment at You Derma

If you’re looking to book a lip treatment in Ottawa, we have a team of experienced nurse injectors who can help you choose the best lip injection procedure for your desired results.

When you come in for an initial consultation before your filler or Botox treatment, we’ll discuss your specific concerns and preferences. Whether your goal is having plumper looking lips, addressing asymmetry or enhancing your smile, we’ll be able to recommend the most suitable lip treatment for you.

Boost your confidence with natural looking results and get the beautiful smile you’ve been dreaming of! Book a lip cosmetic injectables treatment

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You Derma is a Medical Aesthetics Clinic offering laser hair removal, facial treatments, laser treatments, and cosmetic injectables in Ottawa.

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