Botox

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What is a Botox lip flip?

The lip flip, a growing lip augmentation trend, uses a microdose of Botox (about 2 units on either side) to relax the muscles in the upper lip. Flips the upper lip out just enough to make it appear slightly fuller and more youthful.

Natural-looking results appear within five to ten days and last up to three months.
It won’t create the same kind of volume as injectable lip fillers or the dramatic results of a surgical lip lift, but it’s a popular option for people seeking a more subtle improvement.

Many of my patients try the Botox lip flip for subtle lip augmentation. However, if you want real lip augmentation, there is no substitute for lip fillers.

What is Botox?

Botox® Cosmetic is the most well-known injectable neuromodulator. Made by Allergan, it temporarily relaxes facial muscles to soften the look of dynamic facial wrinkles created by repeated muscle movement (think: frown lines and furrowed brows).

It works by blocking nerve signals to the muscles, so the injected muscle can’t contract.
Originally developed to treat medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Botox is FDA-approved to treat crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines.

It’s also used off-label to soften and smooth lip lines, "bunny lines" on the nose, chins, and neck bands. When injected above the upper lip, it can also create a "lip flip" (more on that below).

The neurotoxin can also relax muscles in the jaw. A very popular area for Botox is in the masseter muscle, either to treat TMJ or for facial slimming. Treating this area has positive cosmetic results, and it helps patients who grind their teeth.

Medical uses include treatment for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating on the underarms), a lazy eye (known medically as strabismus), chronic eyelid twitching (blepharospasm), chronic migraines, other types of muscle spasms, and vaginismus.

At what age should you start getting Botox?

While it's approved for patients over 18, most doctors recommend starting it in your mid-20s to early 30s for "prejuvenation." Regular treatments can delay the formation of new lines.

There are many younger patients who get Botox as a preventative measure, with outstanding results. In fact, treating patients at a younger age prevents deeper lines and wrinkles from ever occurring in these areas.

What happens during a Botox treatment?

The process starts with a consultation, in which you and your injector discuss your concerns, goals, and medical history to ensure that the injectable is safe for you.

Photographs may also be taken, so you’re able to see the changes from your treatment. Then your face is cleansed, and the physician injects the areas of concern.

Botox shots are definitely a lunchtime procedure that usually takes about 10 minutes. You can pop out to have your treatment done, then drive yourself straight back to the office.

If you have any residual redness or bruising, it can be easily covered with makeup.

What should you avoid after Botox?

Recovery from the injection is relatively simple. When people are done, they may look as though they’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. They’ll have some little bumps on their face that last about 15 to 20 minutes.

The most important thing you need to know is how to reduce the chance that it could spread to other areas. Follow these guidelines to reduce that risk:

Don’t lie down for 90 minutes. Botox is bound to the muscle after 90 minutes. Doctors generally recommend to sit upright for the first 90 minutes to minimize the risk of diffusion. This is a very remote possibility, but has been documented.
Don’t exercise for 24 hours. Exercise increases circulation in the body, including the face, which is why your face flushes and gets red when you work out. This increased circulation is great for your skin, but it does increase the risk that the Botox will be taken away from the injection zone before it gets fully absorbed into the neuromuscular junction. We don't like this for two reasons: 1) it may leave less Botox where we want it, and possibly decrease the effect, and 2) we do not want to do anything that increases the risk that it will act anywhere other than where it is intended.
Don’t rub the treated areas for four hours. We also recommend that patients do not do anything that may apply pressure to the area. This includes wearing tight hats or applying cold ice packs that you may press onto your skin. When we do this, we risk the medication moving or dispersing and resulting in paralysis of a nearby muscle. Patients can wash their face gently that night, but I recommend they hold off on using any scrub brushes until the next day.

Anytime you do injections, there’s always the risk of bruising, which can take up to a week to go away. You can minimize your chances of a bruise by stopping anything that thins the blood (and isn’t medically necessary) a week before your appointment. This includes alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), like aspirin and ibuprofen, and fish oil and vitamin E supplements.