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How to Create the Perfect Pout with Botox®

Bigger, fuller lips are in vogue now. All the latest fashion trends include techniques to make your lips look plumper to create the illusion of full lips using certain lip liners and lipstick shades.

Makeup companies have joined in on the trend and are now marketing lip wear that can temporarily plump the mouth, but for those who are looking for a more permanent and natural looking solution, lip injections are the way to go.

perfect pout with botox

You can make your lips look significantly larger by having them injected with Botox®, hyaluronic acid and several other substances.

Lip augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures now. We all have heard of actors, TV stars and other celebrities trying to look sexier by enhancing the shape of their lips. But it isn’t just limited to Hollywood – even your next-door neighbor could be getting their lips done.

This cosmetic injection is catching on with not only the millennials but the older generation as well. According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons the number of lip augmentation procedures performed on patients between the ages of 18 to 55+ increased by 50% from 2000 to 2016.

The question is: how can a couple of injections help create the perfect pout?

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How Injections Can Create Fuller Lips

Lip augmentation is commonly performed using fillers that contain hyaluronic acid such as those by Juvederm, Restylane and Vollure. However, a newer and more recent type of lip augmentation procedure uses Botox®. 

The lips are shaped and plumped up to create a more pronounced pout. The effects achieved through Botox® are subtler because the approach used involves flipping out the lips along the lip line and rolling them outwards slightly to create a “sexier” look.

Dermal fillers such as those mentioned above only add volume to the part of the lip that is injected. The procedure is entirely different from Botox® and does not even produce the same results. 

Fillers literally make the lips bigger by injecting them with a substance that promotes collagen production and increases their volume. Botox® on the other hand, relaxes the muscles around the lip area and flips out the lip to create the impression of larger lips.

"Popular culture loves full plump lips. It celebrates them and elevates the look so that it is often considered a sign of good health, beauty and youth.”

The Botox® Lip Flip Procedure

The Botox® Lip Flip is one way to get the kind of lips that you desire. The approach used is very different from other lip augmentation techniques because rather than adding volume it changes the shape of the mouth by relaxing the muscles. 

This procedure is the most popular cosmetic treatment in the fashion industry since Botox® is already being used for other purposes. The muscles are relaxed and then the upper lip is rolled out using a technique called the Botox® upper lip curl. 

The difference as seen in the before and after pictures is very prominent even though it only involves turning the lips around.

Botox® targets the upper superficial layers of the orbicularis oris muscle which is on the sides of the upper and lower lip. It blocks the nerve impulses and does not let them reach the muscle thereby relaxing the fibers. This allows the lip to flip outward without affecting its functions.

The injection is inserted into the orbicularis oris using a precision-based technique. The orbicularis oris is a muscle that is responsible for controlling the lips. 

A subtle yet visible change can be seen after the procedure, as long as it is performed by a certified healthcare provider. The Botox® injections should not in any way hinder the movement of the lips or compromise the patient’s ability to speak or eat. 

Botox® promises instant results and they last for a much longer time than any other lip enhancing cosmetic procedure.

Lip Fillers vs. Botox®

Lip augmentation is required to help improve the most common problem areas of the lips i.e. lip proportions, asymmetry, marionette lines, loss of volume and gummy smiles. To help address these issues there are dermal fillers or Botox® injections.

Dermal fillers restore the lost volume in different parts of the face where there is a collagen deficiency. 

Dermal Fillers produce a similar effect on the lips where the upper lip is plumped to even it out in proportion to the lower lip. In simple terms, lip fillers make the lips larger by volumizing them. This type of lip enhancement is performed with fillers containing hyaluronic acid.

The Botox® lip flip uses the type A botulinum toxin injections to relax the muscles of the mouth to roll out the upper lip. Botox® is injected strategically in the upper and lower lip muscles. The treatment is very brief and it is over before you know it.

The most significant different between lip fillers and Botox® is that while the former adds volume, the latter relaxes the muscles. Botox® does not actually increase the size or volume of the lips but simply creates an impression of it.

What to Expect From the Botox® Lip Flip Procedure

During the first visit you will meet with a healthcare professional who will assess your face concentrating on the lip area. Medical professionals always ask patients what type of results they are aiming for and then determine whether or not a Botox® lip flip procedure is needed. 

Once you have been scheduled for a Botox® treatment then the healthcare professional discusses the details, benefits and results of the procedure making sure all the patient’s concerns are heard and questions answered.

The procedure involves cleaning the area of injection after which the Botox® administrator injects the substance into the lip area. A suitable numbing agent can be applied to those who are sensitive to needles, but usually patients only feel a slight pinch similar to a mosquito bite. 

For the lip flip procedure, only a few units (typically 2-4) of botulinum toxin is required and it is injected on the vermillion border of the upper lip. This is much less than the amount of dermal filler that is injected into the lips to achieve the same result. The procedure takes a maximum of 5 minutes.

The effects achieved are noticeable instantaneously and produced without adding volume to the lips. It takes a few weeks for the complete results to manifest themselves however the Botox® Lip Flip still appears faster than any other type of lip augmentation. 

The duration for which the results last is harder to determine but some patients are able to maintain them up to several months. It depends on the competence and training of the administrator performing the procedure.

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Lip Injections Before and After

The lip injection procedure is not complex and takes minutes to perform. These injections can normally last between three and six months and must be repeated for continued results. The least expensive method of lip enhancement is hyaluronic acid, such as Juvéderm®, Belotero® or Restylane®.

The benefits of using hyaluronic acid fillers include the control over the lip volume. The amount of substance injected can be controlled, and an experienced doctor will know how volumes impact overall appearance.

Overcorrection should be avoided to prevent an unnatural look. Overcorrection can create an exaggerated look that is infamous and well documented in “celebrity procedures gone wrong” that one often sees splashed across tabloids.

Another advantage to hyaluronic fillers is that bumps dissolve easily. Any finally, allergic reactions are minimized due to the fact that hyaluronic acid is present in the body.

Patients may experience some swelling or redness. However, the swelling should dissipate within a day from injection-based treatments. Patients may benefit from cold compresses to speed up the healing process. A physician’s injection technique and experience make all the difference with these types of facial injections.

Did you know you can also use PRP (platelet-rich plasma) as a natural lip injector? Read more in our article, PRP for Lip Injections: The Benefits of Platelet-Rich Plasma.

Lip Injections Cost

The cost of lip injections vary depending on the type of procedure performed, the physician’s expertise, and your location.

Fillers are usually priced per syringe injected and the cost will depend on how much material is required. For most people, one to two syringes will be sufficient. 

One syringe typically costs $500, with a reduction for additional syringes if purchased at the same time.

Lip enhancement is a common aesthetic procedure. When done right, the results are subtle yet gratifying for patients. A balanced approach can achieve soft and natural results using various semi-permanent dermal fillers such as Juvéderm®, Boletero® and Restylane®.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Botox® Lip Flips go wrong?

The chances of a bad reaction to Botox® are extremely rare. The botulinum toxin is used in very small amounts that are approved for cosmetic procedures. As long as you are consulting a qualified medical professional there is no reason to worry.

Is there any downtime?

The procedure is over in 5 minutes which is why it is called the lunch-break treatment i.e. something you could easily squeeze in a busy day at the office and no one would notice the difference. It is recommended however that you do not perform any heavy lifting or strenuous exercises for at least 24 hours following the procedure.

How is the Botox® Lip Flip better than the dermal filler?

Dermal fillers require a large amount of hyaluronic acid-based substance to be injected into the lips. It is the more expensive treatment and there have been a number of reported cases of reactions. 

The lip flip produces a more subtle change that comes with time which is why it is deemed more natural.

Botox® Training and Certifications

Botox® can only be administered by trained healthcare professionals. A medical degree is not the only requirement for injecting Botox® in the face. One also needs specific training and certification for this procedure. 

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) is the world’s only multi-specialty association of its kind to offer aesthetic medicine and Botox training and certification designed by board-certified cosmetic dermatologists.

Physicians (MD/DO’s), physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners worldwide choose IAPAM’s comprehensive Medical Aesthetics & industry-leading 3-Step Botox Training Program Protocol; because they are the only aesthetic medical training organization to offer:

  • Injections are done in a clean, FDA-approved medical practice, not a hotel room
  • Certification from an internationally recognized medical association
  • 33.5 American Medical Association CAT1 CME units
  • Training programs designed by physicians and led by board-certified dermatologists (see our complete faculty)
  • Practical, hands-on experience to ensure your expertise
Botox training is an absolutely essential part of any aesthetic practice! In fact, there is no single product, “anti-aging” cream or home remedy that will eliminate wrinkles, crow’s feet, glabella, frown and any other deep facial lines, or defy the aging process as quickly as Botox®.

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