Did you know that around 11 million people worldwide have undergone a Botox injection at least once? While being one of the most popular aesthetic procedures these days, it allows to efficiently rejuvenate and enhance a patient’s overall appearance.
Among the numerous applications of botulinum toxin injections are wrinkle-smoothing, gummy smile reduction, and lip flip. But what exactly is a lip flip with Botox? Well, let us figure it out right away by means of going through the below-mentioned information.
Botox lip flip (similar to other cosmetic procedures) should be performed exclusively by a board-certified and qualified provider who has undergone specific training on how to work with botulinum toxin. Also, only licensed healthcare practitioners might buy Botox safely.
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About Botox Injections in a Nutshell
Before we delve into the discussion of a lip flip procedure, it is essential to take a closer look at the general description of Botox. Namely, let us define Botox, how it is injected, and what these injections are used for.
What Is Botox?
Botox is a world-known brand of medical and cosmetic injectables. While manufactured by a global pharmaceutical company Allergan, it might be characterized by high safety, effectiveness, and durability.
The main active component in the composition of Botox is the botulinum toxin. While being a naturally occurring ingredient that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, it has the power to temporarily block nerve signals that go to muscles, which eventually leads to profound muscle relaxation.
An interesting fact: Botulinum toxin is a dangerous and, at the same time, effective substance. On the one hand, it might initiate the development of the potentially fatal disease botulism (muscle paralysis). On the other hand, however, it is oftentimes employed to treat different medical and cosmetic issues.
How and Why Is Botox Administered?
According to the Botox treatment protocol, it should be administered intramuscularly. A certified healthcare practitioner should do the procedure exclusively since Botox is intended for professional use.
All usage indications of Botox might be divided into two main groups, namely medical and cosmetic. Below, you will find the list of the main problems that might be addressed by injections of botulinum toxins:
- Medical indications for the Botox treatment include muscle spasms, hyperhidrosis, lazy eye, overactive bladder, chronic migraine, and so on;
- Cosmetic indications for the injection of Botox cover dynamic wrinkles (like forehead folds, frown lines, or crow’s feet), gummy smiles, and thin lips.
An interesting fact: While Botox products work well with wrinkles that appear due to overactive facial expressions, dermal fillers do a great job with static ones. So, a dermal filler shot might be a more reasonable option if a patient would like to take care of static skin imperfections.
Botox Lip Flip from A to Z
One of the main implications of Botox in the field of aesthetic medicine is the so-called lip flip. So, let us check out the detailed overview of the procedure through going across the information.
What Is Botox Lip Flip?
Botox lip flip is an injectable cosmetic treatment. It is based on the administration of botulinum toxin into the muscle of a patient’s upper lip in order to let it curl outward.
In most cases, Botox lip flip involves the administration of four to six units of Botox next to the center of the upper lip near the cupid’s bow and at the corners of the muscles. This way, a profound relaxation of the orbicularis oris muscle is achieved, which eventually leads to:
- Visual enlargement of the upper lip.
- Noticeable change in the lip shape.
- Subtle lip enhancement.
An interesting fact: Unlike lip fillers based on hyaluronic acid, Botox does not add extra volume to the lips. However, it “flips” them outwards, allowing them to appear bigger than they actually are.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox Upper Lip Flip?
Anyone who wants to receive a subtle enhancement or an upper lip augmentation (please note that the procedure is not usually applied to the lower lip) without using lip fillers is a good candidate for Botox lip flip. The procedure might be suitable for you under one of the following conditions:
- If you would like your upper lip to look fuller without injecting additional volume into it;
- If you would like to make your current vermillion border well-defined;
- If you would like to reduce the appearance of fine lines in the perioral area;
- If you would like to get rid of the gummy smile.
At the same time, good candidates for Botox lip flips should NOT have any of the following contraindications to the procedure:
- An allergy to any component in the composition of Botox;
- A serious health complication, such as untreated epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, or poor blood clotting;
- Ongoing skin infection around the injection site;
- A state of being pregnant or breastfeeding;
- And other health conditions.
These contraindications to the administration of Botox should by no means be ignored. Otherwise, the procedure might lead to the appearance of different health complications.
An interesting fact: The administration of Botox does not cause any serious adverse reactions in most cases. However, suppose too much Botox is administered at a time. In that case, a patient might experience headache, fever, dizziness, and other possible side effects (they tend to disappear on their own within a time period from a few hours to about one week after the treatment).
What Are the Expected Results of Botox Lip Flip?
The administration of botulinum toxin into the upper lip muscle is a quick procedure with instantly visible results. As soon as a healthcare practitioner manages to inject Botox around the area of the top lip, a patient is likely to get profoundly fuller lips. As well, their perioral fine lines and gummy smile are expected to become less visible.
On average, the desired effect of the lip flip procedure might last up to six months. However, its exact duration depends on the following several factors:
- A patient’s age.
- A patient’s health condition.
- A patient’s lifestyle.
- And other individual peculiarities of each patient.
As soon as the result of the lip enhancement fades away, a patient might sign up for a touch-up treatment.
An interesting fact: Proper lip care after the procedure might substantially prolong its result. Thus, a patient is recommended to hydrate the lips with a lip balm and drink from a straw for about a week after the procedure.
Final Words
Botox lip flip is a procedure that might provide you with a natural-looking lip enhancement. Thus, feel free to make an appointment with your board-certified technician and get one step closer to well-defined, full, and attractive lips!