Lip Flip in Bellevue
A lip flip is the subtlest move in lip enhancement: a few units of Botox along the upper lip relax the muscle so the lip rolls gently outward, showing more of itself without adding any volume.
It suits patients whose upper lip disappears when they smile, softens a gummy smile at the source, and gives filler-curious patients a ten-minute, low-commitment preview.
Like every injectable here, it is performed by Dr. Day personally.
The treatment
Non-surgical care in a plastic surgeon's practice.
A small dose of Botox is placed into the orbicularis oris — the ring muscle of the mouth — along the Cupid's bow and at the corners. As the muscle relaxes, the upper lip everts slightly, showing more pink lip at rest and in a smile.
The dose is deliberately small because the target is unusually busy. The orbicularis oris circles the entire mouth and coordinates with the muscles that smile, speak, and purse, so a few units too many are felt in function rather than seen in the mirror. Restraint here is technique, not caution.
Topical numbing cream goes on beforehand and the injections themselves are very small. Most patients are surprised by how quickly it is over.
The flip pairs naturally with filler: the flip adds show, filler adds volume, and together they build a balanced result that neither achieves alone.
Three ways to change an upper lip
They do different things. Choosing well starts with naming which one you actually want.
Lip flip
Shows more of the lip you already have. No volume added, six to eight weeks, the lowest commitment on the menu.
Lip filler
Adds volume the lip does not have, lasts roughly six to twelve months, and can be dissolved.
Surgical lip augmentation
For patients who have settled on the look they want and would rather stop renewing it.
Is it right for you
The best candidates have a reasonable upper lip that hides — rolling inward when smiling — or a gummy smile they would like softened. If what you want is genuine volume, filler is the honest recommendation, and you will hear it plainly.
The limit is worth stating plainly, because it is the one that disappoints people: a flip cannot give you more lip than you own. It unrolls what is there. If the upper lip is genuinely thin at rest, the change will be measured in millimetres and filler is the better answer.
Standard neuromodulator deferrals apply: pregnancy and breastfeeding, botulinum allergy, and active infection at the site.
What to expect
No downtime — the visit fits inside a lunch break with room to spare. Avoid rubbing the area for the first day. Minor swelling or tenderness at the injection points can last a day or two.
The effect appears over three to five days and lasts six to eight weeks. Patients who love it typically fold it into their regular Botox visits.
Questions, answered
The rest belong in a conversation. Consultations are unhurried by design.
Lip flip or lip filler?
The flip shows more of the lip you have; filler adds volume the lip does not have. The flip lasts six to eight weeks and costs little; filler lasts around a year. Many patients try the flip first, and many end up combining the two.
Will it fix my gummy smile?
Often, yes — relaxing the muscle that hoists the lip too high is exactly how a gummy smile is softened non-surgically. The exam confirms whether your anatomy responds.
Will I be able to drink through a straw?
Yes. The dose is small and function is preserved; some patients notice a faint difference using straws or whistling for the first week or two, and it settles.
How long does it last?
Six to eight weeks — shorter than Botox elsewhere because the mouth muscle works constantly. It is the natural trial run before longer-commitment options.
Can I combine it with filler in one visit?
Yes, and the combination is common: flip for show, filler for volume, one appointment.
Does it hurt?
Topical numbing goes on first and the injections are very small. Most patients report a brief pinch and are surprised the appointment is already finished.
What if I don't like it?
You wait. Unlike filler there is nothing to dissolve, but there is also nothing to undo: the effect fades on its own in six to eight weeks. That short clock is the reason the flip is a reasonable first step into injectables.
How much does a lip flip cost?
A lip flip starts at approximately $100 — it uses only a few units of Botox, and it is priced accordingly, quoted at your visit before treatment.