LipFlip
A small dose of FDA-approved Botox relaxes the muscle along your upper lip so it rolls outward when you smile — more pink lip show, softer gummy smile, no filler required. $200 flat appointment, 4-8 units of $11/unit Botox.
Small dose,
specific outcome
A lip flip is the smallest, most affordable lip enhancement I offer. It works well for some patients and not for others — here's how to know.
Thin upper-lip show
You feel your upper lip disappears when you smile or talk. A lip flip rolls the lip outward and exposes more of the natural pink lip.
Gummy smile
If too much gum shows when you smile, the lip flip relaxes the muscle that pulls the lip up, softening the gummy look.
Curious about lip work
First-time patients who aren't ready for filler often try a lip flip first. It's a 6-8 week experiment, not a 6-12 month commitment.
Maintenance between fillers
Some patients use a lip flip in the months between filler appointments to maintain a relaxed upper-lip border.
Not for volume
If you want fuller lips with more physical volume, a lip flip alone won't do it. You'll want lip filler or a combination plan.
Not for deep static lines
If you have deep set-in vertical lip lines from sun damage or smoking, a lip flip won't smooth them. We can talk about other options.
The smallest tool
with the cleanest result
A lip flip is conservative by design. With only 4 to 8 units of Botox placed precisely at the upper lip border, the effect should be subtle — a slightly more rolled-out lip, a softer gummy smile, a more relaxed mouth at rest. If a patient comes in asking for visible lip volume, I'll be honest that a lip flip alone won't deliver it.
I always start at the lower end of the dose range. You can add a couple of units at your 2-week follow-up if you want a stronger effect, but going too heavy from the start risks muscle weakness — trouble drinking from a straw, soft consonants, or an unnatural smile. Dose discipline is the difference between a clean lip flip and a regrettable one.
Every lip flip at Flawless Aesthetics is administered by me, Helen Petrov, BSN, RN, under the medical direction of our medical director, following Washington State protocols for RN-delegated aesthetic injections.
4-8 units
Small, deliberate placement along the upper lip border. I start at the lower end and add at follow-up if needed.
$200
Flat $200 appointment fee — the most affordable lip enhancement on the menu. Underlying Botox is $11/unit.
Lip filler
If you want both volume and a softer upper-lip border, a lip flip layered after lip filler ($350 half / $500 full) is a common combination.
A tiny dose of Botox.
A rolled-out lip.
A lip flip uses 4 to 8 units of FDA-approved Botox placed at precise points along the top edge of your upper lip (the vermilion border). The Botox temporarily relaxes the orbicularis oris — the circular muscle around your mouth — so the upper lip can roll slightly outward instead of curling under when you smile or talk.
This isn't filler. There's no hyaluronic acid, no added volume, no reshaping of the lip border. The treatment works with the lip you already have — it just lets more of your natural pink lip show. For some patients that small change is the whole answer. For others, it's a starting point before moving on to lip filler.
Because the lip muscle is constantly moving (eating, talking, smiling), the Botox clears faster than it does in the forehead or between the brows. Most lip flips last 6 to 8 weeks. Every treatment at Flawless Aesthetics is administered by Helen Petrov, BSN, RN under medical direction.
Under five minutes of needle time.
No real downtime.
Here's exactly what a lip flip appointment looks like from check-in to checkout.
- 01
Quick consult
We'll talk through your goal — slightly more upper-lip show, softer gummy smile, or both. I'll look at your resting smile and animated smile, then map out 4-6 injection points along the upper lip border.
- 02
Optional numbing
Most patients skip numbing because the needles are ultra-fine 32-gauge and there are only a handful of injections. If you're sensitive, I'll apply a topical cream for 15 minutes.
- 03
Injections
Four to six tiny doses placed along the very top of the upper lip border (the vermilion line). The whole thing takes under five minutes. Most patients describe it as quick pinches, nothing more.
- 04
Walk out
No swelling, no bruising in most cases, no downtime. You'll head straight back to work or your day. The effect starts kicking in around days 3-7 and reaches full strength by day 14.
The full appointment is booked at 30 minutes, but most of that is consultation, paperwork, and photos. The actual injection time is under five minutes. You can drive home, head back to work, or grab lunch right after.
Simple rules,
predictable results.
First 4 hours
- Stay upright — no lying flat or bending forward.
- Don't rub, massage, or press on the upper lip.
- Skip lipstick or lip products until the next morning.
First 24 hours
- No workouts, hot yoga, saunas, or steam rooms — heat and elevated heart rate can shift the product.
- No alcohol — it thins your blood and can increase bruising.
- Skip facials, massages, or lip scrubs for the next day.
First week
- Hold off on retinol or active skincare around the lip line for 48 hours.
- Daily SPF for your lips — sun damage shows fast in this thin tissue.
- Don't book your next injectable until your 2-week follow-up so we can see full results.
Most patients report no swelling and no bruising — there's very little product going in. If anything looks uneven or feels off between days 7 and 14, text me at (206) 739-7309. Every new lip flip patient gets a complimentary 2-week follow-up.
What happens
week by week.
- Day 0
Right after
You won't see any change yet. Botox takes days to start working. You may have tiny pinpoint marks at injection sites that fade in 15-30 minutes.
- Days 3-7
Early effect
Most patients start to notice their upper lip rolling outward slightly when they smile. The effect is subtle — not a visible 'filler-look' difference.
- Day 14
Full effect
This is when we book your complimentary follow-up. The lip flip is fully settled and I can add a few units if the effect is too soft. Adding is easy at this point.
- Weeks 4-6
Peak result
The lip looks its most relaxed and rolled-out. This is the window most patients photograph or attend events in.
- Weeks 6-8
Movement returns
The muscle around your mouth moves constantly, so the Botox wears off faster than forehead or frown-line treatment. Most patients book their next lip flip around the 8-week mark.
Want longer-lasting volume instead of a temporary flip? Many of my patients combine a lip filler treatment with a lip flip two weeks later for a more complete result. Or read about Botox at $11/unit if you're also curious about treating other facial areas. Most of my lip flip patients drive in from Renton, Kent, Bellevue, Kirkland, or Issaquah — the appointment is short enough to fit on a lunch break.
Questions & Answers
A lip flip at Flawless Aesthetics in Renton is $200 as a flat appointment fee. The treatment uses 4-8 units of Botox at $11 per unit placed across the upper lip line. It's the most affordable lip-enhancement option I offer — significantly less than a half-syringe of filler ($350) — and a comfortable starting point for first-time patients from Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Issaquah.
A lip flip uses a tiny dose of Botox to relax the muscle around your upper lip so it rolls outward and shows more pink lip. It doesn't add any volume. Lip filler is hyaluronic acid gel that adds physical volume and reshapes the lip border. A lip flip lasts about 6-8 weeks and costs $200; lip filler lasts 6-12 months and starts at $350. Many of my patients try a lip flip first to see if they want more.
Most patients see their lip flip last 6-8 weeks. That's shorter than a typical Botox treatment (3-4 months) because the muscle around your mouth is constantly moving — eating, talking, smiling — which clears the Botox faster. You'll see the effect kick in around days 3-7 and reach full effect by day 14.
Most patients describe a lip flip as mild pinches — four to six tiny injections at the top edge of the upper lip. I use ultra-fine 32-gauge needles and the whole thing takes less than 5 minutes. If you're nervous, I'll apply topical numbing first, though most people don't need it for such a small treatment.
If your dose is appropriate, no. At 4-6 units placed at the right depth, you'll still talk normally and use a straw without issue — you just won't be able to press your lips in as hard, which is exactly what creates the flip. Heavier doses (8+ units) or off-target placement can cause weakness, which is why dose discipline matters. I start conservative for first-time patients and adjust at your 2-week follow-up.
Yes — many patients pair them. The lip flip handles the upper lip border and gummy smile component; filler adds volume and definition. If you're considering both, I usually recommend the filler first, then a lip flip 2 weeks later once the filler has settled. We can plan the sequence at your appointment.
Yes, when performed by a trained injector who understands the orbicularis oris muscle. Botox itself has been FDA-approved since 2002 and has decades of clinical data behind it. Every lip flip at Flawless Aesthetics is administered by me, Helen Petrov, BSN, RN, under the medical direction of our medical director, following Washington State protocols for RN-delegated aesthetic injections.
Subtle upper lip,
fast appointment
Book a lip flip with Helen Petrov, BSN, RN. $200 flat, under 30 minutes, no real downtime — and a complimentary 2-week follow-up included.
Lip flip $200 flat. Underlying Botox priced at $11/unit.