The short answer
Choose a lip flip if you want a subtle, fuller-looking upper lip without adding volume. Choose lip filler if you want real volume, shape or definition. At Cosmetica Med Spa in Boca Raton, a lip flip is $199 and lasts about 2 to 3 months. Lip filler starts at $499 for a half syringe or $699 for a full syringe and lasts about 6 to 12 months.
A lip flip uses 4 to 6 units of Botox to relax the muscle above your upper lip, so it rolls slightly outward. Filler adds hyaluronic acid gel inside the lip. Some people combine both.
Lip flip vs. lip filler at a glance
The biggest differences are what each one does, how long it lasts and what it costs. Here's how they compare at Cosmetica:
| Lip flip | Lip filler | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Relaxes the muscle above the lip so it rolls slightly outward | Adds volume, shape and definition |
| Product | Botox, a neurotoxin | Hyaluronic acid filler, such as Juvederm, Restylane Kysse, RHA or Revanesse Versa |
| Amount | 4 to 6 units | Half syringe or full syringe (about 1 mL) |
| Price | $199 flat | $499 half syringe, $699 full syringe |
| Appointment | About 10 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Results show | Over several days, full at about 2 weeks | Right away, final at about 2 weeks |
| Downtime | None | Swelling for 2 to 3 days |
| How long it lasts | About 2 to 3 months | About 6 to 12 months |
| Visits per year | 4 to 6 | 1 to 2 |
| Can it be reversed? | No, it wears off on its own | Yes, hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved |
| FDA status in the lips | Off-label use of Botox | Several fillers are FDA approved for lip augmentation in adults over 21 |
How a lip flip works
A lip flip places 4 to 6 units of Botox along the border of the upper lip. As the muscle there relaxes, the lip rolls gently outward, so more of it shows, especially when you smile.
It doesn't add volume. Instead, it reveals more of the lip you already have. That makes it a good fit if your upper lip seems to disappear when you smile. It can also soften a gummy smile. See our Botox lip flip page for more.
How lip filler works
Lip filler adds volume and structure with hyaluronic acid, a substance your body already makes to hold moisture in the skin. Your injector places it in small amounts, checking symmetry as they go, and it softens and settles over the first couple of weeks.
Filler can add volume to thin lips, define the border, balance an upper and lower lip that don't match, smooth fine lines around the mouth and hydrate the lips. We choose the filler for each patient from Juvederm Volbella, Ultra and Ultra Plus, Restylane Kysse, RHA and Revanesse Versa Lips. We also offer the Russian lip technique, which creates a flatter, heart-shaped profile, and all of our injectors are trained in it. See our lip filler page.
How much product each uses
A lip flip uses 4 to 6 units of Botox. Lip filler is measured in syringes, and at Cosmetica most visits use one syringe or less.
- Lip flip: 4 to 6 units, depending on your lip. The price stays a flat $199.
- Half syringe ($499): a subtle first treatment or a touch-up, with soft hydration and a little more definition.
- Full syringe ($699): about 1 mL, for a noticeable but natural change in volume and shape.
About 8 out of 10 first-time filler clients at Cosmetica choose one syringe or less. In the past year, 98% of our lip filler visits used one syringe or less, split almost evenly between half and full. Our medical director's approach to lips is that less is often more, and building gradually over two or more visits looks most natural.
What each costs, per visit and per year
A lip flip is $199 per visit, and lip filler is $499 to $699 per visit. Because a lip flip wears off sooner, the yearly cost of the two can end up close:
| Treatment | Cost per visit | Visits per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lip flip | $199 | 4 to 6 | About $800 to $1,200 |
| Lip filler, half syringe | $499 | 1 to 2 | About $500 to $1,000 |
| Lip filler, full syringe | $699 | 1 to 2 | About $700 to $1,400 |
| Lip flip and half syringe, same visit | $698 | Varies | Depends on how often you refresh each |
| Lip flip and full syringe, same visit | $898 | Varies | Depends on how often you refresh each |
A $100 deposit is collected when you book and credited to your treatment. For more on filler pricing, see our lip filler cost guide.
How long each lasts
A lip flip lasts about 2 to 3 months, and lip filler lasts about 6 to 12 months. The lip muscle moves constantly, so the small dose in a lip flip wears off faster than Botox in the forehead.
FDA trial data for lip fillers backs up the longer timeline:
- Juvederm Volbella XC: in the pivotal lip study reviewed by the FDA, 80.3% of people had fuller lips at month 3 and 61.8% still did at month 12.
- RHA 3: in the pivotal lip study reviewed by the FDA, 73.4% still showed improvement at 52 weeks, as rated by a blinded evaluator.
Most people come back every 6 to 12 months for filler, and a half syringe is a common touch-up. Read more in how long lip filler lasts and how long Botox lasts.
Results timeline, day by day
Filler shows right away, while a lip flip builds over several days. Both reach their final look at about 2 weeks.
| When | Lip flip | Lip filler |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Little visible change. Avoid rubbing the area for the rest of the day | Lips look their fullest. Swelling, tenderness and a firm feel are normal |
| Days 2 to 3 | The effect starts to appear | Swelling usually peaks, and lips can look a little uneven while the filler settles |
| Days 4 to 7 | More of the upper lip shows. Straws and some sounds may feel different for the first few days | Most swelling and any bruising fade |
| About 2 weeks | Full result | Filler settles into its final shape over 2 to 4 weeks. This is when to judge your result |
| Months 2 to 3 | The effect wears off. Rebook to keep it | Still in place |
| Months 6 to 12 | Not applicable | Filler gradually fades. Time for a touch-up |
Planning for an event? Book either treatment at least 2 weeks ahead.
Which is right for you?
Pick a lip flip for a subtle change to the upper lip, and lip filler for volume or shape you can see at rest. Here's a simple guide:
| If you want… | Consider |
|---|---|
| More upper lip to show when you smile | Lip flip |
| A subtle first step before trying filler | Lip flip |
| To soften a gummy smile | Lip flip |
| Fuller lips, top and bottom | Lip filler |
| A more defined lip border or better symmetry | Lip filler |
| A lifted, heart-shaped look | Lip filler with the Russian lip technique |
| Smoother fine lines around the mouth | Lip filler |
| Results that last most of a year | Lip filler |
| Volume plus more upper lip on show | Both |
Almost everyone is a good candidate for a lip flip. The main exception is when there's already a lot of filler in the area, and your injector will check for that first.
Can you combine a lip flip and lip filler?
Yes, and they can often be done at the same visit. Filler adds the volume, and a lip flip lets a little more of the upper lip show. A lip flip with a half syringe is $698, and with a full syringe it's $898. Your injector confirms at your consultation whether both suit your lips.
What to know before your treatment
Both treatments are quick and have mild, short-lived side effects for most people. Here's what's typical for each:
- Lip flip: small bumps or a bruise at the injection points. For the first few days, it may be slightly harder to use a straw or say certain sounds.
- Lip filler: swelling and possibly bruising, usually for 2 to 3 days and sometimes up to a week. In the FDA-reviewed Volbella XC study, 92.9% of people reported swelling, most often lasting 1 to 7 days.
The FDA notes the most serious filler risk is unintentional injection into a blood vessel, which is rare. Call us right away at (561) 621-1578 if you notice increasing pain, blanching or color changes in the skin after filler.
Lip filler isn't done during pregnancy or breastfeeding, over an active cold sore or infection near the mouth, or with an allergy to hyaluronic acid filler or lidocaine. Botox isn't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an infection at the injection site, or with certain neuromuscular conditions. Every treatment is overseen by our medical director, Dr. Andrei Gherghina, a board-certified dermatologist.
Questions we hear
Does a lip flip make your lips bigger?
Not in volume. It shows more of your upper lip by rolling it slightly outward, so it looks fuller. For actual volume, filler is the better fit.
What hurts more, a lip flip or lip filler?
A lip flip is a few tiny injections over about 10 minutes, usually described as a quick pinch. For filler, we apply numbing cream first and the filler contains a local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure and a few quick pinches.
Can I get a lip flip if I already have filler?
Usually, yes. The main exception is a lot of filler already in the area. Your injector will check at your consultation.
Can a lip flip be reversed?
Botox can't be dissolved, but a lip flip wears off on its own in about 2 to 3 months. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Filler dissolving starts at $199.
Is a lip flip worth $199?
It's a good choice if you want a subtle, low-commitment change or a first step before filler. If you want volume that lasts most of a year, filler is usually the better fit.
How many units are in a lip flip?
Usually 4 to 6 units of Botox, depending on your lip. The price is a flat $199 either way.
Is 1 syringe of lip filler enough?
For most people, yes. One syringe is about 1 mL, enough for a noticeable but natural change, especially for a first treatment.
Not sure which suits your lips? Book a lip flip or lip filler appointment, or call us at (561) 621-1578 and we'll help you choose.
Sources
- Juvederm Volbella XC summary of safety and effectiveness data (P110033/S018), FDA, 2016
- RHA 3 summary of safety and effectiveness data (P170002/S030), FDA, 2023
- Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers), U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) prescribing information, Allergan/AbbVie, revised 10/2024