{"product_id":"lip-flip","title":"Lip Flip: A Subtle Lift for Your Upper Lip and Smile","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA softer, fuller-looking upper lip, without filler.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA lip flip is a few tiny Botox injections along the upper lip border. They relax the muscle just enough for the lip to roll gently outward, so it shows a little more and looks fuller, with no filler added.\u003c\/strong\u003e It starts to show in about 2 days, with the full effect at about 2 weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImagine a smile that shows a touch more lip, lipstick that sits just right, and a mouth that looks soft and rested in every photo. People tend to notice \"you look lovely,\" not \"you had something done.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eMy honest take on the lip flip\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eI look at your smile first,\u003c\/strong\u003e at rest and in motion, before I plan a single point.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt's subtle by design.\u003c\/strong\u003e Nothing is added, so the shape stays yours. If you want more fullness, I'll suggest filler, and sometimes I combine the two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eI'll tell you if it's not the right fix.\u003c\/strong\u003e If your gums or bite cause a gummy smile, I'll point you to the right specialist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTiming matters for some people.\u003c\/strong\u003e It can briefly change certain sounds, so performers and speakers should plan ahead.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eHow does a lip flip work?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe muscle that opens and closes your mouth is a round muscle called the orbicularis oris, and it does double duty, for expression and for function: smiling, kissing, sipping through a straw, and shaping sounds like P, B, M and O. In a lip flip, I place a few tiny units of neuromodulator along just the upper edge of that muscle, so it relaxes there and your lip gently rolls out. I keep it that precise so those everyday movements stay as natural as possible, and nothing is added, so the shape stays yours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eHow soon will I see a lip flip, and how long does it last?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou'll start to see a change in about 2 days, and the full effect at about 2 weeks. A lip flip usually lasts 3 to 4 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eLip flip or lip filler: which is right for you?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lip flip changes how the lip sits. Filler adds volume and shape. If you want a subtle lift, a flip may be all you need. If you'd like more fullness, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/fillers\"\u003elip filler\u003c\/a\u003e with the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/rha-collection\"\u003eRHA® Collection\u003c\/a\u003e may suit you better. I sometimes combine a lip flip with lip filler, for a lip that sits a little higher and has a touch more fullness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eCan a lip flip help a gummy smile?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes, and it depends on what's causing it. A gummy smile simply means more gum shows when you smile than you'd like. Gummy smiles come in different types:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e extra gum shows across the front teeth, from canine to canine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e extra gum shows toward the back teeth, at the sides of the smile.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixed:\u003c\/strong\u003e both the front and the sides.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAsymmetric:\u003c\/strong\u003e one side shows more gum than the other.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cause matters even more than the type:\n- \u003cstrong\u003eA very active or short upper lip.\u003c\/strong\u003e The muscles that lift the lip pull it higher than usual when you smile. This is the kind I treat with injections in my office. Small, precise injections relax those lifting muscles, so the lip rests lower over the gums. The points I choose depend on whether your gummy smile is anterior, posterior, mixed or asymmetric, and they're a little different from a classic lip flip, so I'll plan the right approach for your smile.\n- \u003cstrong\u003eGums covering more of the teeth than usual,\u003c\/strong\u003e or extra gum tissue. Here the teeth look short because the gum line sits low. That's best treated by a dentist or periodontist, often with a gum-contouring procedure.\n- \u003cstrong\u003eThe upper jaw or teeth sitting lower or longer,\u003c\/strong\u003e a skeletal or dental cause. That's a job for an orthodontist or oral surgeon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften more than one cause is at play. I'll look at your smile at rest and in motion, and if your gums or bite are the main reason, I'll tell you honestly and point you to the right specialist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:18px;margin:18px 0 6px;\"\u003eTwo types of gummy smile I see: the lip that rolls under and the lip that lifts too high\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are two types of gummy smile I see most often when the lip itself is the cause, and they're treated at different points.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe upper lip rolls under when you smile.\u003c\/strong\u003e As you smile, the upper lip rolls under, so the pink of the lip almost disappears and more gum shows. The round muscle around the mouth, the orbicularis oris, is pulling the lip under. This is where a lip flip helps: a few tiny injections right at the upper lip border relax that edge, so the lip stays turned out and covers more of the gum.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe upper lip lifts too high when you smile.\u003c\/strong\u003e Here the lip shortens and rises well above the teeth. The muscles that lift the lip are doing too much: the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi beside the nose, the levator labii superioris, and the zygomaticus minor. Small injections beside the nose, where these three muscles come together (an area often called the Yonsei point), soften that upward pull so the lip rests lower over the gums.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany people have a little of both, and I sometimes combine the two approaches. A lip flip starts to show in about 2 days, with the full effect at about 2 weeks, and usually lasts 3 to 4 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure style=\"margin:22px 0;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/9678\/6204\/files\/gummy-smile-two-types-illustration.png?v=1793568783\" alt=\"Side-by-side soft illustrations of two smiles: on the left a thin upper lip rolling under with curved arrows, some gum showing, and a small side-profile inset of the lip rolling under; on the right three short rose muscle strips on each side beside the nose, each with an upward arrow, pulling a full upper lip high above a band of gum\" width=\"1544\" height=\"560\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;\"\u003e\u003cfigcaption style=\"font-size:14px;margin-top:8px;\"\u003eTwo types of gummy smile. Left: the upper lip rolls under as you smile, so it looks very thin and gum shows (curved arrows; the small circle shows the same lip from the side, rolling under). Right: three short lip-lifting muscles on each side, beside the nose and converging into the upper lip, pull the whole lip too high (rose strips; the arrows show each one pulling up and shortening), showing a taller band of gum.\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\n\u003cfigure style=\"margin:22px 0;\"\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay muted loop playsinline preload=\"metadata\" poster=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/9678\/6204\/files\/gummy-smile-two-types-animation-poster.jpg?v=1793568783\" width=\"1028\" height=\"372\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;\" aria-label=\"Looping soft illustration of two faces going from relaxed lips to a smile: one upper lip rolls under and thins, the other lifts high as three short muscles on each side of the nose shorten under upward arrows, revealing gum\" title=\"Looping soft illustration of two faces going from relaxed lips to a smile: one upper lip rolls under and thins, the other lifts high as three short muscles on each side of the nose shorten under upward arrows, revealing gum\"\u003e\u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/vp\/f5011945f27c45bb8e44cd5adbd0bf4c\/f5011945f27c45bb8e44cd5adbd0bf4c.SD-480p-0.9Mbps-99665766.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/9678\/6204\/files\/gummy-smile-two-types-animation.webp?v=1793568783\" alt=\"Looping soft illustration of two faces going from relaxed lips to a smile: one upper lip rolls under and thins, the other lifts high as three short muscles on each side of the nose shorten under upward arrows, revealing gum\" width=\"1028\" height=\"372\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003cfigcaption style=\"font-size:14px;margin-top:8px;\"\u003eFrom rest to smile: on the left the upper lip rolls under; on the right three short muscles on each side shorten and pull the lip too high (arrows), showing more gum.\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eWhat to know before you book: speech and timing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne honest note: for a short while, a lip flip can change how you make certain sounds, and sipping through a straw or whistling may feel different. If you're a public speaker, actor or singer, let's talk about timing before an important performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eWho is it right for?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a lovely option for people of every skin tone who want a natural-looking lift, a softer gummy smile caused by an active lip, or a first step before filler.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:22px;margin:22px 0 8px;\"\u003eWhat happens at your visit?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe look at your smile together, at rest and in motion, then I place a few small injections. Afterward you can usually go about your day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair it with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/fotona-liplase\"\u003eFotona LipLase\u003c\/a\u003e for lip texture, or explore \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/masseter-botox\"\u003emasseter Botox\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/neuromodulators\"\u003eall neuromodulators\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:24px 0;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dorisdaymd.com\/pages\/contact-us\" class=\"button\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:14px 28px;background:#6b2d5c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;letter-spacing:.05em;font-weight:600;\"\u003eBOOK A CONSULTATION\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMedically reviewed by Doris Day, MD\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@graph\": [{\"@type\": \"MedicalWebPage\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/lip-flip#webpage\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/lip-flip\", \"name\": \"Lip Flip: A Subtle Lift for Your Upper Lip and Smile\", \"description\": \"A softer, fuller-looking upper lip without filler. NYC dermatologist Dr. Doris Day explains how a lip flip works and her approach to a gummy smile.\", \"about\": {\"@type\": \"MedicalProcedure\", \"name\": \"Lip flip (botulinum toxin injection of the upper lip)\"}, \"audience\": \"Patient\", \"reviewedBy\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Doris Day, MD\", \"jobTitle\": \"Board-certified dermatologist\"}}, {\"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is a lip flip?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A lip flip is a few tiny Botox injections along the upper lip border. The lip rolls gently outward and looks fuller, with no filler added.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How long does a lip flip take to work, and how long does it last?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It starts to show in about 2 days, with the full effect at about 2 weeks. It usually lasts 3 to 4 months.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can a lip flip fix a gummy smile?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"When an active upper lip is the cause, I treat it with injections in my office. When the gums cover more of the teeth or the jaw sits lower, a dentist, periodontist or orthodontist is the better route, and I'll tell you which fits.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What are the two types of gummy smile?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"In one, the upper lip rolls under when you smile, and a lip flip at the lip border keeps it turned out. In the other, the lip-lifting muscles beside the nose pull the lip too high, and small injections there soften that pull. Many people have a little of both.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is a lip flip better than lip filler?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"They do different things. A flip changes how the lip sits; filler adds volume. Many people start with a flip, and I sometimes combine a flip with lip filler.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Will a lip flip affect my speech?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"For a short while it can change how you make certain sounds. If you're a public speaker, actor or singer, we'll plan timing around your performances.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Who performs the lip flip?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"I do. I'm a master injector, injecting for over 25 years.\"}}]}, {\"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Treatments\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/collections\/all-treatments\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"Lip Flip: A Subtle Lift for Your Upper Lip and Smile\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/lip-flip\"}]}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n","brand":"Doris Day MD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54811372749084,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/drdorisday.com\/products\/lip-flip","provider":"Doris Day MD practice","version":"1.0","type":"link"}