Lip Flip in Lake Norman, NC

Timing it

A flip doesn't show the day you get it. You'll notice a change over the first several days, and it settles at about two weeks. So if there's a wedding, a trip, or photos coming up, count back at least two weeks and book from there. That also leaves time for your included follow-up before the big day.

Who should think twice

The muscle a flip relaxes is the one you use to purse your lips. For most people that's a small trade. If you sing, play a wind instrument, or talk for a living, tell me at the consult, and we'll talk about dose and whether the timing works for you. Some people notice drinking through a straw feels different for a while.

What a lip flip does

Think of it as letting the top lip roll out a little when you smile instead of tucking under. Nothing is added, so the lip at rest stays about the same. If you want a fuller lip at rest, that's HA filler for lip volume, a different treatment.

What it costs

The pricing page lists a lip flip at 4 to 6 units. All neurotoxins are $13 per unit, so that's $52 to $78. I confirm your number at the free consult before anything is injected. Adding another area the same visit, like the forehead or frown lines, is the same $13 per unit. See Botox in Lake Norman for those.

Does it hurt, and what's the downtime?

The lip is more sensitive than the forehead, so expect a few sharp pinches over a couple of minutes. There's no real downtime. A small bump, a little redness, or a bruise at an injection site is possible.

How long it lasts

It settles at about two weeks. MedlinePlus says cosmetic Botox for frown lines, forehead lines, and crow's feet may be repeated every 3 to 4 months, depending on how long the effect lasts. That guidance covers those areas, not this one, so I won't promise a number. We'll look at how yours held up and plan from there.

An honest note about labeling

The FDA prescribing information for Botox Cosmetic lists the approved cosmetic areas: frown lines, crow's feet, forehead lines, and neck (platysma) bands. The upper lip isn't on that list, so this is an off-label use. Off-label use is common in aesthetics, and I'd rather tell you up front than have you find out later.

Your first visit

I watch your lip at rest, when you smile, and when you talk, and I tell you whether a flip will show enough to be worth it. If you want to go ahead, it can usually happen the same visit. At two weeks we check it together, and I add a unit or two at no charge if it needs it.

Is it safe? When to wait

Botox and Dysport are prescription drugs. MedlinePlus summarizes the patient information for onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) and abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport). Tell me before anything is injected if:

• You're pregnant, planning to be, or breastfeeding.
• You have a condition that affects muscles or nerves, such as myasthenia gravis, ALS, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, or you've had trouble swallowing or breathing.
• You've had a side effect from any botulinum toxin product before.
• You have a big event in the next two weeks.

The FDA prescribing information for Botox Cosmetic lists side effects such as eyelid or brow drooping and headache. The CDC's page on botulinum toxin injections explains the risk of counterfeit product and unlicensed injectors.