A lip flip is a small injection of botulinum toxin type A (commonly known as “Botox”) into the upper lip muscle that creates the appearance of a slightly fuller, more upturned lip without adding volume. The medicine is a prescription-only medicine; treatment in the UK requires consultation with a qualified prescriber. At Dental & Wellness London in Islington, lip flips are prescribed and administered by Dr Vishal Patel, the clinic's sole aesthetic prescriber.
The confusion this page clears up
"Lip flip" gets used loosely online, often confused with lip filler. The two are different treatments with different mechanisms, and understanding the difference is the whole point of this page.
What a lip flip actually is
A lip flip uses a small dose of botulinum toxin type A, placed into the orbicularis oris muscle just below the vermilion border of the upper lip. Rather than adding volume, it relaxes the muscle that rolls the lip inward, letting more of the natural pink lip tissue show and creating a subtle upward, fuller-looking curl — the "flip".
How it differs from lip filler
Filler adds hyaluronic acid volume to the lip itself, genuinely increasing size. A lip flip adds nothing — it changes how the existing lip sits by relaxing the muscle around it. The result is subtler and shorter-lived than filler, but avoids any risk of the "duck lip" over-filled look, since there's no added volume to overdo. For a closer comparison, see lip flip vs lip fillers.
Who it suits
Patients wanting a natural, subtle enhancement rather than visible volume; those with a thin upper lip that curls inward when smiling; patients hesitant about filler wanting to try a smaller, reversible step first; and those with a gummy smile, where the lip-flip technique can also reduce gum show during smiling. Our guide to gummy smile treatment with botulinum toxin explains the approach in more detail.
What it doesn't do
It won't add genuine volume to thin lips — that's filler's job. It won't correct significant asymmetry from structural causes. And it's not permanent — typically lasting six to twelve weeks, shorter than most anti-wrinkle treatments elsewhere on the face, since the lip muscle is used constantly in speech and eating.
The procedure itself
A few small injections along the vermilion border, taking minutes, with results developing over three to five days and lasting six to twelve weeks. No downtime. At our clinic a lip flip is £169 on its own, or included within a three-area anti-wrinkle treatment price when it is one of the three areas; lip flip cost is covered in detail separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lip flip the same as lip filler? No — filler adds volume; a lip flip relaxes muscle to change how the existing lip sits.
How long does a lip flip last? Typically six to twelve weeks — shorter than most anti-wrinkle treatments since the lip muscle is constantly active.
Does a lip flip hurt? Minimal discomfort — a few small injections, over in minutes.
Can I combine a lip flip with filler? Yes, sometimes done together or in sequence depending on the goal.
Who administers lip flips at DWL? Dr Vishal Patel, the clinic's sole aesthetic prescriber, after consultation.
Book a consultation
Call 020 8127 4567 or WhatsApp +44 7974 910222. Dental & Wellness London, 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP.
Reviewed by Dr Vishal Patel · BDS, MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry · GDC 103127 · sole aesthetic prescriber. Last reviewed 2026.
