Lip Flip Before and After: What to Expect at Every Stage.

Most people researching lip flip before-and-after results are trying to answer one question: will this actually change my lip, and will the change look good on me? The honest answer is yes, for the right candidate, and the change is subtle by design. The lip flip uses 4 to 6 units of Botox injected into the orbicularis oris muscle above the upper lip, causing it to relax and evert slightly outward. The result shows more of the upper lip's pink portion without adding volume. Before-and-after photos are the most compelling way to see this, but understanding what the process actually involves at each stage gives you a much more useful picture than photos alone.

All botulinum toxin products carry an FDA Boxed Warning about the potential for toxin effects to spread beyond the injection site. At cosmetic doses, this is rare, but your provider will review this with you before treatment

What does this article cover?

What lip flip before and after results actually look like, and who sees the best change
How to prepare before your appointment for the clearest before and after difference
What the treatment involves on the day and what you'll see immediately after
Lip flip aftercare rules that protect your result and prevent avoidable side effects

Key takeaways

Lip flip before and after changes are visible at 10 to 14 days; results last 6 to 8 weeks
The most noticeable before-and-after difference is the upper lip's visible pinkness; the lip rolls outward rather than adding volume.
Lip flip aftercare is minimal but specific: avoid heat, alcohol, and pressure on the injection sites for 24 to 48 hours.
A 2025 PubMed systematic review confirmed high patient satisfaction and minimal downtime across clinical studies on botulinum toxin lip augmentation.

What do lip flip before-and-after results actually look like?

The lip flip changes the position of the upper lip, not its volume. Before treatment, the orbicularis oris muscle holds the upper lip in its natural resting position. Some people's upper lip rolls slightly inward, which reduces how much pink lip tissue is visible from the front. After a lip flip, the muscle relaxes, the lip rolls outward, and more of the pink vermilion becomes visible. The lip looks fuller because more of it is showing, but no product was added.

A PubMed study measuring 3D lip changes after 4 units of BTA injection found a significant increase in upper vermilion height and a decrease in cutaneous upper lip height at 2 weeks post-injection, confirming the measurable change in lip morphology that patients see in their before-and-after photos.

Source: Three-Dimensional Measurement and Analysis of Botulinum Toxin A Injection for Improving the Aesthetic Appearance of the Upper Lip, PubMed/NIH

What makes lip flip before-and-after results look natural is precisely that it doesn't add anything. The lip changes shape, not size. Patients who do best are those with a thin or inward-rolling upper lip, in which revealing more of the existing lip creates a clear improvement. Patients who already have a full, visible upper lip tend to see less dramatic change.

The lip flip is an off-label application of botulinum toxin. Your provider will discuss what this means for your treatment during your consultation.

What to do before your lip flip appointment

Preparing well before your appointment helps ensure the before-and-after difference you're hoping to see. Minor bruising at the injection site is the main variable patients can control beforehand. Here's what to do in the days leading up to your appointment:

One week before:

Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fish oil, and vitamin E supplements if they're not medically necessary; all of these thin the blood and increase bruising risk
Stop topical retinoids around the mouth area; these sensitize the skin

48 hours before:

Avoid alcohol; it dilates blood vessels and raises bruising risk around the injection sites
No lip injections, dental work, or procedures near the lip in the 2 weeks before your appointment

Day of appointment:

Arrive with clean skin; no lipstick, lip liner, or any product on or around the lip
Skip numbing cream unless your provider applies it in-clinic; at-home timing can be tricky with this small an area
A light meal beforehand is fine; no fasting required

What happens during a lip flip treatment

The lip flip takes 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish. Here's what the appointment actually involves at New Day Medspa in Jacksonville:

Your provider will assess your lip structure first; specifically, the muscle tone, how much of your upper lip is visible at rest, and whether a lip flip, lip filler, or a combination makes sense for your anatomy. This is where the "before" starts to matter: documenting your baseline helps measure the before-and-after difference at your follow-up.

The injection itself involves 4 to 6 small punctures along the vermilion border and/or cupid's bow with a very fine needle. Most patients describe this as a quick pinch at each site. There's no need for numbing cream for most people, though it's available for particularly sensitive patients.

After the injections, your provider will apply gentle pressure to minimize any small bleeds at the injection sites. Some patients see tiny red marks at the injection points; these fade within a few hours. There's no swelling protocol or recovery room time.

Expert tip: The best before-and-after photos are taken at the same angle, with the same lighting, and with the same lip position at rest. Ask your provider to take a standardized baseline photo at your appointment and another at your 2-week follow-up, using the same setup. Casual mirror comparisons don't capture the change as clearly as side-by-side photos in consistent conditions.

Book a complimentary lip flip consultation at New Day Medspa in Jacksonville, FL. Licensed ARNPs and PAs assess your lip anatomy and confirm whether a lip flip, filler, or both fit your goals before any treatment begins.

‍Lip flip aftercare: what to do and avoid

Lip flip aftercare is simpler than filler aftercare but still specific. The injection sites on the orbicularis oris are small and heal quickly, but a few measures in the first 24 to 48 hours can protect the results and prevent avoidable bruising or swelling.

Do for the first 24 to 48 hours:

Keep the area clean and avoid touching or rubbing the injection sites
Apply a gentle, fragrance-free lip balm after a few hours, once any initial redness settles
Stay upright for at least 4 hours after the appointment; no lying face-down
Use Tylenol if there's any mild tenderness; avoid ibuprofen or aspirin

Avoid for 24 to 48 hours:

Alcohol increases blood flow and raises bruising risk
Hot baths, saunas, steam rooms, or intense exercise that causes facial flushing
Direct pressure on the lip, including sleeping face-down
Lipstick, lip liner, or any makeup directly on the injection sites until visible marks fade
Facial massage near the mouth

What's fine immediately:

Eating and drinking normally, including hot and cold foods
Going back to work or normal daily activities
Gentle skincare around the mouth; just avoid pressing on injection sites

What to expect in the days after a lip flip

The "after" in lip flip before-and-after doesn't happen overnight. Here's a day-by-day guide to what patients at New Day Medspa typically experience

Day	What's happening	What you'll notice
Day 0	Botox sitting in tissue	Tiny red marks at injection sites fade in hours
Days 1 to 2	Toxin beginning to bind	No visible change; lip may feel slightly different
Days 3 to 5	Muscle relaxation starting	First subtle eversion of the upper lip visible
Days 7 to 10	Continued softening	Clear visible change from baseline
Days 10 to 14	Full result reached	Maximum eversion; ideal time for before and after comparison photo
Weeks 3 to 6	Stable result	Results are maintained until Botox clears naturally
Weeks 6 to 8	Muscle gradually returning	Lip returns to baseline; book next appointment if desired

Who sees the best lip flip before-and-after results?

Not every lip type benefits equally from a lip flip. Here's a straightforward breakdown:

Best candidates:

Upper lip that rolls inward at rest, reducing visible pink vermilion
Mild gummy smile; the relaxed orbicularis oris slightly reduces how much gum shows when smiling
Patients who want definition without volume: the lip flip is specifically a shape change, not a size change
Patients who are hesitant about filler and want to test how lip enhancement looks before committing

Less ideal candidates:

Already full, everted upper lip with plenty of visible pink at rest; very little change will show in before and after
Patients wanting significant volume or fullness: lip filler is the right tool for that goal
People who need precise lip control for work (professional musicians, news anchors with specific elocution needs); the temporary muscle change affects fine motor lip movements

About New Day Medspa

New Day Medspa is a medically guided aesthetic practice with a location in Jacksonville, FL. All Botox treatments, including the lip flip, are performed by licensed ARNPs and PAs with specialized training in facial anatomy and injectable technique. Botox starts at $8.99 per unit, making the lip flip one of the most accessible treatments on the menu, and every appointment includes a two-week follow-up to evaluate your before-and-after results.