Botox for Lip Flips, Gummy Smiles & More!
Most people think of Botox as a forehead treatment made famous for its use by, well, almost every actor and actress in Hollywood! But apart from addressing forehead “frown lines” Botox is also often used to enhance the lips and improve smiles.
The desired level of lip repair dictates the precise placement of Botox injections. Botox is effective in relaxing the lips’ muscles for up to three months.
Skillful Botox injections into precise locations on the lips temporarily weaken muscles to smooth out the top and lower lip regions, curl the lips slightly outward, elevate the corners of the mouth, and even erase nasolabial folds or “marionette” lines.
One of our most popular Botox procedures is a “lip flip,” which relaxes the muscles around the lips, causing them to curve and seem bigger. Botox may also be used in a similar way to correct a “gummy” smile by relaxing the lips so they cover more of the gums.
The Botox “Lip Flip”
Botox “lip flips” are a much more recent injectable procedure than traditional Botox forehead injections.
The Botox lip flip relaxes the “orbicularis oris” or mouth muscles. When these muscles are relaxed, the upper lip rolls outward and curls upward. This visually enlarges the visible portion of the upper lip by extending the top lip outward – without actually adding volume to the lips with fillers.
The Botox lip flip needs to be carefully performed by a medical professional to ensure the treatment preserves the mouth muscles’ function. Effective lip flipping requires expertise to get the greatest aesthetic outcomes, while still enabling the lips to move freely.
Although determining the precise dosage of Botox and injecting the proper muscles in a Botox lip flip is complex, the procedure only takes a few minutes. So, it is critical to consult with a trained and experienced, board-certified physician, such as those at Tutera Medical in the Phoenix area.
And, keep in mind that if you desire lips that are dramatically plumper and more voluminous, lip fillers such as Juvéderm Ultra XC may be the best choice. Combining a Botox lip flip with lip fillers, on the other hand, may provide even more dramatic results.
Botox Treatment for a “Gummy” Smile
A “gummy smile” is one in which the gums are visible above the teeth, because they are not fully covered by the upper lip or because the upper lip is too thin. However, Botox injections into the lip’s “Cupid’s bow” can be highly effective at helping to cover the gums.
The muscle in the Cupid’s bow is the orbicularis oris muscle, which is utilized to pucker the lips – such as when drinking from a straw, whistling, or kissing.
When this muscle is relaxed, the top lip curls slightly outward, giving the appearance of bigger lips as well as covering more of the gums.
Botox for Lip Lines and Wrinkles
Botox injections were originally developed to cosmetically minimize or temporarily erase lines and wrinkles above and between the eyes. But Botox may also be used to smooth out wrinkles around the upper and lower lips and to eliminate marionette lines, or lines that flow downward from the corners of the mouth.
Naturally occurring lip lines and wrinkles occur as a consequence of laughing, smiling, frowning, kissing, talking, drinking from a straw, smoking, making normal facial expressions, sun exposure and aging. Depending on the location of the lip lines, Botox can be an excellent choice for reducing wrinkles in the mouth area. We also offer a full line of injectable lip fillers that can be used to fill and smooth lines around the lips.
Other Injections for Lip Plumping
At Tutera Medical’s offices in the Phoenix area we also offer a wide array of lip fillers that can plump lips for a bigger, fuller, more balance and symmetrical, or younger appearance. When it comes to selecting the best lip filler for your desired aesthetic outcomes, we offer many choices. While the effects of a Botox lip flip typically last around 3 month, Juvéderm lip fillers can last about six months or longer.
Botox for Wrinkles, Lips & More | Phoenix Area
Tutera Medical’s Phoenix area injectable experts will consult with you to choose the best injectable products and procedures to achieve your desired appearance outcomes. We will take the time to understand your aesthetic objectives, evaluate your facial features and skin condition, and customize your treatment plan.
Our Phoenix area medical offices utilize the most advanced technology available for Botox, face fillers, line fillers, lip fillers, and wrinkle and line reduction. To determine whether Botox or another face or lip filler treatment is appropriate for you, schedule a consultation.
Then sit back and relax in one of our Phoenix area medical offices as we rejuvenate your lips, and make you look and feel even more gorgeous!