What is a lip flip?
A few units of wrinkle-relaxing treatment to roll the upper lip outward — what it does, what it does not, and who it suits.
A lip flip uses a very small amount of wrinkle-relaxing treatment placed into the muscle that circles the mouth. Relaxing the top edge of that muscle lets the upper lip roll very slightly outward, so more of the pink shows when you are at rest. It is not filler and it adds no volume at all.
What it actually changes
It shows a little more of the upper lip and can soften a gummy smile by reducing how far the lip lifts. The effect is subtle — measured in millimetres — and it is a change in how the lip sits, not in how big it is.
If you want genuinely more volume, a lip flip will disappoint you and filler is the honest answer. If your upper lip disappears when you smile, or you feel your top lip is thin only because it curls inward, this may be exactly right.
How long it lasts
Around six to eight weeks — noticeably shorter than the same treatment in the forehead, because the muscle around the mouth is in constant use. That short duration is worth knowing before you book: it is not a cheaper alternative to filler, it is a different thing that needs repeating more often.
The trade-off
Because the muscle is slightly relaxed, some people notice a temporary difference in sipping through a straw, whistling or pronouncing certain sounds. It is usually mild and it resolves as the treatment wears off, but if you sing, play a wind instrument or present for a living, factor it in.
Sources and further reading
This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Every treatment needs an individual assessment, and what is right for someone else may not be right for you.
About the author
Ashleigh Trickett
Registered Nurse & Aesthetic Practitioner
Registered Nurse with a BSc in Nursing and a PGCert in Critical Care (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2025). Ten years in the NHS, four of them in critical care. Advanced facial anatomy education at the Royal College of Surgeons with BAMAN, June 2026. Member of BAMAN and the Aesthetic Complications Expert Group. BAMAN Awards 2026 finalist for Rising Star of the Year.
Treatments this relates to
- Anti-Wrinkle InjectionsFrom £180
Wrinkle-relaxing treatment for the frown, forehead and crow's feet — dosed to soften movement, not remove it.
- Signature Lips£250
Hyaluronic acid lip enhancement built around your existing anatomy — shape and balance before volume.
Common questions
- Is a lip flip the same as lip filler?
- No. A lip flip relaxes a muscle so the lip rolls outward slightly. Filler adds volume. They do different things and are sometimes combined.
- How long does a lip flip last?
- Around six to eight weeks. The muscle around the mouth is very active, so the effect wears off faster than in other areas.
- Will it make my lips bigger?
- Not bigger — slightly more visible. If volume is what you are after, filler is the right treatment.
Read next
Lips
How to get lip filler that looks natural
Natural is a proportion problem, not a volume problem. What actually makes lips read as done, and the specific things to ask for — and to refuse — at consultation.
Lips
How long do lip fillers last?
Six to twelve months is the usual answer, but the range is wide and the reasons for it are specific — metabolism, product, placement, volume and what you do afterwards all move the number.
Get in touch
Book a consultation
Consultations are £30, and that comes off the cost of your treatment if you go ahead. No pressure to book anything on the day — if you are not sure whether you want treatment at all, that is still a good reason to come and talk.