Comparison guide. Reviewed by Alina McCann, MSN, APRN, AGNP. Updated October 13, 2026.
A lip flip is a few units of Botox that roll the upper lip out, about $50 to $100, lasting two to three months and adding no volume. Lip filler adds real volume and shape from $550 a syringe and lasts six to twelve months. Many patients do both.
They solve different problems. A lip flip is 4 to 8 units of Botox along the upper lip border; it relaxes the muscle that curls the lip under, so more of the pink shows when you smile. It adds no volume and costs about $50 to $100. Lip filler is hyaluronic acid gel placed in the lip to add volume, define the border or fix asymmetry; it starts at $550 a syringe and lasts most of a year. Alina McCann, NP, does both and often does them together.
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| Lip flip | Lip filler | |
|---|---|---|
| Our price | $12 per unit, usually 4 to 8 units ($48 to $96) | from $550 per syringe ($500 Beauty Bank) |
| What it does | rolls the upper lip outward | adds volume and shape |
| Adds volume | no | yes |
| Onset | 3 to 7 days | immediate, settles in 2 weeks |
| Lasts | 8 to 12 weeks | 6 to 12 months |
| Downtime | none | swelling 2 to 3 days, possible bruise |
| Reversible | wears off | yes, with hyaluronidase |
| Best for | thin upper lip that disappears when smiling; gummy smile | thin lips, lost volume, asymmetry, definition |
It changes how the upper lip sits, not how big it is. If your upper lip vanishes when you smile, or you want a subtle hint of more lip without anyone knowing, it is the right tool. If your lips are thin at rest, a flip will not change that. For the first week or so, straws, whistling and some consonants can feel odd. Full details on the lip flip page.
Filler builds the lip: volume, a defined border, a corrected asymmetry, or the vertical lines above the lip. The result is immediate and adjustable, and it can be dissolved if you do not like it. The risks are bruising and swelling for a few days and, rarely, a lump or vascular problem, which is why injector experience matters. Alina starts most patients with half to one syringe; the overfilled look comes from doing too much, not from filler itself. See lip filler.
A lip flip every ten weeks is about five visits a year, roughly $350 to $480. One syringe of filler once or twice a year is $550 to $1,100. The flip is cheaper but needs more visits; the filler does more and lasts longer.
Lip flip if your issue is the upper lip rolling under, you want the smallest possible change, or you want to test the idea of a fuller-looking lip before committing to filler.
Lip filler if your lips are thin at rest, uneven, or losing definition with age, and you want a result that lasts most of a year.
Both if you want volume and a lifted upper lip; Alina does them in the same visit. Prices are on the price list.
Prices are our list prices as of October 13, 2026 and are shown in full on the price list. Trial figures are averages from the cited studies; individual results vary. This guide is written by the provider who performs the treatments, so it reflects what we offer as well as what we do not.
Both, done well. A lip flip is the subtler of the two because nothing is added. Filler looks natural when the amount is right, which is why Alina starts with half to one syringe.
Yes, and it is a common combination: filler for shape and volume, a flip to show more of the upper lip.
Botox, placed slightly differently. See the gummy smile page.
A few units of Botox along the upper lip border relax the muscle that curls the lip inward, so more of the pink of the lip shows when you smile or rest. No volume is added.
Full, balanced lips frame the whole face, and they are one of the first features people notice.
Botox placed where the upper lip lifts too high when you smile, so less gum shows and the smile looks balanced without touching the teeth or gums.
More comparisons: Botox vs Daxxify, Botox vs Dysport, Sculptra vs Radiesse vs hyaluronic acid filler, Semaglutide vs tirzepatide, Kybella vs surgery for a double chin.
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