Everyone On TikTok Is Talking About the “Lip Flip” – Here’s What That Means

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If a modern-day Shakespeare existed, the soliloquy might read a little more like: “to be injected, or not to be be injected – that is the question.”

This rings especially true now. Since stay-home orders have lifted – and with the onslaught of Zoom conferences, FaceTime calls, and 900 other modes of watching your reflection for extended periods of time – the number of people getting cosmetic procedures has skyrocketed. In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by aesthetics company Aedit, 39 percent of respondents reported interest in non-surgical aesthetic treatments. The latest trend hitting TikTok’s For You pages? The “lip flip.”

Yes, a “lip flip” might sound like something you’d find in a Wacko Wax box at the candy store, but this in-office treatment is booming in popularity in the same way lip filler did post-Kylie Jenner in 2015. So what it is, exactly, and what’s the difference between the two?

“A lip flip is a procedure that uses a small amount of neurotoxin, like Botox, injected above the lip to relax the muscles,” dermatologist Anna Karp, MD, told POPSUGAR. “This everts the lip, or ‘flips’ the lip upward.”

This treatment is typically injected near the cupid’s bow and the corners of the mouth to create a “fuller” look without the help of cosmetic filler. It can also work well to hide a particularly gummy smile. Because it’s paralysing the muscle, “more of your upper lip will show and less of your gums,” Dr. Karp said. “I also find it smooths the vertical lines above the upper lip.”

Plus, since lip fillers can cost anywhere between $500 to $1,000 depending on where you live, the lip flip can be a less pricy alternative because it uses such a small amount of the neurotoxin. “It’s a relatively inexpensive option for people who want to enhance their upper lip,” she said. (Exact pricing depends on where you go and how many units your dermatologist uses, but it can clock in as little as $50.)

“There is a definitely a ‘Zoom boom’ with people noticing their facial features more and wanting to try different procedures,” said Dr. Karp, adding that this is really for people looking to make a small tweak without breaking the bank. “This would be a subtle enhancement, which many people prefer over the volume you get with a lip filler.”

On the flip side (sorry, had to) this treatment won’t last as long as filler, and instead dissipates between one to two months. Beats the claim of “eternity” being in our lips, though, huh Shakespeare?