Upper Lip Eversion in Barcelona: Botulinum Toxin Lip Reveal at Santé Clinics

Upper Lip Eversion: How a Few Units of Botulinum Toxin Reveal a More Beautiful Smile

You may have noticed that some people’s upper lip seems to disappear when they smile — the visible vermillion (the pink, defined edge of the lip) rolls inward, leaving only teeth. The lip is there; it is just being pulled out of view by the surrounding muscle.

For many patients seeking lip enhancement, the actual problem isn’t a small lip — it’s a lip that rolls inward during expression. Adding hyaluronic acid filler to such a lip can make it appear oversized at rest while still disappearing during smiling. The right treatment is something different: upper lip eversion with botulinum toxin — known internationally as a “lip flip” — a 5-minute injection of micro-doses that gently relaxes the muscle around the upper lip, allowing the vermillion to roll outward and stay visible.

The result is a more pronounced, sensual, expressive upper lip — using your own anatomy, not added volume. Subtle. Natural. Reversible.

At Santé Clinics, on Avenida Diagonal 384, our medical team performs precision lip eversion as a standalone treatment or as part of a broader lip enhancement protocol.

What Is Lip Eversion (the Lip Flip)?

Lip eversion is a micro-dose botulinum toxin technique targeting the orbicularis oris — the circular muscle that surrounds the lips and is responsible for puckering, kissing, whistling, and pursing. When this muscle is tight or hyperactive, it rolls the upper lip inward, especially during smiling and speaking.

By placing 2 to 6 units of botulinum toxin at 4 to 6 specific points along the upper lip border, the muscle’s grip is gently softened. The lip naturally everts (rolls outward), revealing more of the visible vermillion and giving the appearance of:

• A fuller-looking upper lip without filler
• A more prominent cupid’s bow
• Less gum exposure when smiling (in some patients)
• A softer perioral area

The volume of the lip itself does not change — only the position and visibility of the existing lip tissue.

Lip Flip vs Lip Filler — How They Differ

	Lip Flip (botulinum toxin)	Lip Filler (hyaluronic acid)
Mechanism	Muscle relaxation, lip rolls outward	Volume added under the skin
Effect on size	No actual volume change	Real volume increase
Effect on shape	Lip is more visible during expression	Lip looks fuller at rest and in motion
Best for	Patients with adequate lip volume but inverted/rolled-in lips	Patients wanting a fuller, more defined lip
Onset	3 to 7 days	Immediate
Duration	2 to 4 months	9 to 18 months
Reversibility	Naturally wears off	Can be dissolved with hyaluronidase
Cost	From 350 €	From 450 € per syringe

They are complementary, not competing: many patients benefit from both — filler for volume, toxin for revealing that volume during expression.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate?

Ideal Candidates

• Patients whose upper lip vermillion disappears or rolls inward when smiling or talking
• Patients with adequate lip volume but a “thin look” during expression
• Patients seeking a subtle, natural enhancement without the commitment of filler
• Patients with mild gummy smile (the lip flip can also help reduce gum show)
• Patients aged 18+ in good general health

Less Ideal — Filler May Be Better

• Patients whose lip is genuinely thin in volume (not just rolled)
• Patients seeking dramatic lip enhancement
• Patients seeking results lasting longer than 4 months

Contraindications

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Neuromuscular disorders (myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton, ALS)
• Known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin
• Active infection at the injection site
• Patients in roles requiring precise lip control (professional musicians playing brass or wind instruments, professional voice artists) — discuss timing carefully with your doctor

How the Treatment Works at Santé Clinics

Free Aesthetic Consultation

Your aesthetic doctor:

1. Photographs your lips at rest, smiling, talking, and pursing.
2. Assesses the degree of lip inversion during expression.
3. Differentiates between lip volume deficit (better treated with filler) and lip inversion (treated with toxin).
4. Maps the precise injection points based on your anatomy.
5. Discusses goals — subtle enhancement vs. combined toxin + filler protocol.

The Procedure

The injection points are marked along the upper vermillion border, typically 4 to 6 points (2 to 3 above each peak of the cupid’s bow and 1 to 2 at each corner of the upper lip).

A topical anaesthetic may be applied for comfort, though most patients describe these injections as quick, fine pinches with minimal discomfort. Using a 32G ultra-fine needle, the doctor places 2 to 6 units of botulinum toxin total. Total chair time: 5 to 10 minutes.

You walk out and return immediately to your day. There is no visible swelling and no obvious sign of treatment.

Aftercare

• Avoid intense exercise, saunas, and hot baths for 24 hours
• Avoid massaging or rubbing the lips for 24 hours
• Avoid drinking through a straw for 24 hours (you may find it slightly awkward initially)
• Pinpoint marks resolve within hours
• A complimentary follow-up appointment is included two weeks post-treatment

What Results to Expect

• Days 3 to 5: First subtle effect — the upper lip begins to evert
• Days 7 to 14: Maximum effect — the upper lip vermillion is more visible during smiling and speaking; cupid’s bow is more defined
• Months 1 to 3: Stable, natural-looking enhancement
• Months 3 to 4: Effect gradually fades; muscle function returns
• Month 4: Time to maintain

The first 1 to 2 weeks are often described by patients as “I look like myself, but my smile reveals more.” This is precisely the goal — your own lip, simply more visible.

Pricing

Treatment	Price
Lip Flip / Upper Lip Eversion	From 350 €
Free aesthetic consultation	0 €
2-week follow-up appointment	Included

Because the dose required is small (2 to 6 units), the cost sits at the lower end of botulinum-toxin treatments. Many patients combine it with full-face cosmetic Botox or a small lip filler in the same session for an integrated result.

Combining Lip Flip with Other Treatments

The lip flip is highly synergistic with:

• Lip filler (hyaluronic acid) — small volume in the upper lip + lip flip = optimal definition without overfilling
• Gummy smile correction (botulinum toxin) — both treatments use the same muscle group; can be planned together
• Perioral skin booster / polynucleotides — improves lip skin quality and reduces fine perioral lines
• Full lip rejuvenation protocol — flip + filler + skin booster + lip mask for a complete result

Your doctor will design the integrated plan during the consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be able to drink, eat, kiss, or speak normally?

Yes. The dose is small and the muscle is only slightly relaxed — not paralysed. You may notice a minor difference when drinking through a straw or whistling for a week or two; otherwise, normal function is fully preserved.

Will my smile look strange?

No, when the dose is correct. The most common feedback after a lip flip is “my smile looks better and I don’t quite know why.” The change is subtle, natural, and flattering. Over-treatment can cause a temporary feeling of lip “heaviness” — which is precisely why we use a conservative dose and offer a touch-up at 2 weeks.

How does this differ from a lip filler?

Lip filler adds volume under the skin; lip flip changes lip position by relaxing muscle. They are answers to different questions. Many patients benefit from both.

How long do results last?

Typically 2 to 4 months — shorter than full-face cosmetic Botox because the orbicularis oris is one of the most active muscles in the body (talking, eating, kissing) and metabolises the toxin faster. Most patients schedule maintenance every 3 to 4 months.

Will it help my gummy smile?

Sometimes — the lip flip alone can reduce gum exposure by 1 to 2 mm in mild gummy smile cases. For more pronounced gummy smile, a dedicated gummy smile correction protocol (with injections in the lip elevator muscles) is more effective. We often combine both.

Is it reversible?

Yes — if you ever feel over-corrected or change your mind, the effect fully resolves on its own within 8 to 12 weeks. Unlike filler, no dissolving agent is required.

Will my lip look fake?

Quite the opposite — the result is more natural than filler in many patients, because the lip volume itself is unchanged. Friends and family typically notice “you look great” without identifying lip work.

Will my lip become permanently flatter when the toxin wears off?

No. The effect fully reverses, and the muscle returns to its baseline. There is no long-term thinning or other side effect from repeated lip flips.

Book Your Free Aesthetic Consultation in Barcelona

If your upper lip disappears when you smile, the answer may be simpler than filler — and far more natural. At Santé Clinics, your journey begins with a free aesthetic consultation where our specialists assess your lips, identify the underlying issue, and design a personalised plan.

Contact us: - WhatsApp: +34 699 14 58 87 - Visit: clinics.sante.co - Address: Avenida Diagonal 384, 08037 Barcelona, Spain - Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00

Reveal the upper lip you already have. Book your free consultation at Santé Clinics today.