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Review
. 2025 Feb;24(2):e70048.
doi: 10.1111/jocd.70048.

Lip Filler Versus "Lip Flip": Longitudinal Public Interest and a Brief Review of Literature

Raika Bourmand  1 , Sofia E Olsson  1 , Shirin Soleimani  1 , Arman Fijany  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Lip Filler Versus "Lip Flip": Longitudinal Public Interest and a Brief Review of Literature

Raika Bourmand et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The lip augmentation market is projected to reach a value of 11.6 billion USD by 2030. Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are the most common type due to biocompatibility and reversibility. However, there has been an increase in alternative procedures, such as the "lip flip," involving the injection of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) into the superior orbicularis oris muscle.

Aims: The purpose of this study is to review the current literature and evaluate the general public interest in dermal lip fillers compared to supralabial BoNT-A injections over the past decade.

Methods: The Google Trends database was used to collect relative monthly search volume for the terms "lip filler" and "lip flip" over a decade-long period (January 1, 2014-January 1, 2024). Google Trends data is automatically normalized with a value of 100 indicating maximal search volume and 1 indicating minimal search volume.

Results: Search volume for lip filler and lip flip increased similarly from 2014 to 2024. Lip filler was consistently more searched and had an average 75% increase in relative search volume per month. Meanwhile, "lip flip" had, on average, a 33% increase in search volume per month.

Conclusions: Although lip filler was more frequently inquired about than "lip flip," the latter increased in popularity over time, reaffirming its popularity as a potential alternative to lip filler. Superior obicularis oris BoNT-A injections are rising in popularity and may be a valuable option for patients seeking cosmesis with hesitation toward dermal fillers.

Keywords: botox; botulinum toxin; hyaluronic acid; lip augmentation; lip filler; lip flip; nasolabial injection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Subtle differences in results from dermal lip fillers and supralabial botulinum toxin injections or “lip flip” for a patient with excessive gingival display and lip retraction.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Relative monthly search volume of “Lip Filler” and “Lip Flip” on Google from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2024 († p < 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Grandview Research , “Lip Augmentation Market Size to Reach $11.61Bn By 2030,” (2023), https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press‐release/global‐lip‐augmentation‐....
    1. American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery , “Heard About the BOTOX® Lip Flip? Here Are the Pros & Cons,” (2021), ambrdfcs.org/blog/pros‐cons‐botox‐lip‐flip/.
    1. Ali S., Al Bukhari F., Al Nuaimi K., et al., “Consensus Statement on the Use of Botulinum Neurotoxin in the Middle East,” Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 16 (2023): 2899–2909, 10.2147/CCID.S420921. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kalmanson O. A., Misch E. S., and Terella A., “Hyaluronic Acid Fillers May Be Longer‐Lasting Than Previously Described: A Case Report of Delayed Filler‐Associated Facial Cellulitis,” JPRAS Open 33 (2022): 37–41, 10.1016/j.jpra.2022.05.011. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. FDA , “Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers),” (2021), www.fda.gov/medical‐devices/aesthetic‐cosmetic‐devices/dermal‐fillers‐so....

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