A lip flip shows a little more of the upper lip; a gummy smile treatment shows a little less gum. Both use tiny doses of a prescription medicine, placed by Medical Director Dr Sin Yong at our Orchard Road clinic.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓A lip flip uses a few tiny units of botulinum toxin, a prescription medicine, along the upper lip muscle so the lip rolls outward slightly and shows more pink. A gummy smile treatment relaxes the muscles that lift the upper lip too high when smiling. Neither adds volume like lip filler, and both wear off over a few months.
| Lip flip | Gummy smile | Lip filler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on | Lip muscle edge | Lip-lifting muscles | Lip volume |
| Adds volume | No | No | Yes |
| Settles in | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks | Swelling for days |
| Typical duration | A few months | A few months | Many months |
A lip flip is suited to someone whose lip has reasonable volume but rolls inward when smiling. If the lip itself is thin, volume is a filler question, discussed on lip filler. The two can be combined, with a lower filler volume often needed when a flip is added.
Gum show on smiling has several causes. If the muscles that raise the upper lip are strong, the lip lifts too far and injections can reduce that. If the upper jaw is long, the upper lip is short, the teeth have erupted unusually or the gums cover more of the tooth than normal, injections will not address the cause and a dental, orthodontic or periodontal opinion is the right step.
Dr Sin Yong assesses your smile at rest and at full smile, measures how much gum shows and where, and checks whether it is even across both sides. Uneven gum show may need different doses on each side.
“A lip flip shows more of the lip you already have. If you want more lip, that is filler, and I will tell you which you are asking for.”
Because the lip muscles control eating, drinking and speech, even small doses can change function for a few weeks. Some people find drinking through a straw, whistling, blowing or saying “p” and “b” sounds slightly harder. Occasional dribbling when drinking can occur. In gummy smile treatment, too much effect can make the upper lip look long or the smile flatter.
For these reasons doses are started low, both sides are matched carefully, and a review at two weeks allows a small adjustment rather than a large first dose. All these effects wear off as the medicine does.
The lips are sensitive, but only a few very fine injections are needed. Ice or numbing cream is applied first. Most people describe quick, sharp pricks lasting seconds each, and the whole treatment takes a few minutes. Tiny bumps may be visible for under an hour.
Day 0. Assessment, photographs at rest and smiling, then a few small injections. Avoid lying flat, rubbing the area or strenuous exercise for a few hours.
Days 1–3. Little visible change. A tiny bruise is possible.
Week 1. The effect begins: the upper lip edge turns out slightly, or the lip lifts less when smiling. Straws and some sounds may feel different.
Weeks 2–4. Full effect by about two weeks, when function usually feels normal again.
Review at two weeks. Symmetry is checked and a small top-up is given only if needed.
A lip flip relaxes the edge of the lip muscle so more of the existing lip shows. Lip filler adds volume with hyaluronic acid gel. A flip is subtler and shorter-lasting; filler changes size and shape. Some people have both, planned together.
Usually a few months. The lip muscle is small and moves constantly with speech and eating, so the effect wears off sooner than in larger muscles such as the forehead or jaw. Gummy smile treatment lasts a similar time. Repeat treatment is planned when you notice the effect fading, not on a fixed schedule.
For a week or two some people find straws, whistling, blowing or certain sounds such as p and b slightly harder. This is why doses are kept small and matched on both sides. Singers, wind instrument players and people who speak professionally should mention it before treatment so timing and dose can be planned.
It depends on the cause and how strong the muscles are. Muscle-driven gum show often reduces noticeably, while gum show from jaw or dental causes may change little. Dr Sin Yong will tell you at assessment what is realistic for your smile.
Yes. A flip can show the lip border better, sometimes reducing how much filler is needed for the look you want. When both are planned, the flip may be done first so its effect can be seen at two weeks before filler is added, which avoids adding volume that turns out to be unnecessary.
Cost depends on the amount of medicine used, whether both a lip flip and gummy smile treatment are done, and whether it is combined with other treatments such as lip filler. Doses are small, but planning and review are the same as for any injectable. IN Eternity Clinic explains the cost at consultation, before treatment.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.