How Many Units Of Botox Does It Take To Do The Upper Lip?

There’s a wide variety of anti-aging and skin rejuvenation treatments today but nothing eliminates facial wrinkles better than Botox. This injectable has been touted as the gold standard for getting rid of the pesky lines of expression that show on the face. But aside from addressing facial lines and creases, lip enhancement is another popular application of Botox treatment.

So how many Botox units are usually injected into the upper lip? The number of units will depend on the skin concern that is being treated. An average of 4 to 6 units may be injected for erasing upper lip wrinkles while up to 10 Botox units may be used for a lip flip treatment. Botox may also be placed on the upper lip area for gummy smile treatment which may require around 2 to 4 units.

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A Look at Botox Injections For The Upper Lip: Uses, Units, Side Effects, and Results

Botox has been around for decades and there’s nobody who’s still a stranger to its amazing benefits for the skin. This cosmetic injectable is a protein made of the botulinum toxin and it works by stopping the release of chemical signals and leads to facial muscle relaxation which smooths out visible wrinkles and fine lines.

This FDA-approved treatment is commonly used for treating crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines. But more recently, Botox injections are also being administered for correcting lip lines and enhancing the upper lip. Here’s a quick overview of its popular applications for the upper lip area:

1) Lip augmentation

The beauty standards have changed over the years and many celebrities have set the trend for fully plumped pouty lips. Botox injections can help achieve this with a few injections that will cause the upper lips to curl outward and create the appearance of having additional volume to the lips. This treatment is coined as the Botox lip flip and it’s ideal for those who want to naturally augment their lip shape without going through cosmetic surgical procedures.

2) Lip wrinkles and lines

Most of the people who get Botox are individuals who are seeking to defy their age and minimize the signs of sun damage on their skin. This injectable has been proven to work wonders on the wrinkles and lines in almost any area of the face and the lips are no exception. Injecting small amounts of Botox to the upper lip will restrict muscle contraction and minimize the vertical lip lines and creases on the surface of the lips.

3) Gummy smile

There are some people who often show too much of their gum line whenever they smile. Rather than a health or orthodontic issue, this condition is more often a cosmetic concern which can be a cause of insecurity for many patients. Botox can also be used to correct this condition by injecting several units to relax the facial muscles that elevate the upper lip.

4) Upper lip sweating or facial hyperhidrosis

Some individuals also experience excessive sweating on their upper lip and this leads to extreme discomfort in their daily life. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as overactive facial sweat glands or having gustatory sweating which can be a result of consuming spicy or hot food. Botox can reduce upper lip hyperhidrosis by inhibiting signals to stop the glands from producing excess sweat.

How Many Botox Units Are Normally Injected For Upper Lip Treatments?

Botox treatments are not the same for every patient. When planning for your injection procedure, the cosmetic provider will take several factors into account to determine exactly how many units are needed for your Botox session. Some of these factors that may affect your Botox units are:

Treatment area - Common areas of concern like the forehead wrinkles generally require more units of Botox because the muscles in this site are larger. If your injector doesn’t put enough Botox injections, you may not be able to see your desired effects. On the other hand, the upper lip area is more delicate and comprises smaller facial muscles so it’ll require fewer Botox units.
Muscle characteristics - Thicker facial muscles can be more difficult to treat which is why more doses of Botox are recommended to be injected. This is the reason why men who have denser muscles compared to women need more Botox injections in their desired treatment areas.
Individual cosmetic goals - One advantage of Botox is that it is customizable and the cosmetic provider can easily tailor-fit your injections according to your intended outcome and goals.

The number of Botox units that you’ll receive can also depend on your provider’s assessment of your current skin concern. Here’s an overview of the recommended Botox units for every treatment in the upper lip:

Treatment Type	Number of Botox units	Injection site
Lip flip	Up to 10 Botox units	The Botox lip flip procedure involves injecting the neurotoxin on the area above the upper lip (cupid’s bow) and the corners of the mouth.
Erasing wrinkles and vertical lines on the upper lip	An average of 4 to 6 units	The targeted injection sites are the orbicularis oris muscles which control the movement of the lower and upper lip. Placing Botox in this area will limit muscle contraction to allow the wrinkles and lines on the lips to disappear.
Gummy smile	Around 2 to 4 Botox units	Botox for gummy smile treatment requires precise injections to the levator labii superioris or lip elevator muscles which is responsible for raising the upper lip and mouth area when smiling.
Upper lip sweating	2 to 4 units	Small doses of Botox are injected directly to the upper lip area to temporarily stop the activity of the sweat glands.

What Side Effects Should You Expect Post-Botox?

The entire Botox procedure does not take long and you can expect to have the injections finished within 10 to 15 minutes. There’s also very minimal downtime and patients can return to their normal activities shortly after their Botox session. However, there are still some immediate side effects that you may experience from the procedure such as:

Pain at the injection site
Slight bruising
Temporary swelling
Tenderness

These side effects will subside on their own within a few days after the treatment. If necessary, you may apply an ice pack over the treated site to help manage the discomfort. Aside from these side effects, there are very rare cases of adverse reactions with Botox and you don’t have to worry about these risks as long as you get your injections from a trusted provider.

Learn More: Why Does the Right Side of My Upper Lip Curl When I Speak (and How a Botox Injection Can Help)

How Long Will Botox Results On The Upper Lip Last?

woman cant decide over dermal filler or botox injections for beauty treatment

You can see the results of your Botox injections after at least 10 to 14 days from the treatment. This injectable isn’t necessarily a quick fix and it can take time for its muscle-relaxing effects to work on the treated area. The good news is that you can enjoy your Botox results for an average of 3 to 6 months. Once you notice your Botox effects disappearing, you may go to your provider for possible subsequent treatments.

When To Choose Botox Over Dermal Fillers For Lip Injections

Aside from Botox, dermal fillers are another great treatment option for upper lip injections. These facial fillers are usually made of hyaluronic acid and are intended to improve lip volume and fill in the wrinkles and lines. Additionally, dermal fillers can enhance the overall shape and structure of the lips unlike Botox that subtly provides improvements to the look of the lips. Cosmetic surgeons normally use Restylane products or Juvederm family of fillers for upper lip treatments.

Here’s a guideline to help you decide whether you should choose Botox or dermal fillers:

When To Choose Botox injections	When To Choose Dermal Fillers
Go for Botox if you want to achieve natural-looking fuller lips without the addition of other materials You have thin upper lips which look almost invisible when smiling	Get a dermal filler treatment if you want to address volume loss in the lips You want to dramatically improve your lip shape and fullness You want longer-lasting results since most dermal fillers can last 6 to 12 months

Other Parts Of The Face That Can Be Injected With Botox

Botox has many other applications and it can be injected to address other aesthetic concerns like:

Crow’s feet - These are dynamic wrinkles that form on the corners of the eyes. Treating these wrinkles would need at least 5-15 Botox units on each side.
Frown lines - These are the “11” or worry lines that you see forming between the eyebrows. Around 10 to 25 units of Botox may be injected to reduce these lines on the brow and glabella area.
Forehead lines - These are horizontal lines that run across the skin on the forehead and most cosmetic providers use 10 to 20 units of Botox to address these specific creases.
Marionette lines - These are facial lines that develop along the corners of the mouth and droop down the chin. They can be injected with at least 2 to 4 Botox units.
Nasolabial folds - These facial folds form around the mouth and the corners of the nose and they can be treated with around 5 to 10 Botox units.
Chin wrinkles - At least 2 to 6 Botox units are recommended to help get rid of creases on the bottom chin.
Jawline slimming - If you want to enhance facial shape and jawline contour, your cosmetic provider may also inject around 25 to 30 Botox units to the masseter muscle.
Brow lift - You can also address drooping brows with the injections of around 2 to 5 Botox units to elevate the eyebrows.

Restore Your Youthful Appearance With Botox Injections At Aesthetica

woman confident over receiving botox injection by professional cosmetic doctor

Voluminous and wrinkle-free lips are now within your reach with safe and effective Botox treatments at Aesthetica. At our medical spa, we have a team of expert cosmetic doctors and injectors who can facilitate your procedure to ensure a comfortable and successful Botox experience.

We are proud to be a trusted destination for quality cosmetic solutions and beauty treatments. We’re also committed to helping you meet your aesthetic goals so we make sure to offer customized treatments that accurately address your skin type and concerns. Feel free to reach out to us at (248) 648 3766 and book your Botox appointment today.