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

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.