Does Botox Work for Lips and How Long Does It Last?

I find that Botox works very well for the lips, specifically the uppers, to soften lines.  Sometimes however, if the lines are very well defined or have been there for a long time, volume is needed instead of, or in addition to the Botox.  I usually start VERY conservatively, so as not to interfere with function- smiling, eating and speaking are more important.  Because of this, I find that the results last usually less than the typical 3-4 months that we see on other parts of the face.

Depending on what condition of the lips you want, Botox may be of assistance in providing an appearance you desire. It will only last about three, maybe four months around the mouth at the most.  As an off-label procedure, botox can be injected carefully and with only 1 to 2 units per site on the skin-colored upper and lower lip to help smoothen the vertical  creases into which lipstick "bleeds".  There may be a flattening of the lip and issues such as not being able to smile enough to show your upper teeth, and difficulty pronouncing certain letters, singing, orating, and playing a wind instrument.

The other aspect of perioral aesthetic improvement that Botox can accomplish, is by injecting the muscles that pull down on the corner of the lip (the DAO, depressor anguli oris), the corner of the mouth which curves down in many people as they age and gives a sad appearance, can lift up more horizontally. The DAO must be injected in the safer regions as doctors who have injected too high up near the corner of the mouth have found that unwanted relaxation of adjacent muscles have caused asymmetry of the mouth and problems smiling, which are temporary and come back to normal, but can take what seems like an endless four months, or so.

Many of our female patients are fans of this technique inasmuch as the outcomes are subtle, the dosing is cost-effective, and there only a few viable options for treating this very strong muscle.

Most will find benefit in combination treatments of Botox/Dysport, dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and good skin care.

The only downside with this treatment is a short duration being that the strong muscle action degrades the product much quicker than other areas.  Most will report a 9 week duration that may improve with time as the patient consistently works on this area.

If you want fuller lips then you want a filler such as Juvederm.  Botox can be used to help reduce wrinkles above the lips, but there are other more proven methods for this area - such as laser treatments and other dermal fillers. 
 

Botox is used to relax muscles, not add volume.  In some cases lip lines caused by muscle action ("puckering") can be improved by treatment with botulinum toxins such as Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin.  These products also can produce eversion of the lips.  With injection of higher doses, difficulty smiling or "puckering" can result.  Injectable fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane may be used to improve the appearance of lines caused by volume loss in the lips and laser skin resurfacing procedures are used to treat wrinkled lip skin.  Sometimes botulinum toxins, fillers, and lasers are all needed to obtain best outcomes.

Botox and Dysport can be used to treat lip wrinkles (sometimes called lipstick lines or smoker's lines).  It is not an FDA approved use; however, it has been used safely for many years.  The main complication is overdoing it and causing weakness of the facial muscles decreasing your ability to smile or causing asymmetry of the smile. t w Botox or Dysport will NOT give you fuller, bigger lips.  To achieve this goal, fillers (e.g., Restylane, Juvederm, etc) or implants are necessary.

However, lip filler is generally a much better treatment option.  The BOTOX for fine lip lines does also weaken the muscle that purses the lips so this can sometimes lead to too much weakness.  It makes it look like you have had a stroke because the mouth does not move properly.  Treatment effect last 2-4 months depending on dose.

If you want larger lips, the answer is NO, Botox does not "work.". The only application for Botox around the lips are hyper dynamic creases, and injection must be precise and conservative to avoid inducing a palsy that will interfere with your ability to function. If it is larger lips you are after, the best first step is a Hyaluronic acid filler such as Juvederm or Restylane.

Hi Maggie.  If the objective is lip augmentation, I think you may actually benefit from facial filler.The general algorithm is that Botox is effective in the “upper ⅓” of the face: forehead lines, crow’s feet, and lines between the eyebrows. These lines are “dynamic” lines, caused by underlying muscle contractions. By relaxing the associated muscles, Botox smoothens the upper ⅓ of the face. “Static” lines in the lower face, such as the lips and nasolabial folds, that require augmentation (filling) are amenable to facial filler.Hope this is helpful. Best wishes. Dr. Shah

BOTOX does not work to make the lips more plump, but to reduce fine lines around the lips and, in selected patients, to slightly lift the middle portion of the lip.  This is done by relaxing the muscles around the lips.  It does not create fuller lips and this use of BOTOX is off-label.  You definitely need to go to someone who has had experience injecting BOTOX around the mouth, and be aware that it will not make your lips fuller. To make the lips fuller, I recommend  Juvederm because it is a hyaluronic acid filler that can be tweaked to suit the best shape for your face.