Considering Botox or lip filler? You may think the first place to look would be a cosmetic surgeon, but dentists Dr. Jill Wade and Dr. Jodi Danna each has extensive information and knowledge not only about cosmetic dentistry but cosmetic procedures.
Botox vs Lip Filler
Dr. Wade loves to refer to the lips the “curtains” of a smile, behind which is the “stage” that reveals your teeth and smile. It’s no surprise, then, that she thinks the lips are such an important part of someone’s smile, and you may think so, too. Whether natural or enhanced, it’s likely you notice someone’s lips, but when it comes to Botox and lip fillers, some people have “really overdone lips,” observes health and beauty expert Laura Lewis-Edwards. She’s noticed this particular trend in Los Angeles, California, but that isn’t to say that’s not the case in other parts of the country.
Dr. Jill Wade, DDS, MAGD and Dr. Jodi Danna, DDS of Stonebriar Smile Design in Frisco, Texas tend to see more natural and subtle lip fillers in their home state, unlike the now infamous “duck lips” often seen on television. While there are some who find that look appealing, it does have negative consequences. “At some point in your life, [the filler] is not going to be there anymore,” warns Dr. Danna. “And then you’re going to be left with these little flabby lips that you don’t want.”
What Is a Lip Flip
As you age, you lose collagen in your skin, and the face is no exception. Pair that with the effects of gravity and your oral health, and parts of your face begin to flatten, the evidence of which can be seen in your philtrum—the vertical groove between your nose and upper lip. Medical technology and procedures continue to advance and so does the desire to look more youthful. Imagine a baby’s face, with well defined features; smooth, unblemished skin; and pink, pouty lips with a perfectly shaped cupid’s bow. “I think that’s what the standard is,” says Dr. Jill Wade, who also has a dentistry practice in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. “Everybody is trying to get back to [those youthful features].”
However, both Dr. Wade and Dr. Danna are also seeing younger patients who desire lip flips—even as young as eighteen years old. There is a big difference between a lip flip and lip fillers. “While you’re still using some sort of filler in the flip portion of it, you’re also utilizing Botox,” explains Dr. Danna, who admits to loving and using Botox herself. “With a lip flip, you’re adding some Botox just above the lips, and that kind of makes that a little bit sleepy,” she continues. “It relaxes this muscle so it’s not curving your lip under. And then you take a thinner filler, and you put it into the vermilion borders, or just the very edges [of the lip], as opposed to it being bulk in the lip itself.”
Is the Lip Flip Right for You
Given the milder approach to having fuller lips, it’s no wonder the trend is growing. If you’re thinking that this is just for the younger generation, Dr. Danna attests that’s “absolutely not true.” She’s performed this procedure on older patients, and the results have been “very, very natural.” The reason it’s called a lip flip is because of the upward flip of the lip as a result of having some of the lip muscles relaxed. It’s a soft, subtle little flip that gives your lip more volume sans the out-of-proportion pout that fillers can sometimes produce.
Dr. Jill Wade, DDS often reiterates that gravity tends to draw everything downward, and when you combine that with habitual behavior such as frowning, smoking, or something as seemingly harmless as drinking from a straw (things that induce puckering), it creates the lines above your lip. While there are benefits to laughing and smiling more—and certainly major health benefits to doing away with smoking—you can enhance your smile and your lips by visiting Stonebriar Smile Design. You can perfect your pout by getting a lip flip, without bulking your lips with filler. Dr. Danna and Dr. Wade are walking advertisements as they’ve both had this procedure, and unless they mention it, you’d be none the wiser, which speaks to its naturality.
“If you’re over 40, over 50, and beyond and might be nervous…this is a great entry point,” says Dr. Wade, speaking of the subtlety of the results of a lip flip. Most recently performed on a 72-year-old woman, the procedure has given her a new love for her lips.
Dr. Jill Wade and Dr. Jodi Danna have been practicing dentistry for almost 30 years, and fillers have come a long way since then. First generation fillers had a tendency to create “really big lumps and bumps in the lip itself,” and Dr. Wade says she’s able to feel those lumps when working in someone’s mouth. Despite the growth and advancement of fillers, it’s still possible to get less-than-desirable results such as bulbous, unnatural lips, or even restricted movement in the mouth. For that reason, both dentists encourage you to do proper research before moving forward with this or any cosmetic procedure.
When considering fillers, because hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, fillers with this base may be safer to use, but it’s still important to get the dosage correct. It’s best to “start small” and get fillers or a procedure that yields minute change. From there, you can decide whether you’re satisfied with your results or want a little more enhancement. Be sure to take pictures so you can have comparable images of before the procedure and after, which will help you and your chosen professional facilitate a stopping point and create a look you’re really happy with.
“If you’re going through cosmetic rehab, whether you’re getting veneers or crowns or full mouth reconstruction, doing Invisalign, whatever you choose to do, your lips and your face is the final piece of it,” states Dr. Jodi Danna, DDS, FAGD.
The dentists and staff at Stonebriar Smile Design specialize in wellness dentistry—not just looking after your teeth but your whole person, and that includes the functionality and beauty of your teeth along with your overall health. Believe it or not, your oral health and your brain health are linked, making it more important than ever to take the best care of your teeth and gums.
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