Emma lived in Amsterdam and had one simple complaint. Every time she smiled in photos her upper lip almost disappeared. She did not want drama. She did not want overfilled lips. She just wanted her upper lip to stay visible when she was happy. She started searching on forums, on Google, through friends. She spent hours reading and comparing different options. Eventually she came across something she had never seriously considered before: a lipflip. Ten minutes later she walked out of the clinic. No bandage. No recovery time. Two weeks later she stood in front of the mirror and smiled and this time her upper lip stayed exactly where it was supposed to be.
This is not an exception. More and more women across the Netherlands are going through this exact same journey. And if you recognize yourself in this feeling this article is written for you.
What a Lipflip Actually Is and Why It Works
A lipflip is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment where a small amount of botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle just above the upper lip. That muscle is called the orbicularis oris which is the circular muscle surrounding your mouth that controls all your lip movements.
When that muscle relaxes slightly from the injection the upper lip gently rolls outward. More of the pink part of the lip becomes visible. The lip does not get bigger. No volume is added. The lip simply sits differently. It looks more open, more visible and better defined.
No filler. No surgery. No downtime.
That is the entire treatment. And yet this small change makes an enormous difference for many people in how they feel when they look in the mirror.
The Netherlands Is Leading: Numbers You Need to Know
If you think cosmetic treatments are still a taboo in the Netherlands the numbers tell a very different story.
A large-scale study from Erasmus MC Rotterdam (Dr. Tom Decates, published October 2024) found that botox use in the Netherlands doubled between 2019 and 2022. In 2019 250,000 Dutch people underwent a botox treatment. By 2022 that number had risen to more than 550,000. At the same time filler treatments increased by 80 percent from 162,000 to 294,000 in the same period.
Even more striking: Dr. Decates calculated that 1 in every 29 women between the ages of 18 and 70 now gets botox in the Netherlands. And 1 in 35 women chooses filler treatments. He described cosmetic injectables as “an integral part of the cosmetic routine of many Dutch women.”
If you project the average annual growth rate of 27.5 percent forward then an estimated 1.39 million botox and filler treatments were performed in the Netherlands in 2024 alone. These are not small numbers. This is a society that is quietly but steadily changing its view on what taking care of yourself actually means.
And specifically for the lipflip: a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Bourmand et al., February 2025 from Texas Christian University and Vanderbilt University) tracked global search interest in the lipflip over a full decade. The results showed that search interest in the lipflip grew by an average of 33 percent per month from 2014 to 2024. That is not a passing trend. That is consistent and structural growth in public interest.
A Real Experience Worth Reading
On Injectablesbooking which is one of the largest Dutch platforms for cosmetic treatment reviews with thousands of verified experiences a Dutch woman shared her very first experience with a lipflip combined with botox. She described her doctor as friendly and skilled and emphasized that she had no bruising or bumps after the treatment. Her conclusion was simple: she was “very satisfied” and would definitely return.
Another verified user on the same platform had lipfillers and a lipflip done together. She wrote that she naturally has very thin lips and that during the treatment she “literally felt nothing.” She called the result beautiful and promised to come back.
These are not cherry-picked stories. The platform holds hundreds of similar experiences from everyday Dutch women who tried a lipflip for the first time or the fifth time and left happy.
Meanwhile on RealSelf which is the world’s largest cosmetic treatment review platform a verified reviewer described her lipflip as her very first injectable treatment. She chose it over fillers because it was the most conservative option available. She received just 4 units of botulinum toxin along the upper lip border. By week two she had a clear result: a subtle outward curl to her upper lip that made her mouth look softer and less tense. Her words were direct: the lipflip gave her exactly what she was looking for and she would not go straight to fillers after this experience.
How the Treatment Works Step by Step
Many people imagine the process is complicated or intimidating. In reality it is quick and routine.
Step 1: The Consultation
Before anything is done the doctor examines the shape and movement of your lips. How does the upper lip behave when you smile? When you speak? This step is critical. A good doctor never begins without properly understanding your anatomy and clearly hearing your goals.
Step 2: The Treatment Itself
The treatment takes around 10 minutes. Between 4 and 6 small injections are placed along the border of the upper lip. Each injection delivers only 0.5 to 1 unit of botulinum toxin. The total amount used is minimal, typically between 4 and 8 units in total. This is confirmed by a systematic review published in Archives of Dermatological Research (Pitchford, Desrosiers and Tolkachjov, 2025) which analyzed seven clinical studies on lipflip technique and outcomes.
Most people describe the sensation as a brief pinch. Many clinics apply a numbing cream beforehand to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Step 3: Immediately After
After the treatment you go home. You can work. You can eat. You can carry on with your normal day. No recovery period is needed.
When Will You Actually See Results?
This is the question most people ask first. The result is not instant. The orbicularis oris muscle needs a few days to fully respond to the botulinum toxin.
According to Medical News Today and multiple clinical sources most people begin to notice a difference after 3 to 5 days. The full result is visible after 10 to 14 days.
What you will actually notice: your upper lip looks slightly fuller. When you smile it no longer pulls inward and disappears the way it did before. The lip line looks cleaner and better defined. And most importantly it does not look artificial.
The effect typically lasts between 3 and 5 months. Because the upper lip is one of the most active areas of the face it tends to metabolize the botulinum toxin slightly faster than other areas. Most people repeat the treatment every 3 to 4 months to maintain the result.
Lipflip vs. Lip Filler: What Is the Real Difference?
Many people confuse these two treatments. They are fundamentally different.
Lip fillers use hyaluronic acid to physically add volume inside the lip tissue. The lips become larger. The effect lasts 6 to 12 months.
A lipflip uses botulinum toxin to relax the muscle above the lip. No volume is added. The lip simply sits differently. The effect lasts 2 to 5 months.
The lipflip is the right choice for someone who:
- Wants the upper lip to be more visible without looking bigger
- Has an upper lip that disappears when smiling
- Wants to reduce a mild gummy smile
- Has never had a cosmetic treatment and wants to try something temporary first
- Does not want fillers but would like better lip definition
Lip fillers are better for people who genuinely want more volume or who have naturally very thin lips that need physical fullness.
Some people combine both treatments. The lipflip improves the position and shape of the upper lip. The filler adds a small amount of volume on top of that. Together they can deliver a very natural and balanced result.
Safety and What You Should Know Before You Go
The lipflip has an excellent safety profile when performed by a qualified doctor. The amount of botulinum toxin used is small. The injection is superficial and targets only the outer fibers of the orbicularis oris muscle.
Possible side effects are mild and temporary. These can include:
- Small bruises at the injection points
- Slight swelling on the first day
- A stiff feeling around the lip for the first few days
- Occasionally some difficulty drinking through a straw or whistling which resolves on its own within days
Research from Erasmus MC Rotterdam shows that serious complications from filler treatments in the Netherlands occur in only 0.03 percent of all cases. For lipflip treatments with botulinum toxin the risk profile is similarly low when performed by a licensed and trained doctor.
The key is choosing the right clinic. All treatments are carried out by experienced medical professionals who take the time for a proper consultation. The focus is always on a natural result and never overdone. That is exactly why so many clients return.
The Shift Happening Across the Netherlands
What makes the lipflip so relevant right now is not just the treatment itself. It fits into a broader shift in how Dutch people approach cosmetic care.
People in the Netherlands are increasingly choosing subtle improvements over dramatic changes. According to market research by Skin Works Medical Spa (2025) consumers globally are prioritizing shape and symmetry over volume. Many clinics report a declining demand for overfilled lips. The message is clear: look good without it being obvious that you had anything done.
The lipflip fits perfectly into that thinking. It respects your natural lip structure. It works with your face instead of against it. And when done well by an experienced doctor it leaves you looking exactly like yourself, just a slightly better version.
Is a Lipflip the Right Choice for You?
If you miss your upper lip in photos. If your lip disappears when you laugh. If you are curious about cosmetic treatments but not ready for a big commitment then a lipflip is probably the most logical first step you can take.
Ten minutes. No recovery. A result subtle enough that nobody will notice but visible enough that you will notice it every single day.
If you are based in the Netherlands and want to know whether a lipflip suits your face and your goals a personal consultation is the best starting point. The doctor looks at your anatomy, listens to your expectations and gives you honest advice on whether a lipflip or possibly a combination with another treatment will give you the best result.
Ready to Take the Step? Start with a Consultation
The best way to know if a lipflip is right for you is an honest conversation with an experienced doctor who looks at your face and takes your wishes seriously. That is exactly what best Clinics in netherland offers.
No obligations. No pressure. Just clear advice and honest expectations.