The rise of social media has made people much more conscious of their physical appearance, and cosmetic surgeons have seen an increase of business as a result. Lip fillers in particular have been a hot topic, especially since the world witnessed Kylie Jenner’s lip transformation. Lip fillers have become more and more popular, but it might be necessary to take a closer look into what exactly lip injections entail.
Not only is the cultural obsession with our appearance unhealthy, it also changes the way we perceive “normal.” Doctors have patients coming in asking for, “natural looking lips,” only to show doctors pictures of dangerously overfilled and unnatural looking lips.
The pressure to conform to these standards and the insidious way they target our self esteem, can make it very easy to turn to “quick fix” procedures like lip injections. The problem arises when people are not aware of the very real complications that can come from these procedures.
Lip injections can result in rashes, swelling, itching, bruising, and infection. The filler can even shift away from the intended treatment area or form lumps under the skin. In the rarest of cases, the filler may block a blood vessel, which can result in tissue death and blindness or even a pulmonary embolism.
Many of these issues come from temporary fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane which are easily dissolved. Permanent fillers, however, often ruin the lips forever. The body can respond with swelling to these silicone fillers, which can distort the body permanently. In people who repeatedly get lip injections, the repeated expanding and stretching of the lip skin can result in sagging and premature wrinkles, which require more cosmetic procedures to fix.
It’s important to go to a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist for these procedures. These experts will know what to do in the case that anything goes wrong. There are many poorly trained people out there who may even be using illegal products, so going to a certified practice is important, even though it may cost a bit more. A poorly done lip injection can result in a life threatening infection, so these procedures are not to be taken lightly.
Cosmetic procedures like lip injections are a big commitment. If you decide to go through with them, make sure you’re going to a professional. Taking the cheaper route may make more sense in the short term, but the repercussions can be deadly. It’s also worth asking yourself why you really want lip fillers, is it because it would genuinely improve your quality of life, or is it because you want to look like the models strewn across your Instagram feed?