Lip filler has become one of the most sought-after “tweakments” in recent years, mostly thanks to celebrities like Kylie Jenner championing it. As with any beauty trend, once it starts gaining mainstream attention, it’s bound to undergo some modifications as people try to achieve different aesthetics. In this case? The uptick in butterfly lips.
The lip-filler technique has gained traction on social media as a means of getting lips in a similar shape to the silhouette of the insect. “This is a lip filler method based on the ‘Russian’ injection technique, where the filler is added vertically to give height to the lip and define the Cupid’s bow.” Jaimie DeRosa, MDits founder DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, he tells PS. Some praise it as the best way to get “perfect” shaped lips, but others are skeptical. As with any treatment, there are pros and cons. Ahead, Dr. DeRosa breaks down everything you need to know about the butterfly lip technique, from how it differs from traditional lip fillers to potential side effects.
What are butterfly lips?
Besides the overall shape of the lips, there is another aspect of the technique that differs from the traditional method. “Butterfly lips often involve injecting filler solvent prior to injection and also taping the edges of the lip at or just outside the contour with surgical tape,” says Dr. DeRosa. “This can happen either before the injection or immediately after, but this tape is usually left in place for a few days to try to maximize lip augmentation and lip deflection and prevent lip filler migration. If you already have lip fillers and want to get butterfly lips, you will need an additional round of injections to remove any existing volume, in addition to the solvent and tape that will actually help shape the lips.In short: for something that already can is quite a painful procedure, there will be a lot of physical handling of the area in a short period of time.
Pros and Cons of Butterfly Lips
This technique does not come without a few drawbacks. Of course, the advantage is that in the end, you can get the shape of the lips you desire. However, Dr. DeRosa is not personally a fan. “Tying the lip and contouring the lips does not guarantee that the filler will stay in place,” she says. “Instead, the best way to avoid filler migration is to see a well-trained professional who understands the various compartments of the lip complex and the depth and location for filler injection.”
Additionally, putting tape around a newly injected area can cause you to miss potentially devastating warning signs. “This could increase one’s risk of missing symptoms of complications such as vascular compromise, which is when dermal filler is injected into or around an artery, which causes blood flow to decrease or stop,” says Dr. DeRosa. “Injectors may not see skin whitening or discoloration, or even if they do, they may accidentally touch it up to the tape itself.”
Butterfly lips before and after
Side effects of butterfly lips
While all the usual filler side effects still apply when you get butterfly lips—this includes bruising, possible migration or vascular occlusion, and swelling—you still want to be careful. “It is most important to note that the technique does not really guarantee the aesthetic results we desire using this tape method,” says Dr. DeRosa. “One thing that can also happen if the filler solvent is injected right before more filler is injected is that more filler can be dissolved over the next day or two, so the degree of lip augmentation may be less than you think. .”
The choice of any type of beauty treatment is entirely yours, but note that any transformation, especially one that requires injections or any type of surgery, should require a very heavy dose of control. Always do your due diligence and consult a certified professional before doing any work. In the case of butterfly lips, you want to go for an injector that adheres to the philosophy of less is more. And if someone tells you that you can achieve a complete lip transformation in just one session, do yourself a favor and find someone else.
Ariel Baker is the Associate Editor of PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends and product reviews. It has additional lines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.
