Gianna Palumbo always felt her lips were too small for her face. When she saw photos on social media of women with lip fillers, she decided, at the age of 20, to do the injections herself.
Ms Palumbo, now 22, said people often compliment her lips – and when she does, she also says where she got them.
“I want to normalize it, because it’s not a bad thing to want to enhance something in your body,” said Ms. Palumbo, who lives in Buffalo, New York.
Lip fillers, in which hyaluronic acid is injected to plump up the lips, have become more popular among younger patients like Ms. Palumbo. In a report from The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, nearly 75 percent of plastic surgeons surveyed said they are seeing more people under 30 requesting injectables, such as lip fillers and other cosmetic procedures.
Some providers said they regularly see patients who make specific requests based on images they’ve seen online, including influencers who sometimes use photo or video filters to boost their chances. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner have also sparked interest in lip fillers in recent years.
“People get their education on social media,” said Dr. Ashley Amalfi, a Rochester plastic surgeon and chairman of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ social media subcommittee. To counter misinformation and provide context, she and her practice post on Instagram and TikTok about fillers and other procedures and encourages other surgeons to do the same.
If you’re thinking about getting lip fillers, here’s what medical professionals want you to know.
Choose your provider wisely and get a consultation.
Start with a consultation to share your goals and concerns and learn what a provider can do in a safe and natural way.
Look for a certified board Plastic Surgeons the facial plastic surgeona dermatologist or a medical professional working directly under their supervision, experts said.
“If you go to a doctor’s office, chances are they’re well trained and using good products,” said Dr. Theda Kontis, a facial plastic surgeon in Baltimore and past president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Surgery. “If you go to a hotel room or a spa, you don’t know what they’re using” or whether a trained medical practitioner is readily available if needed.
Think about what you want and why.
Providers said patients should avoid getting fillers to mimic the beauty standards they see on social media, as they may not be safe, achievable or natural-looking for their face.
Dr. Amalfi said she always starts conservatively, with just one syringe of filler or even half a syringe, with the option to add more later. He does this to create a natural effect and to make sure patients are comfortable with the change. She and other experts emphasized making sure patients really want and will benefit from fillers and that they have realistic expectations for results.
Say, for example, a patient feels that her lips are not symmetrical. “If I see that and I agree with their assessment and I think I can make them happy, then I will,” Dr. Contis said. But if they have very thin lips and want to look like Angelina Jolie, she said, “it’s just not going to happen.”
Find out what to expect.
During the procedure, a provider will apply a numbing cream and then make several injections of hyaluronic acid to sculpt the lip. Even with numbness, the procedure can be painful, Dr. Contis said. Sometimes doctors also give numbing injections in the mouth, just like a dentist does.
Afterwards, your lips may be swollen and bruised. an ice pack can help reduce these symptoms. It will take about two weeks for the filler to set.
If you don’t like the result, a provider can dissolve the filler with a different injection. Otherwise, your lips should return to their normal size in about six to 12 months. If you get fillers for years, Dr. Contis said, your body will create collagen in response, potentially increasing the “normal size” of your lips.
Research the health risks.
The biggest risk of the procedure is that the injector accidentally hits a blood vessel. This can lead to loss of blood supply to that area and tissue death. “In experienced hands, it’s not likely to happen,” Dr. Contis said.
Doctors advise against using fillers on patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone with open wounds such as from acne or burns, and patients who have had allergic reactions to filler products.
In addition, people with a history of cold sores or cold sores may need antiviral medication after the procedure because the injections can cause flare-ups, Dr. Contis said.
Some beauty companies and social media users have promoted hyaluronic “pen” – which use high pressure to push hyaluronic acid into the skin – as needle-free alternatives to injections. But the The Food and Drug Administration has warned against it using these unregulated products, noting that they can cause infection, scarring and other serious complications.
