If you’re having trouble remembering when injectables like Botox and fillers were for the rich and famous, let’s go back in time: From 2000 to 2015, lip augmentation procedures increased by 50%. And between 2016 and 2022, its use common fillers increased from 2 million to 5 million, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The increase has highlighted an unwanted side effect of these small changes: Many people find it hard to stop going under the needle once they start.
Just take a look at “watch me get addicted to filler” videos on TikTok, highlighting the journeys of many women to appear addicted lip fillers and botox. That’s partly because most tweaks are temporary, so if you want to keep a certain look, you have to supplement, she says. Ann Kearney-Cooke, PhD, licensed psychologist. So once you start changing your face, can you ever stop?
What can increase your risk factor?
Many people have a healthy relationship with these processes. “[They] it really helps people with their quality of life and confidence,” he says Evan Rieder, MDcertified dermatologist and psychiatrist.
But for others, the feeling of addiction is real. Because the period of satisfaction after a procedure can be short-lived — causing a domino effect of more modifications, says board-certified plastic surgeon Lara Devgan, MD. How seemingly stuck can depend on a few things:
Your mental health
Some studies have found a correlation between body dysmorphic disorder and cosmetic procedures. And a negative body image can make you vulnerable to feeling permanently dissatisfied with your face, even after procedures, Devgan says. She and other experts call this feeling “perception shift.”
Technology
Photoshopped and filtered faces online make it all too easy to feel like no matter what you do, you don’t measure up to society’s beauty standards. That, plus the hours spent looking at our faces in Zoom meetings, only enhances perceived imperfections. It’s especially dangerous for younger generations, “who grew up with iPhones in their hands,” says Rieder.
What to do if you think you are (or will be) hooked.
If you’ve already been on this road for months or years and don’t know how to stop, try:
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Social media detox. Influencers and celebrities it can affect your desire to get more and more filler or botox. So can ads, or even friends, Rieder says. And you might miss the filters and Photoshop.
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Remember that customizations come with risks. Despite how casual they may seem, they are still considered processes. “A lot of people are doing it with providers and in settings that aren’t necessarily secure,” which may endanger your healthsays Rieder.
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Talk to a mental health professional. Someone who specializes in compulsive behavior or physical deformity might be a good place to start.
If you’ve recently started or are interested in injecting but are nervous, you won’t be able to stop…
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Evaluate your “why” to get your work done. “People who see these treatments as occasional enhancements rather than routine needs are more likely to maintain control over their use,” says Devgan. So if your happiness depends on meeting a certain standards of beautythis can be a risk factor, says Kearney-Cooke.
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Get treatment from a board-certified provider. And if they say no to more tweaks, consider that a green flag. “It’s the provider’s job to show you, ‘Actually, your lips are actually [still] larger and look appropriate,” says Rieder.
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Take before and after photos. It’s helpful to look back at where you started and “trace your cosmetic journey,” says Rieder.
the Skimm
Living in his time anti aging and Instagram face, it’s hard not to want to reach an unattainable standard of beauty. But chasing that goal leaves many women more unhappy with their faces than when they started.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, medical advice or diagnosis or treatment of any specific condition.
