The headlines made by Kylie Jenner getting her lips done have led many patients to ask about lip procedures. Procedures on the lips can be rewarding yet fraught with dangers that can lead to irreversible changes.
In Kylie’s case the biggest concern was her age. Generally speaking the fillers such as hyaluronic acid products including Restylane and Juvederm are not recommended for minors under the age of 18. The primary reason is that these products have not been tested in that age group. The other major concern is the emotional and psychological stability of a minor. Any change in the size or shape of the lip usually has a major effect on the overall facial aesthetics. For some patients it can be a big change in their facial identity.
So what should be the guidelines for people under the age of 18? The answer to that is NO LIP FILLER. Kylie is a minor and should not undergo any lip filler or lip procedure which is an elective cosmetic surgery.
The most important argument for this is to have a certain age limit. If the guidelines on age are made arbitrary then where does it stop? Some mature looking 14-year-old girl might also want to undergo lip fillers. Would that be appropriate? Absolutely not! In essence young girls should not follow the path of Kylie Jenner. Once they become mature psychologically, emotionally and physically they can make their own choices. As parents or guardians it is our responsibility to guide them until they reach that point.
If a minor asks for a procedure like this they should be told that they are beautiful as they are. If they still want to enhance their lips, they will have to wait until they become an adult. If they insist on enhancing the lip then they should be encouraged to use a lip liner or lipstick to make the lip appear big. They can also use lip creams that have a plumping effect to make the lips appear fuller.
Unfortunately, Hollywood and celebrities have a huge influence on the young generation. Some of those influences are very negative and can hurt the self-esteem of young women. Having said that it is also important to emphasize that a normal, psychologically intact, healthy individual can enhance their small lips with several viable options. Some individuals are born with thinner lips and can enhance them with a filler in a very safe fashion. It is important to follow certain guidelines and principles as follows;
A. Do your research and find a good plastic surgeon.
B. Use a reversible filler such as Restylane or Juvederm.
C. Start small and do not ask for too much filler.
D. Do not focus only on your lip but discuss the overall facial aesthetics with your plastic surgeon to make sure that your lip will blend in nicely with the remaining facial features.
E. Be fully aware of the possible risks and complications. Some of the fillers can have devastating consequences such as blindness or necrosis of skin with loss of the lip or permanent scarring.
– Dr. Janjua
Dr. Tanveer A. Janjua is a New Jersey based facial plastic surgeon who specializes in facelift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty and other facial surgery services.
His main office location in Bedminister, NJ — within easy access from Morris and Somerset County, New Jersey and New York City. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us toll-free at 877-JANJUA1.
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