Lip filler injections have gained traction in the past ten years. With their growing popularity, the global dermal filler market is set to surpass $10.16 billion within the next eight years.
The trend is growing stronger due to the desire for fuller and plump lips. Both the young and old are in on it. But as the trend rises, the question is: At what age can you get lip fillers?
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) affirms that people over 21 can get fillers. However, the age varies in different states and regions. This article explores factors determining the age to get lip fillers, what to know before getting them, and more. Take a read!
At What Age Can You Get Lip Fillers?
Most medical professionals state that patients can only have lip fillers if they are eighteen. This age restriction has several reasons, including legal, ethical, and medical.
Legal regulations vary based on the country implementing them. For instance, only people over 21 are eligible for lip fillers approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, the rules relating to the administration of lip fillers in the United Kingdom are more stringent.
Similarly, the minimum age in Australia and Canada is 18, with parental approval and careful consultation required for younger people.
Other Factors Influencing the Ideal Age for Getting Lip Fillers
Apart from the legal age restrictions, the best time to obtain lip fillers depends on several other factors, including:
1. Parental consent
If you are a teen below 18 years, you will be required to provide parental consent. In some regions, you can have consent from a guardian. If you are under 18, a practitioner must engage the parents or the guardian. However, for various reasons, some practitioners would decline to proceed with the procedure even after consent.
2. Medical discretion
Although rare, some practitioners may offer you lip fillers even if you are a teenager below 18. However, they do so under utmost discretion, assuming you are of age and capable of making sound judgment.
3. Health status
The general state of your health matters. Certain teenagers may be especially vulnerable to issues from lip fillers due to underlying medical conditions or allergies. For instance, some skin issues or autoimmune diseases may make an unpleasant reaction more likely. Before proceeding with any cosmetic procedure, you must speak with a medical practitioner to evaluate your current state of health.
4. Psychological and social influences
Today, young people, especially those in their late teens and early 20s, are often exposed to beauty trends and demands from social media. Do you know that some use lip fillers to improve their appearance in social media posts and selfies? According to a survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), 72% of facial plastic surgeons observed this in 2019, a considerable rise over prior years.
5. Skin elasticity
Have you considered the potential effects of fillers on your skin at a young age? Younger skin naturally has higher elasticity, vital for keeping a smooth and youthful appearance. However, several injections may cause the skin to stretch, resulting in wrinkles or drooping as you age. Fillers may seem tempting in the short term, but you should consider how they will affect your skin's elasticity in the long run.
6. Natural lip development
Like the rest of your face, your lips are still developing and changing as a teen and young adult. In the long run, adding fillers during this critical stage could disrupt normal development and create unnatural results.
7. Personal Goals
Objectives and aspirations will shift frequently when you're 18 or even 22 years old. Would fillers be a wise investment, given your values and goals for the future? It's critical to consider whether this choice aligns with your values and identity. Now we know the answer of the question what age can you get lip fillers?
Risks of Getting Lip Fillers as a Teen or Young Adult(18-22)
Teenagers and young adults must be aware of the possible dangers of getting lip fillers and why they should seriously consider this cosmetic operation before proceeding. Delve into the risks!
1. Overfilled Lip Look
You may find an overfilled or "duck lip" look more common in teenagers. Why? A "more is better" mentality can occasionally occur among young people. It results from the desire for larger lips, especially in teenagers with a keen eye for exaggerated beauty trends on social media.
Unrealistic expectations or untrained injectors may use excessive amounts of filler, resulting in excessively puffy lips that are out of proportion to the rest of the face.
Moreover, lip fillers may be too intense, especially for younger patients with little initial volume loss. This can result in an exaggerated or unnatural look that appears forced and may become more noticeable as the person ages.
2. Risk of Long-Term Tissue Damage
Have you ever thought about the likelihood of tissue damage from lip fillers? Even though fillers are generally considered to be safe, complications may occur. For example, if filler material is inadvertently injected into a blood artery, it may obstruct blood flow and cause necrosis or tissue death. In extreme circumstances, this might leave lasting scars. Moreover, more potential complications exist when the lip filler treatment goes wrong.
3. Psychological Dependence
Injecting lip filler at a young age may lead to a greater dependence on non-surgical and surgical methods to attain physical attractiveness. This may cause some people to develop a lifelong perfectionism complex that could eventually affect their body image and self-esteem.
4. Financial Commitment
Lip fillers are a transient treatment that usually lasts six to eighteen months. This means that continuous therapies are necessary to maintain the volume and contour of your lips as desired. You should be ready for possible long-term maintenance if you begin lip fillers at a younger age.
The type of filler used, how often you need the fillers, the experience of the physician, and the location also significantly impact the cost of lip fillers. In the US, a syringe of lip fillers typically costs $800 to $1,200.
Here are some factors that affect the cost of lip fillers:
- Type of Filler: The most popular filler is hyaluronic acid fillers. Their prices range from $650 to $700 per syringe.
- Experience of the Provider: Because of their reputation and experience, seasoned providers may bill higher rates.
- Geographical Location: Prices can differ dramatically depending on where you live. For instance, medical care is typically more costly in large cities or affluent neighborhoods.
- Number of Syringes: The quantity of syringes required to produce the intended outcome will also affect the overall cost. The doctor uses one to two syringes for each session.
9. Allergic Reactions and Complications
While very uncommon, a few people may be allergic to lip filler material. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally. However, the filler fluid could also include other substances, such as preservatives or the numbing drug lidocaine, to which some people might be allergic.
An allergic reaction may cause mild to severe symptoms at the injection site, such as redness, itching, swelling, or hives. In more severe situations, reactions may make breathing difficult, necessitating immediate medical intervention.
10. Uncertain Long-term Effects
Although lip fillers are usually harmless, their effects on teens whose skin and facial characteristics are still developing have not been thoroughly examined. Still, prolonged usage of fillers may weaken the natural lip tissue or strain the skin, which could eventually cause sagging or volume loss. Are you equipped to handle these potential adjustments as they come? If not, consider these alternatives.
Alternatives for Lip Fillers for Early Ages (18-22)
Young people thinking about getting lip fillers should know that safe substitutes can improve the look of their lips without carrying the same risk factors as injections. Let's look at some of them:
Lip Plumpers
Most teenagers use over-the-counter lip-plumping treatments, including serums, balms, and glosses. Typically, the chemicals in these products—like menthol, cinnamon, or capsicum—temporarily enhance blood flow to the lips, giving the appearance of somewhat bigger lips. They last a few hours at most, so they're perfect for special events or transient augmentation.
Makeup Tips
Lip liners, lipstick, and highlighters are cosmetic products that can make lips appear plumper. You can achieve depth and fullness by using a liner that matches your natural lip color, slightly overlining your lips, and putting a lighter shade in the middle.
Lips can also look fuller by dabbing a bit of highlighter on the upper lip or the cupid’s bow. Applying makeup is a flexible and non-permanent method to attain the desired outcome since you can enjoyably try several designs without committing.
Hydration
Drink plenty of water to keep your skin healthy, and use moisture-retaining lip balms with glycerin, shea butter, or hyaluronic acid to keep lips fuller and smoother.
Nutrition
A nutritious diet high in vitamins C and E, which are especially beneficial to skin health, can support lip health. Nuts, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and seafood are good sources of important nutrients that help the skin's moisture and flexibility. Is this going to be a longer-term arrangement? Yes, but it can also improve overall health and well-being and your lips' beauty over time.
Lip Tinting or Lip Tattoo
Semi-permanent cosmetic procedures like tinting or lip tattoos (lip blush) can improve your lips' color and shape without making them look fuller. While lip tinting provides a semi-permanent wash of color, lip tattoos use pigment to create a more defined border or a fuller-looking lip.
What You Should Know Before Getting Lip Fillers
When contemplating lip fillers, bear the following points in mind before proceeding:
- Physical Maturity: It is safe not to go for lip fillers when young. Letting your face features grow before going for dermal fillers is advisable.
- Psychological Maturity: One should critically analyze the cosmetic procedure they will undergo. Before proceeding with any cosmetic adjustment, it is imperative to assess whether one is in a position to face the likely consequences or risks that come with it.
- Body Image: It is crucial to have a healthy body image before choosing lip fillers. Don’t make any decisions for yourself because of peer pressure or external influence.
- Goals and Expectations: Visualize and consider specific objectives. Then, schedule an appointment with a competent aesthetician to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.
- Risks and Complications: As lip fillers require injection, one needs to know more about the various consequences of the procedure, like infections and allergies.
- Qualified Provider: If you are planning to get lip fillers, it is advisable to consult a board-certified dermatologist, a skilled plastic surgeon, or any other related healthcare professional with experience in lip filler injection.
Benefits of Lip Fillers
1. Aesthetic Improvement
Lip fillers can significantly increase the volume and fullness of your lips. Additionally, they can improve the hydration and texture of your lips. For instance, fillers containing hyaluronic acid draw and hold water, keeping your lips smooth and nourished. They improve your lips' natural moisture barrier and give you a plumper, healthier appearance.
2. Increased Confidence
Lip fillers significantly increase young people's confidence since they improve the appearance of the lips. More plump and well-proportioned lips might help them conform to appealing beauty ideals, boosting their self-confidence.
3. Customization
With lip fillers, precise volume, symmetry, and contour alterations are possible, making it simple to meet unique aesthetic objectives. Lip fillers provide a great deal of personalization. Your practitioner can adjust the filler's volume and placement to get the look you want —whether you want a dramatic shift or a subtle boost. You can choose the level of fullness you desire for your lips to ensure that the outcome meets your goals.
4. Reversible
Lip fillers are a temporary treatment that usually lasts six to twelve months. However, the exact time may change depending on individual characteristics and the type of filler used. Is it possible to change the results if you're unhappy with them? Yes, hyaluronidase is an enzyme that can dissolve fillers containing hyaluronic acid, giving you a chance to regain your natural appearance.
5. Natural-Looking
Are you concerned that lip fillers won't seem real? Thanks to filler technique and technological advances, outcomes can look quite natural. Soft, smooth, and realistic improvements are possible using fillers based on hyaluronic acid. It is possible to increase lip fullness while maintaining the natural lip shape, giving the enhancement a natural appearance that blends well with your facial features.
6. Instant Results
Lip fillers immediately give apparent benefits, unlike other cosmetic procedures requiring several sessions to see results. So, for those seeking a rapid boost before a special event or occasion, you can leave the clinic with bigger, plumper lips the same day.
In summary
At what age can you get lip fillers? Simply put, the FDA approves lip fillers for those 21 and older. Younger people may get them with a doctor's or parental approval. However, before undergoing a lip filler procedure, consider the advantages and any potential emotional, psychological, or legal repercussions before choosing. To make well-informed decisions, do your homework and consult experts.
Ready for Diaminy lip fillers? Explore our selection on our website and locate a certified provider in your area. Make a difference with Diaminy and accomplish your aesthetic goals today!
