Once upon a time, cosmetic procedures were something only celebrities and those with large bank accounts submitted themselves to when fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin started to creep across their faces.
Now younger women, free from physical signs of a life lived, are flocking to plastic surgeons and skin clinics to change their appearance.
Anti-ageing procedures? Pfft — there’s plenty of time for that once you’re older. No, these days women are seeking out fillers.
Depending on the doctor’s approach and what you’re targeting, getting fillers involves replacing (or adding) volume to areas of the face that might have lost it. While, yes, you can plump up your lips, fillers can also be strategically placed to lift jowls or eyebrows.
A few of the most popular injectables used are Radiesse, Restylane and Juvéderm.
Dr Joseph Hkeik, director and founder of All Saints Clinic has seen a rise in the number of 20-somethings coming to him seeking fillers.
“These are women that look young but are looking to change the proportions on their face. It is done to beautify, rather than to rejuvenate,” he explains. This “beautifying” comes in many different forms, the most popular of which are lip fillers.
Watch: A Napoleon Perdis makeup artist shares five common makeup mistakes. (Post continues after video.)
“Often they are looking to augment a very small upper lip in the presence of a relatively larger lower lip. Cheeks and chin augmentation are also popular, done to reshape the face to increase attractiveness,” Dr Hkeik explains.
So when, exactly, did injecting our lips with Juvéderm become as commonplace as going to the hairdresser?
Louisa McKay, Managing Director of Costhetics and a consultant for plastic surgeons, believes celebrities are partly responsible.
“We’ve seen a rise in people in their 20s and up wanting everything; from botox and fillers to surgery. With celebrities like the Kardashians in the spotlight in a big way and the rise of the selfie, more women are opting for cosmetic enhancement at a younger age,” she says.
She’s right. Iggy Azalea has spoken freely about her nose job because “denying it is lame”. Radio presenter Jackie O readily divulges that she had Botox because her frown lines made her look “pissed off” all the time.
And last year, then-17-year-old Kylie Jenner said she decided to get lip injections because “It’s just something that I wanted to do”. In the weeks after, UK clinics reported a 70 per cent increase in the procedure.
It’s not just the superstar set making fillers mainstream; the influence is also a lot closer to home.
Popular Australian vlogger Chloe Morello recently posted humorously about her “no makeup look”, that involved “lips full of juvederm.”
Another factor for the filler effect could be accessibility. While the cost can vary, you can expect to pay around $450 for half a ml and $650 to $1000 for one ml. Generally speaking, half a ml is plenty to achieve subtle results.
“It’s tempting to go ‘all-in’ with cosmetic enhancement, but keep in mind that a small amount of filler is sometimes enough… It’s important that you have fillers injected by someone who supports the philosophy of a ‘little at a time’. If you see someone who wants to inject five mls of filler into you in one go, run away,” explains McKay.
While fillers are, compared to other cosmetic procedures, fairly affordable, they can last anywhere from six months to two years depending on the type of filler used. So it’s important to factor in how often you’d be requiring repeats.
If you’re considering fillers, don’t take the decision lightly.
Make sure the doctor administering your fillers is qualified and licensed. Image: iStock.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to do your research. If you go to someone who isn’t experienced or ethical, you could land yourself on antibiotics with the filler surgically removed,” explains McKay.
“It’s important to make sure the person you see is licenced and qualified at injecting and can show you plenty of their own before and after photos.”
It’s also a good idea to suss out the person administering your fillers online; those who’ve had a bad experience will often leave a cautionary review.
Dr Hkeik suggests getting recommendations from those who’ve had positive results or from official organisations.
“Call the Australian College of Cosmetic Surgery and College of Cosmetic Physicians and ask for a recommendation in your area,” he explains.
“At All Saints Clinic, a thorough skin consultation takes place at the initial consultation to determine the health of the skin and discuss patients concerns.
"Once it is determined that dermal fillers are needed, we can discuss the type, the risks (redness, swelling, redness and tenderness), longevity etc. Treatment is then scheduled.” (Post continues after gallery.)
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It’s important that the practitioner you see outlines the risks and side effects you might experience.
So have we reached peak fillers yet? Nope — apparently the obsession is just getting started. Doctors say fillers could soon be moving from your lips down to the rest of your body.
A viscous hyaluronic filler called Macrolane is increasing in popularity for body procedures in Europe.
Speaking to the New York Times, dermatologist doctor David E. Bank said the possibilities were endless.
“Think about the skin of the upper arms that hangs like bat wings. To restore that, you could use Macrolane to coat the muscle all the way around, like blowing up a tire," he explained.
Or, you could just accept and embrace the “bat wings”. The choice is yours.
Would you consider getting fillers?
Top Comments
I agree that 'Less is more'. Safety comes first.
Sometimes it is better to get a subtle improvement first then gradually improve the look over a couple of sessions. It is important not to over do it.
Always find an experienced qualified cosmetic doctor that you are comfortable to discuss your treatment goals and preference.
Two descriiptions, Ventriliquist dummy face. Duck lips.