Despite their rising popularity, lip fillers are still “like the wild west,” as many patients experience pain and embarrassment after undergoing the procedure.
Harriet Green, a call center agent, received an injection to make her lips look fuller and was assured that the swelling would go down as she left the salon.
However, even after three months, her lips remained so swollen that she had difficulty closing her mouth.
To restore them to normalcy, the 22-year-old from Acle, Norfolk, required three corrective procedures costing a total of over £700.
“My lips were in such discomfort. I had two really hard lumps, so I couldn’t put them together,” she explains.
Harriet decided to get cosmetic surgery last December.
She decided to get lip enhancement after seeing social media influencers advertise procedures like jaw fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, and lip enhancements. She hoped the procedure would help her overcome “a small insecurity” she had about her lips.
She simply believed that she wanted it done due to the standards of her generation and the prevalence of social media in today’s society. There is a tremendous amount of pressure, and a lot of people are talking about it. It appears to be the appropriate action to take under the circumstances.
However, Harriet has come to terms with the fact that the business world is a “minefield” and that social media images “don’t always show you the reality.”
I can’t even begin to describe how terrifying it is. The end result isn’t always apparent, even after a few months. She continued, “I’m just as insecure when I smile as I was before.
The issue is only getting worse
Harriet has spent over £700 having her lips fixed by a GP in Norwich who also operates her own aesthetic clinic. The initial treatment cost £165. She claims that the doctor is having to correct treatments that have gone wrong more frequently and calls the situation “really distressing.”
She says that every month, a new batch of young women contact her after experiencing undesirable side effects from the lip or tear-through fillers administered by a non-medical practitioner.
They frequently make an attempt to get in touch with the practitioner but are unable to handle the complications because of their inexperience. As time goes on, the issue only worsens.
The industry is “like the wild west,” the doctor says, with practitioners administering injections “out of the back of their cars” and even in their own kitchens.
Prescriptions are required in order to receive Botox injections, but anyone who has taken the required one-day training course can inject the drug. Lip and face dermal filler is available for purchase from any online pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
Many people who aren’t medical professionals buy filler online, often without checking its origin. More stringent rules and mandatory education/experience requirements are required.
According to a survey conducted annually by a British health organization, 82% of its 400 members dealt with patients who had complications due to the work of another provider in the previous year.
It found that nearly 2,000 (59% of all reported complications) were the result of treatments administered by beauty professionals.
Last year, three complications per 1,000 dermal filler treatments were reported, compared to 1.5 complications per 1,000 dermal filler treatments in 2021. This demonstrates how dangerous dermal fillers can be in the wrong hands.
The use of dermal fillers can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
Permanent blindness is a possibility.
The use of dermal fillers presents a unique challenge because “anyone can inject them” and the procedure is inherently riskier than others in the cosmetic industry.
Potential risks include permanent blindness. It’s extremely uncommon, but there have been reported cases in the UK.
Another possible complication is vascular occlusion, in which a blood vessel is blocked, preventing blood from reaching its intended destination.
For over a decade, dermatologists have fretted over the industry’s lack of regulation and safety risks.
People who inject are becoming more transient; they can be active on Instagram one day and then disappear the next, and they often exaggerate or fabricate their credentials.
Those interested in cosmetic surgery must take responsibility for finding a qualified specialist who is board certified and a member of a professional organization or voluntary registry.
Earlier this year, lawmakers demanded that the government of England implement a mandatory licensing scheme to regulate non-surgical cosmetic procedures, but the government ultimately declined to do so.
Ministers also opposed recommendations to limit access to dermal fillers, like Botox, to medical professionals only.
The Department of Health and Social Care has stated that it will hold a consultation this summer on the scheme that will make it illegal to perform certain non-surgical procedures without a license.
Before deciding to go through with a cosmetic procedure, anyone should give careful thought to how it might affect their mental and physical well-being, and if they do decide to go through with it, they should take the time to find a reputable, insured, and qualified surgeon.
The plan will arrive too late, but after three procedures, Harriet is finally satisfied with her lips and is working to restore her self-esteem.
It is hoped that by speaking out, she will inspire other women to make more educated decisions in their own lives.
Lip filler is just one example; if you’re considering getting any sort of cosmetic enhancement, it’s important to do your homework and not base your decision on the photos people post on social media.
Dentox is a program designed to teach medical and aesthetic professionals how to safely and effectively inject Botox without causing any unwanted side effects. If you want more information about Dentox programs, you should contact Dr. Howard Katz.
Check out https://dentox.com/all-courses/botox-training/ for online options, and https://dentox.com/live-courses/ for in-person instruction using actual patients.
