The Alarming New Trend of DIY Lip Fillers

A plump pout continues to be in style, with dermal fillers being one of the most common non-surgical procedures worldwide. However, top quality product administered by a highly trained and qualified practitioner can come with a hefty price tag, with costs ranging from £200 to several hundred pounds, but when it comes to your face you don’t want to scrimp on quality… surely?

Shockingly some people are choosing to bypass not only the cost of filler in clinic but also all health and safety regulations put in place to protect them and are opting to buy dermal filler online and inject it themselves or by a friend! With some even taking to TikTok to share their experience. In the comments many were outranged however some people were asking where the TikToker acquired the products… implying they were hoping to try themselves! Dr Asha Chhaya, Senior Medical Injector at sk:n Clinics who shared her opinion on the alarming new trend.

I have been performing aesthetic treatments for almost eight years, and I still find lips the trickiest area to treat, so to see that DIY lip filler is trending on social media platforms is highly concerning.

I could provide a whole list of reasons why this idea is highly problematic. To begin with, the lips are a highly vascular area, and individuals lacking experience or familiarity with anatomy run the risk of unintentionally injecting filler into a blood vessel. This could potentially result in skin necrosis or at its most severe, blindness. I cannot emphasise enough the significance of consulting with an experienced medical injector when contemplating filler treatment. 

There's also the question of what exactly is being injected. It's not as straightforward as just a box saying 'lip filler.' I am very selective when it comes to choosing brands and products for lip fillers, taking into account safety data, the company's reputation, and the outcomes associated with their use. Non-medical injectors are also likely to obtain their lip fillers from unofficial sources, introducing uncertainty regarding the authenticity of the product.

These DIY lip filler procedures are also taking place outside clinical environments where infection control is non-existent, significantly increasing the risk of infection. In the event of complications, the question also arises: to whom can you turn for assistance?

I cannot emphasize enough the significance of consulting with an experienced medical injector when contemplating filler treatment. Lip filler procedures should only be performed by an experienced medical injector working in a clinical environment.