Is ‘the bigger the better’ mantra finally on the way out?

“Trending” is a word we hear thrown around more and more often and there is always something that is the latest trend. But can these trends be damaging to us in the future?

I’m sure we all remember when outrageously big boobs were all the range, that made way for big bums, and now the big lips seem to be on trend as the latest cosmetic ‘must haves’.

The obvious look has always been popular and, some people do pull it off well, however I always try to educate my patients on the less is more mantra, a natural, well balanced augmentation can compliment your existing features and boost your confidence, without shouting to the world that you’ve has something done.

The big lips that we see all over social media, can also be off-putting for those thinking about undergoing a procedure, especially clients in an older generation, who simply want to have a rejuvenated look, maybe to blend out fine lines around the mouth and hydrate their lips, leaving them looking youthful and subtly enhanced.

Some of the latest trends that have stormed the internet via platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, I believe to be an unrealistic and damaging image to present to the younger generation:

Cherry lips

Cherry lips, or rose bud lips are achieved by just filling the middle of the lip to create a young, smaller mouth. It is very popular in Korea, according to journalists there: "Koreans are highly driven by a desire to stay young. Cherry lips give a fuller, more youthful appearance." Although ‘Cherry lips’ are meant to be more natural, by over filling the centra of the mouth and avoiding the edges, it produces a doll like look.

Russian lips

Newer techniques such as the Russian Lip technique give for a hugely over-exaggerated shape and size. Initially intended as a shape changing technique to ‘lift’ the lips and help even out asymmetry, this trend has been taken to the extremes, with practitioners producing bloated, over sized lips.

‘Devil’ lips

This latest look is almost unbelievable to look at as a practitioner, ou can sharpen and contour by enhancing the vermilion border, but these ‘devil lips’ are unnatural. Filler injected inappropriately could end up in a blood vessel, causing blockages and leading to death of the tissue. The vessels are around the lips, so using filler inappropriately is what can cause this.

Please don’t be naive and follow trends like this, you will not be able to reverse it easily and go back to your natural lips if at all. Your lip border will be distorted and it won’t wear off evenly so you will have frilly lips for years to come.

Sausage lips

Unfortunately, the overdone ‘sausage lip’ still seems to be en vogue with some practitioners and patients, however this does nothing for the overall balance of your features and elongating your mouth like this can create a ‘jowly’ look around the lower face.

Although there are still a lot of shocking trends on the market, there has definitely been a shift in aesthetic style and it is becoming the norm that people no longer want to look different; they want to look like a more rested, fresher version of themselves.

I have had an influx of patients who have decided that less is more, and have come to me as new patients for a natural enhancement, or to have someone else’s work dissolved.

Face masks and remote working are becoming a blessing in disguise as we wait for our ‘reset’ lips to settle after dissolving, you do have to take a break before refilling to allow for the lips to settle, usually around 2 weeks.

It is important that as always, you do your researcher as hyaluronidase, the product used to break down filler, must only be used by a medical professional as a prescription only medication and is not without risks.

If you have decided less really is more, and you want help to enhance your features and feel the best version of yourself, follow my social media for updates, or give me a message and I will try to help guide you.

Love,

Nina x