Throughout history aesthetic treatments were almost unaffordable and reserved mainly for the very wealthy. However, in the last couple of decades, with the advent of non-surgical treatments and improved techniques with accompanying results that are equally impressive, the number of people seeking aesthetic treatments has grown exponentially.
This growth has been contributed to by increased attention to facial aesthetics in the press and on social media. Non-surgical treatments are now not only more accessible but affordable and quicker to obtain too with minimal downtime and minimal trace of their occurrence. With this, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular, effective and sought-after treatments today is that of lip fillers.
The History of Lip Fillers
Lip fillers have a surprising history that dates back to the 1900s. Details of the first attempted lip augmentation were published in 1906, when surgeons tried injecting liquid paraffin into the lips: “The paraffin was injected in a fluid condition by means of a powerful metallic syringe, which, together with its contents, was immersed in hot water.” As you would expect, the procedure wasn’t successful and so surgeons started looking into alternatives.
Liquid silicone was first used for lip augmentation in the 1960s. However, concerns about the safety of silicone on general health meant that this method of lip enhancement was abandoned and surgeons began using bovine collagen instead. Bovine collagen was deemed safe to use and became the standard product for lip augmentation. However, this method was not without its flaws, extra expense and delays: an allergy test was required three weeks prior to treatment and patients would have to wait for weeks after treatment before any effect could be seen.
Currently, fillers containing hyaluronic acid are the go-to products for aesthetic practitioners around the world. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide that is present in the skin and cartilage. It is able to combine with water and swell to varying capacities (depending on the product used) when in a gel form, causing the sought-after filling effect. Hyaluronic acid fillers last between 6-15 months and, if injected by a professional with the correct up-to-date training, have very little risks compared to other methods of lip augmentation.
The Boom of Lip Fillers
There is currently a steady increase in the number of people interested in augmenting their facial features through the use of non-surgical lip filler cosmetic procedures but the demand for dermal lip fillers surpasses that of all other treatments. This is undoubtedly due to the role of social media and the belief that larger lips are more physically attractive. With celebrities also admitting to (and almost celebrating), having had lip fillers and other cosmetic procedures, the culture around these treatments has changed to become more mainstream and accepted.
As the UK doesn’t regulate non-surgical procedures there are no reliable statistics available for lip fillers in the UK and their use. However, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more than 27,000 Americans had lip augmentation treatment in 2015 (one every 20 minutes)! Everyday people take to Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat to share photos of the results of their latest aesthetic procedure and a search for #lipfillers on Instagram produces almost 300,000 results! Women (and an increasing number of men) proudly post photos of their freshly-filled lips accompanied by hashtags such as #lipgoals #poutylips and #kyliejennerlips.
The ‘Kylie Jenner Effect’
It could be argued that the demand for lip fillers really exponentially increased back in May 2015. Following much media speculation about her plumped-up pout, Kylie Jenner confirmed suspicions that she’d received lip fillers. Some clinics reported an immediate 70% rise in enquiries for lip filler treatment and Jenner’s lips still remain the subject of discussion even today.
Although Jenner’s lips prompted the publication of information about how to safely receive lip fillers, there was also a worrying number of botched and dangerous procedures being reported. As a younger demographic of patients sought out cheap treatments there was (and still is) an increasing number of people turning to unqualified providers who have not received proper training. Unfortunately, without appropriate background checks in place and in such an unregulated industry, the evidence of these unqualified providers only became apparent upon treatment and after the complications arose.
Acquisition Aesthetics’ Lip Filler Masterclass
At Acquisition Aesthetics we are passionate about patient safety and ensuring that our delegates receive the highest gold standard of training in all aesthetic treatments. We have aesthetic surgeons with the appropriate backgrounds in facial aesthetics, facial anatomy, injecting techniques and how to deal with complications. Lip augmentation is complex and takes years to master with new developing techniques. Results are evident of experience and for this, there is no substitute.
Our Lip Augmentation Masterclass aims to take the lip enhancement techniques taught on our Foundation and Advanced courses to a higher level. The teaching on this course includes techniques for enhancing the natural lip pout, addressing downturned corners of the mouth, lip border definition and lip body enhancement, as well as how to deal with complications and photographing your clients lips.
In addition, you will cover the anatomy of the lips and lower third of the face in extreme detail and will be provided with learning materials to reflect upon in your own time. As with all of our courses, you will have the opportunity to practice on a large volume of live cosmetic model patients in groups of 2 or 3 to one aesthetic trainer.
We predict that the demand for lip enhancement will continue to grow and grow, so now is most certainly the time to seize this opportunity and get ahead by expanding your aesthetic knowledge with an Acquisition Aesthetics Lip Filler Masterclass! Book online now to avoid disappointment!
