Do all under twenty fives want overfilled lips?
I am under 25 and have always been someone who has no strong opinion on lip filler. However I am currently doing social media marketing for Aesthetic Klinik based in Brighton. I decided to investigate the phenomena of overfilled, un-natural lips that fill my Instagram feed and I also see in my social circle.
I took to Instagram (IG) to find answers. IG is the under 25’s google to find out everything from what is going on in the world, buying clothing, booking appointments you name it, you are able to do a wide range of search activities via IG. I decided to use the popularity of Instagram for under 25’s to find out their opinions and views and poll my IG followers to see if they preferred the natural look over the un-natural overfilled look. I have 7153 followers on my personal IG page. I reviewed who my Instagram followers are from insights the breakdown is shown in the images on the left. and then asked some basic questions.
Interestingly they were perhaps not even viewing it as a filler procedure that had gone wrong but a preference for an exaggerated, over-filled look.
I then decided to be a little controversial and I created a photo poll using a photo of a botched lip filler that I took from google alongside a cropped version of super-model Kate Moss’s lips that are a great shape and totally natural. I asked which did you prefer? 73 % (248) of the poll preferred Kate Moss natural lips, surprisingly 27% (93) of this poll preferred the botched lip filler!
My survey and interviews highlighted the pros and cons of lip filler. The main concerns included: Potential regret, expense, continued top ups over months to reach certain sizes, a fear of needles and the pain and it was hard to find good and trustworthy people. I’d rather pay more with someone with lots of good reviews rather then someone cheaper with no so many. If I was considering lip filler for myself I would prefer a reputable place over a cheaper one. The issue of safety was not mentioned and many interviewed were not aware that there were any potential side effects. What happens when fillers go wrong?
Social media and Celebrity influence?
Many influential people on social media have had lip filler and a lot of it. Many do not necessarily aspire to look like any particular celebrity but there is a perception that a lot of celebrities are beautiful. Jourdan Dunn, Emma Stone, Eva Longoria, Kylie Jenner, Adut Ateck, Margot Robbie were popular references in my research. “Kim Kardashian’s beautiful and she’s had loads of plastic surgery.”
“I personally don’t aspire to look like anyone other than myself and I don’t think anyone should”. “There’s so many that I find gorgeous and would love to have different parts of them”.
The Kardashians set an example to millions of young girls in 2015 with Kylie Jenner setting the trend transforming her naturally thin lips to what was then perceived as a filled un-natural look.
Love Island stars, now play a major part of social media and tv with lips far more filled that the Kylie Jenner look. The obsession with big lips.
People choose to have lip filler for many reason. Here are some of the reasons my followers shared: “I hated my lips before I found them small, and I found wearing lipstick looks weird but since then it’s make me so much happier and currently building them to my ideal size, I have 2ml and getting more soon and couldn’t be happier “!!
“Some people think they’re fake and don’t understand it, others think they’re great, I think it depends on the person and their outlook, but I think majority of under 25s are a lot more accepting of fillers and cosmetic enhancement rather then people who might be older”.
Does social media make under 25s think they need to get lip filler?
These are some of the many comments I received:” I think social media has a massive impact on what people do and what people think the “beauty standards” are, people look at social media and all the girls on there and feel like they need these procedures to be pretty and to meet that standard.
I think social media has some influence over some people’s decision to get lip filler but probably not all.“
I then created a gallery from my IG followers of under 25’s with lip filler
“I think if someone wants it they should be allowed it without anyone having an opinion”.
“I think people are attractive with and without filler, I don’t think it makes a huge difference it just makes certain features more noticeable, but some filler when it migrates or is very big can just be too much.”
“if it makes people feel good about themselves and they can afford it why not.”
“I think it’s fine to have lip filler if you can afford it and I like the way it looks. I just hope women don’t feel pressured to look like other people and therefore get lip filler but I don’t know what people’s reasons are.”
Since working at the Aesthetic Klinik I have noticed their older clientele definitely prefer the natural lip. The Aesthetic Klinik specialises in natural enhancements. The over filled lip has had a major impact on the older generation not wanting overfilled lips that they see on social media. At Klinik they explicitly ask for a natural lip look. Natural options for a subtle effect are also an option for under 25’s. Lip filler trends.
My research informed me of many reasons why lip-filler is popular but not especially the trend of over-filling. I can see there are a certain group of under 25’s who are seeking a non-natural look and want to be seen to have very filled lips that are as distinctive a feature as tattoos and piercings and that’s their choice. Many commented that over-filled lips do not make someone more attractive but unattractive and too similar to others rather than individual. Is the drive for over-filled lips a cultural shift and personal taste which can be as diverse and personal as body piercings and tattoos or a loss of perspective?