Thanks to the likes of Kylie Jenner and the dawn of selfie culture, lips are having a moment: According to new data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, lip augmentation is the second-fastest-growing facial procedure in the country, coming in right after facial dermabrasion or resurfacing treatments.
In 2015, lip implants saw double-digit growth in all regions nationwide, which equated to 27,449 total procedures and a 48 percent rise since 2000. Lip injections have also shot up in numbers, a part of the more than 9 million such procedures patients sought out in the past year.
As far as cosmetic-surgery procedures go, many patients think lips seem like a small (but substantial) place to start — and it’s not just because they’re seeking a trendy pout. Often times, it is to replace volume lost with aging, or to restore some balance to the face.
Lip implants are typically made from a soft, pliable silicone and offer more flexibility and more options than previous incarnations. Song says patients generally recover quickly from the procedure, and unlike with injections, you don’t have to go back for multiple visits.
Is this a fad, or are more full lips here to stay? Only time will tell. Right now, there are temporary fillers and silicone implants which meet almost everyone's desires.