How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Lip Injections?

Full, plump lips are an international sign of beauty and youth. All over the world, women look for ways to improve their pout and achieve an elevated level of beauty. Patients who are born with naturally thin lips or who have seen their lips become thinner due to aging can benefit from hyaluronic acid-based lip fillers. 

Since their inception, lip fillers have been incredibly popular among patients of all ages due to their ability to improve one’s facial aesthetic. In recent years, these fillers have become increasingly popular among younger patients, and many teenagers are asking their parents if they can get them. As such, these parents naturally wonder what the age requirement for the treatment is. 

We have compiled a breadth of information here for your reference. 

At what age can a patient receive lip fillers?

The truth is that there are no laws out there that prevent teenagers from receiving lip fillers or undergoing any other cosmetic procedure. That said, lip fillers are only FDA-approved for patients who are ages 21 and over. Beyond that, there are no reputable medspas out there that would perform a cosmetic procedure on a patient who was younger than 18 years of age. 

Patients should be warned that any practitioner who offers to perform such a procedure on a minor is not trustworthy. Such individuals would likely be willing to risk the patient’s safety, along with their own careers. That said, teenagers are obviously a hard demographic to dissuade, so we have compiled some compelling reasons for why the age limit on lip fillers is a good thing. 

Safety

Like dermal fillers, lip fillers are based on hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body. This molecule helps the skin, eyes, and joints retain moisture. The FDA put lip fillers through extensive testing in order to determine that they were safe for use by adult patients. That said, the effects of these potent products have not been studied in patients who are younger than 22 years of age. 

Expenses

Dermal fillers can be expensive. This is due to the fact that the results from lip fillers are temporary, meaning that patients will have to go back for multiple follow-up treatments to maintain their results long-term. Younger patients are less likely to be in an economically stable situation, meaning that they may opt for lower-quality products that are less effective. For this reason, it is highly recommended that patients wait until they are older so that they are in a position where they can afford both the initial and subsequent filler treatments. 

Unrealistic expectations 

The truth is that social media and movies have conditioned people to have an unrealistic view of the world. We are led to believe that if we had the right house, car, clothing, jewelry, etc. we would be much happier than we are right now. This applies to cosmetic procedures as well. While lip fillers are a great way to help patients enhance their look, they should not be seen as a miracle that will make a person’s problems go away. Teenage patients are often susceptible to this line of thinking as they have little experience in the ‘real world.’ Adult patients who have more experience in life and are well-adjusted are better candidates for cosmetic procedures, as they have realistic expectations for how they will feel afterward. 

A positive outlook on one’s natural beauty

Lip fillers and other cosmetic procedures give patients the opportunity to improve any perceived imperfections that they may have. That said, it is vital that patients utilize these procedures to achieve subtle improvements rather than more pronounced ones.  There are many patients out there who once hated a certain feature of their face when they were younger and now love it for making them unique. Age limits are important because they give young patients the opportunity to grow and see how they feel about their perceived imperfections before taking any action.  If the patient is still unhappy with how they look down the line, they will still have the option to undergo surgery and address their issues. 

What is the takeaway?

Lip fillers are approved for treatment on patients 21 years of age and older. Setting age limits is important because it prevents patients from acting too soon in life. While cosmetic interventions can have amazing benefits on a person’s look and outlook on life, they should be used sparingly. Older patients are better able to take into consideration all the relevant factors before committing to the treatment. Younger patients should wait until they reach the age limit to see if they still want it.