If you’ve spent any time on Facebook or Twitter in the last few days, chances are you’ve seen the sudden influx of teens and young adults posting pictures and videos of abnormally large, plumped up lips—and the subsequent onslaught of “fail” compilations showcasing painful swelling, bruising, and cuts.
Welcome to the #KylieJennerLipChallenge.
In an attempt to mimic reality TV star Kylie Jenner’s famous pout, young men and women are using shot glasses, bottles, and jars to create suction around the mouth and engorge the lips. As CBS News points out, this challenge is leading to somewhat horrific results.
Aside from swelling the lips considerably—much to the surprise and horror of the young persons attempting the challenge—this practice is proving dangerous. Countless teens have been sent to the emergency room with swelling that won’t recede, painful bruising, and even lacerations. What’s more, suctioning any part of your skin like this can lead to permanent issues, such as scarring, hematoma, or trauma to the blood vessels of the lips.
Kylie Jenner herself responded to this trend on Twitter, informing the world that her goal is to “encourage people/young girls like me to be YOURSELF,” rather than prompting them to look like her. The young model and television personality has been at the heart of controversy around her luscious lips for months, with rumors running rampant about lip augmentation with filler injections.
Though the secret behind Kylie Jenner’s plump lips remains unverifiable, there are safe and effective ways to enhance your lips without resorting to dangerous trends or fad products. For teens, the power of makeup and a high-quality lip liner can temporarily create the appearance of a fuller pout.
For adults hoping for fuller lips and a more defined lip line, fat grafting or certain dermal fillers are great options. Fat grafting uses your own fat harvested from other troublesome areas on the body—such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs—to permanently and naturally enhance the size and shape of the lips.
Dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm® and Restylane®, may also be used to safely and temporarily increase the size of the lips to provide a fuller, more proportionate appearance. Some very experienced injectors are also using diluted VOLUMA™ to achieve a potentially longer lasting effect.
Whichever you choose, the skill and knowledge of an experienced injector will ensure a safe, successful outcome—something you won’t find with shot glass lip plumping.