Hello All!
This is my first blog post (of many) focusing on the effect that social media can have on people partaking in plastic surgery procedures, and how young people are constantly striving for perfection. This particular post will be centring around the craze that took the social media world by storm in 2015 and is still being discussed to this date; ‘The #KylieJennerLipChallenge’.
(Kylie Jenner’s enhanced lips)
Background to Kylie Jenner’s Lips:
In an interview in April 2015 with Grazia magazine, she discussed the rumours surrounding whether or not she had had her lips surgically enhanced. Jenner states “I’m like, ‘Stop talking about my lips. I haven’t had plastic surgery. I’ve never been under the knife. People flashback to pictures of me when I was 12 and say, ‘Kylie’s so different,’ but how can I look the same from 12-18?”. But was the then 17 year old telling the truth?
The reality star went on to reveal in May 2015 (only a month later) on an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians that she had in fact had ‘temporary fillers’ as it was an insecurity of hers and was what she “wanted to do”. She claimed “I want to admit to the lips, but people are so quick to judge me on everything, so I might have tiptoed around the truth,” she added. “But I didn’t lie.”
I can’t quite personally understand the youngest Kardashian sister’s statement about not lying, but due to being 17 at the time it is understandable that the young star knew she would receive backlash if she were to come clean about going under the knife, especially when her own Mom-ager (mother and manager), Kris Jenner told Access Hollywood that she “got really upset” with Kylie over the lip fillers.
(Jenner with a ‘fuller look’)
Dr. Paul Nassif, a plastic surgeon on E! reality told E! News in October 2016 when asked about Kylie’s lip injections, “She’s always, just like the rest of these girls, she has nice lips already. She already has beautiful, full lips.”
“I find it fascinating because I think Kylie has become such a huge star now that she actually can start a trend,” surgeon and Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow said. “She started a trend of young girls coming into our office with pictures of Kylie, showing her lips, wanting her lips.”
The ‘people’s’ response:
Her new look inspired a whole new craze of lip enhancing which involved people sucking on bottles to acquire her plumped up look!
Countless photos and videos were being uploaded online of people trying the #kyliejennerchallenge to blow up their lips to ridiculous proportions. How it works: someone places their lips into a bottle (or in some cases a shot glass) creating an airlock. When suction of the bottle occurs it increases the blood flow to the lips and causes them to swell.
Some immediately regretted their decision though as the suction caused severe bruising and swelling to their lips.
(Thousands take to twitter to show their attempts)
In some drastic cases where a shot glass was used, the glass would explode during the suction causing severe cuts and damage to young people lips. (waring graphic image ahead)
(Teens lip’s cut by glass due to the glass shattering during suction)
Even with all the warnings of others and witnessing multiple failures posted online, numerous people still continued to get involved.
Click below to watch a video compilation of failed #kyliejennerlipchallenge attempts created by social mania on youtube, the video of the top 100 fails has over 26,000,000 views:
What next?
This craze sparked a new era of desired big lips, with many jumping on the lip enhancement hype. Rising to fame was the safer and more natural way of fuller, plumper lips. Still a suction technique but with softer coatings of plastic (rather than shot glasses or plastic bottles). One make that is extremely popular is Fullips which has been featured in Cosmopolitan, the Daily Mail and on E!Online.
They are advertised as “a tool for fuller, healthier-looking lips without the injections or chemicals. Small enough to carry in your makeup bag, simply use the Lip Enhancer before applying your lipstick or lip gloss” that will last the day or evening and can be topped up when necessary. This approach seems a lot safer than the amateur attempts people were trying and posting online using simple tools they could find in their kitchen cupboards. The Fullips website even has a “how to guide” with videos to ensure the safety of their users.
(Fullips lip enhancers)
It is hard to say what the next big craze will be, but with cases where body alterations are involved it is important to make sure that safety is considered at all times. Products such as Fullips provide alternatives for young people rather than having to undergo surgical procedures.