Are Kardashians Setting A Wrong Example By Encouraging this Taboo Surgery?
In 2000, lip surgeries were still not a think and in 2015, only fifteen years later, there has been a 48% increase in the number of lip implant procedures conducted in U.S. As many as 9 million people went for Botox injections and soft tissue fillers, a whopping 1,000% increase since 2000.
"Clearly, lips and the enhancement of the lip and pucker are on the rise," ASPS president Dr. David H. Song said in a media release. "It's very popular, and it's become something that patients are desiring more and more."
According to Song, much of this trend can be attributed to selfies which is very common amongst celebrities and regular people alike.
"We live in the age of the selfie, and because we see images of ourselves almost constantly on social media, we're much more aware of how our lips look," he said, according to CNBC.
Less than a year ago, Kylie Jenner, youngest of the Kardashian clan, boldly went on television with her fuller lips. Between then and now, there is noticeable surge in the number of lip surgeries. The 17-year-old reality star and model revealed that she used temporary lip fillers to overcome her body image insecurities.
"I have temporary lip fillers, it's just an insecurity of mine, and it's what I wanted to do," she revealed in a Keeping Up with Kardashians episode. "I'm just not ready to talk to reporters about my lips yet because everyone always picks [my family] apart."
Her lips, however, left a lasting impression in young teenage girls who idolize the Kardashians and their lifestyle. Before her acknowledgment of using the lip fillers, young people were already joining the #KylieJennerLipChallenge on social media. The challenge required you to place your lips inside a bottle or a small glass and suck hard on it. This would temporarily enhance the size of your lips. However, the hashtag soon became engulfed in controversy as many people reported being injured or bruised after they participated in the challenge.
