Are Social Media Trends Giving Aesthetic Medicine a Bad Rap?
Beauty trends are no longer set by supermodels on runways and within the pages of glossy magazines. Now, a scroll with your thumb through Instagram or TikTok is where beauty inspiration and trends begin. Because of this new shift, beauty trends are NOT coming from the experts but rather... anyone with a social profile. 🤳
Some trends are giving aesthetic medicine a bad reputation. Why? People are buying devices or products that promise crazy results, only to be let down - or worse. It's hard to tell the difference between a gimmick and a real, trustworthy product.
We're going to have some fun listing social media trends to AVOID plus the aesthetic, safe alternative. Curious? Keep reading.
Social Media Trends You Should AVOID
Beware! The items on this list are wreaking havoc on people's faces. I would say it's none of my business 🐸☕, but it's tragic! Avoid these trends like the plague (and let's laugh about them together from a safe distance).
🛑 Hyaluron Pen
The Hyaluron Pen is a small handheld device that "injects" hyaluronic acid fillers into the face. While hyaluronic acid is great for your skin and makes for an ideal injectable (when administered by a professional), this pen is trouble. It's known to cause serious side effects like skin reactions, abscesses, stains, bacterial and fungal infections, and damage to the skin, eyes, and blood vessels. Need further proof? The Hyaluron Pen is prohibited in Canada and Europe for safety reasons. It’s like an airsoft gun randomly shooting hyaluronic acid into your lips with no real technique. Lips will come out uneven, bubbly, and lumpy. Stay far away from this device!
🛑 Skinny Teas
Influencers will push just about anything for a payday, but "Skinny Tea" spurred some particular controversy. Detox teas are marketed as diet products but under the pretty branding, it's a laxative. People easily swayed by influencer opinion subjected their bodies to negative health effects and many affected were teens. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) ordered Teami, a popular detox tea brand, to pay over $1M in damages. Let's just stay away from laxative products in general, deal?
🛑 Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge
Simply frightening to observe, the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge was shocking and dangerous. I understand big lips are coveted by many, but this social media trend was one of the worst aesthetic trends I've seen. It starts by inserting your lips into a shot glass, small jar, or bottle, then sucking out the air. By creating a vacuum, your lips plump up. The damage caused by the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge was severe bruising and swelling on the low end, and discoloration and long-term nerve damage on the high end. Let's chalk this trend up to the same level of crazy as the Tide Pod Challenge. 🙄
🛑 SELF-INJECTING RANDOM COMPOUNDS INTO YOUR BOOTY CHEEKS
This year, many scary pictures made their way around the web of women who fell victim to DIY booty enhancements to save $. They were injecting random compounds like construction-grade silicon or non-FDA-approved fillers into their booty. The outcomes were horrific. Some of these individuals experience severe necrosis (when your flesh dies) and sadly, even death. A few of them even went on shows like The Doctors and BOTCHED to warn others against these procedures. Please consult a medical professional before taking your health into your own hands. Everyone wants to love their curves, but your health is priority #1. I see many patients in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and help them achieve a rounder, plumper butt with safe BBL procedures.
Safe Aesthetic Alternatives to Social Media Trends
If you scroll through social media and gravitate toward big lips and flawless skin, that's great! We all love a cute, trendy moment. However, before you pull the trigger on a trend, make sure it's SAFE (and worth your money!).
Here are some trustworthy aesthetic services that can accomplish the same - if not wayyy better - results as the trends above.
✅ Neurotoxins
Want smoother skin and less fine lines? Leave it to the professionals and FDA-approved injectables that yield safe and long-lasting results. Neurotoxins like Botox have become popularized by social media and Hollywood, but they're more than a fad. They produce effective results to fight aging, migraines, acne, hyperhidrosis, and more. Learn more about neurotoxins here.
✅ Kybella™
If you want a slimmer physique don't flush your internal organs with unsafe diet products. Try Kybella™! This is a naturally occurring enzyme that is injected to help break down fat and absorb it. It's FDA-approved to treat double chins and the results are amazing. Kybella can also be used to dissolve abdominal fat. Learn more about Kybella here.
✅ Dermal Fillers
Kylie Jenner got her lips through implants and injections - not sucking a shot glass or using a Hyaluron pen. Thankfully, you don't need a Kardashian paycheck to get them. It's possible through FDA-approved dermal fillers. For lip injections, I love HA fillers. These can also be used to contour the face, improve aging hands, correct asymmetry, hide scars, and more. Learn more about dermal fillers here.
WHERE TO GET AESTHETIC SERVICES IN NEW MEXICO
If you're looking for a little injection, filler, BBL, or tweak to live your best life, I'm here for you. I'm Lea Henderson and at my medical office, we offer all the latest - and safest - treatments. Book a free consultation with me so we can discuss your beauty goals and learn what we can achieve together.
