Women have been attempting to achieve fuller, plump lips through different cosmetic treatments, techniques, and procedures. However, these treatments require a board-certified dermatologist for safe and most effective results. Despite the internet’s fascination surrounding the device, DIY Hyaluron lip filler pens are highly dangerous.
We at the Aesthetic & Dermatology Center advise patients to avoid these DIY lip filler pens at all costs.
How Does the DIY Hyaluron Pen Lip Filler Work?
The Hyaluron pen aims to create a result that is similar to a lip filler injection at a doctor’s office. The pen is a cheaper alternative to a professional lip enhancement treatment and is a “DIY” or an at-home product.
The Hyaluron pen does not contain any needles, which has become an attractive selling point to many users on TikTok and Instagram. However, just because the device is “non-invasive” does not mean that the pen is safe for use.
The device relies on extremely pressurized air to administer a non-medical grade hyaluronic acid at high speed into the skin. This creates a stream of hyaluronic acid that spreads under the skin of the lips.
The Dangers of DIY Lip Filler Hyaluron Pens
The Hyaluron pen touts that the device is non-invasive and painless for patients, however, this is not true. Considering the pen forcefully pushes hyaluronic acid into the lips, it is unfair to call the device “non-invasive.”
Since the insertion of the drug is delivered through pressurized air, it’s extremely hard to control how much of the drug is delivered and where it is inserted. It is very easy for patients to misuse the product and send hyaluronic acid into the wrong area given the patient’s lack of knowledge and control. The device’s intense pressure can cause more severe problems like blocked blood vessels, permanent skin necrosis, swelling, bruising, and lumpiness.
In some cases, the air pressure is not enough to surpass the superficial layer of the lip. This may deliver the drug to the wrong part of the lip. This may cause a puffy and uneven appearance.
Additionally, unlike your board-certified dermatologist, self-injectors rarely even clean the treatment area beforehand, increasing their chances of an infection. The chances of infection increase even more if patients begin to share the device or perform the lip filler pen on a friend. This may lead to swapping blood or bodily fluids which can cause diseases like COVID, herpes, HIV, and hepatitis.
Another danger to DIY filler pens is the lack of research surrounding their use. These pens are new and unsafe, and there is a lack of research surrounding the permanent or long-term side effects. These DIY Hyaluron pens are not regulated or FDA-approved and are prohibited in Canada and all European countries.
What Patients Are Saying
The Hyaluron pens have mixed reviews online. While some influencers promote the safety of the product due to paid partnerships, several reviews left online detail the truth behind the at-home lip filler device:
“I had the Hyaluron Pen done on Sunday and within 1 hour of the procedure, my upper lip was grossly swollen and bruised. It is now day 5 and the swelling has subsided, but the bruising is still very prominent. I now have a small ulceration starting. It was not pain-free as promoted.”
Another Facebook review reads:
“It has been over a month and I still have the bumps where the HA was injected. It does not spread around evenly. My four friends and I have all experienced this. It was okay but definitely will not do it again.”
Professional Lip Filler Treatment
If you would like plumper, fuller but still naturally occurring lips, please book an appointment with a trained dermatologist injector or one of the master board-certified dermatologist injectors at the Aesthetic and Dermatology Center. One of the most dangerous aspects of the lip filler pen is that those handling it rarely have any background in medical or dermatological care.
Our master injector dermatologists use only medical-grade FDA-approved hyaluronic acid. Dr. Green will carefully deliver this acid to the safe zones and very specific parts of the lip. Such precision allows for more effective and meticulous delivery of the drug, instead of forceful air that leaves the drug in the path of least resistance.
Our lip filler treatment typically takes around 15-20 minutes.
Dr. Lawrence Green is a board-certified dermatologist and award-winning master injector. He administers RHA® lip filler and other FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers, to patients in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Call our Rockville office today: (301) 610-0663.
The information contained in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute professional medical advice.
Process
We recommend 3 – 9 treatments depending on how full you would like your lips to be. A mini consultation with each person will be provided to discuss what you want your desired lips to look like. Some may want just the top, sides, or both the top and bottom, etc. Each person’s lips are different and we will be able to determine how many treatments you need once we have the consultation.
We will numb the lips to make ensure the process is as painfree as possible, most say a small pinch is really all they feel. After the numbing we will begin the process that lasts about 30 minutes. After the treatment is over we will apply hylauronic acid around the lips to help start the healing process. (very light swelling, bruising, and small bumps on penetration site can occur and are normal, subsiding after a few hours-3 days)
Treatments can be scheduled 3 – 4 weeks a part for the last treatment. This is to ensure the lips are able to heal properly and allow the look of the lips to process naturally. The more treatments you have the larger your lips will look overtime. Results last anywhere from 3-6 months.
Not Recommended to the following:
- Under 18 Years of Age
- Pregnant or Currently Breastfeeding
- Has Diabetes/Under the care of a physician
- Acute of Chronic Skin Diseases in the area to have performed treatment
- Active, inflammatory acne
- Hypersensitivity to any of the constituents of the filling preparations
- Currently on Blood Thinning Medications/Anti-Coagulants.
- Pre-disposition to hypertrophic scars and keloids
** If you have a history of getting cold sores, you'll need to be on an anti-viral medication from your physician for 3 days before and 2 days after to prevent an outbreak. This is the client's responsibility to obtain this medication as we are not liable for a cause of trigger for your cold-sore outbreak.
Aftercare Instructions:
It is very important to protect your investment and follow all aftercare instructions. Remember, individual cosmetic experiences can vary from person to person.
- Be prepared for some bruising and swelling ( Some clients have also found that Arnica - a natural ointment commonly used to reduce bruising, works very well on the treatment area.)
DO NOT CONSIDER THE RESULT OF THE INITIAL PROCEDURE TO BE FINAL (Many of our clients have experienced mild anxiety when they have studied how the shape of lips or facial smile-lines changes during the first couple of weeks after the procedure. This is completely normal and there is no need to worry because of that. In the beginning, the treatment area sometimes looks a bit asymmetric, it will most probably change quite significantly during the first month after the procedure. Keep in mind that the actual result can be evaluated correctly only after the touch up (re-touching) procedure has also been performed.) Remember, we recommend 3-9 sessions for best results.
- NO HEAVY MAKEUP AND ANTI-AGING CREAMS, MINIMIZE MOVEMENT OF THE TREATMENT AREA At least for a week (preferably for 10 days)
- Avoid Exercise, bending forward or lifting objects heavier than 15lbs for the first 12 hours post treatment.
- Avoid sun exposure, tanning beds, climates with heat above 80 degrees and for 2 weeks post treatment. (or use a hat).
- Avoid the use of saunas/hot tubs/steam for 2 weeks post treatment.
- Avoid scrunching the lips, drinking hot beverages, smoking and alcohol use for the first 3 days.
- If bruising does occur, apply an arnica-based gel topically gently to the treated area 3-4 times a day until bruising disappears.
- Client can gently massage treated area if lumps are discovered ONLY AFTER 3 days of the treatment. Client should not massage over area for it can dissolve product faster and potentially move the product to the other locations within the skin.
Pricing:
Needle-Free Lip Filler: First Session $250/mL (Regularly $300)
- 1st touchup (2 weeks after initial session): $150
- Every Session thereafter should be done 3-4 weeks apart ($250/mL).