Is Microneedling Your Lips A Safe Alternative To Fillers?

Plump lips are a hot trend in the beauty market. Do you remember the Kylie Jenner lip challenge? People were suctioning their lips into shot glasses just for a temporary fuller look. However, it was not safe. Dermatologist Dr. Francesca Fusco reported (via CBS News) that the challenge could cause lip trauma such as the "breaking of blood vessels, lacerations, cutting of the skin that requires stitches in some cases. And that can leave marks that include pigmentation [and] scarring."

According to Glamour, YouTube star Michelle Phan has started the trend of microneedling your lips for a fuller look. This method would eliminate the need for lip injections and fillers.

Microneedling is traditionally used to minimize the appearance of acne scars and stretch marks. You should do your homework before microneedling at home – if you choose to do it at all.

But how safe is microneedling your lips? Is this trend following in the dangerous footsteps of the Kylie Jenner lip challenge?

Microneedling is a process that punctures the skin with several tiny needles to encourage the production of collagen, according to Healthline. The skin then heals smoother, firmer, and brighter. It is a procedure most used on the face to help with the appearance of pores and wrinkles. 

Microneedling is often associated with dermarolling. But what is dermarolling? It is an at-home version of microneedling. It is done with a derma roller, while microneedling requires professionals and specific sterile needles.

According to Glamour, microneedling your lips is not the best way to fuller lips. The lips are sensitive with many nerve endings, and microneedling them will be very painful. They will get plump, only because they are severely swollen. That swelling, which will appear unnatural and distorted, can last for a few days before your lips return to normal. Infections are also possible.

Dermarolling will produce the same results. So what is a safe alternative to fillers?

There is another plump lip alternative circling on TikTok, at-home hyaluron pens. It is a needle-free pen that uses pressure to fill your lips with hyaluronic acid. However, these pens are not safe.

These pens lack control over where and how much acid is injected into the lip, and products purchased online may be contaminated. You face the risk of scarring, bleeding, and infection, warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In some situations, the damage can be permanent. The safest way to attain fuller lips is to go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon for any procedure, even if it is minimally invasive.

Don't be afraid to fake it till you make it. Lip plumpers are an alternative way to get a fuller look, although they are temporary. While they are considered safe for most people, they are best used in moderation. They usually double as a lip color, gloss, tint, or balm and encourage blood flow to the lips for a lift in volume, according to WebMD. You'll get the best of both worlds without the cost of surgery and the risk of permanent damage.