There’s been a shift in popular beauty aesthetics in the era of the 2020s. Heroine chic that defined the 90s was out and the Kardashian’s hourglass figures moved in. Also moving in to the home of this era’s beauty standards were fuller lips and skin that would make a toddler look aged.
There’s little denying that a few other neighbours had some influence in the times of plumped-up lips and wrinkles-for-who skin. Social media filters, ‘zoom face’ AKA having to appear on a camera consistently due to the pandemic’s digital entrapment, and of course influencers opening up about work they’ve had done, creating a space for people to know that they did not in fact, just wake up like this, are all considerable influencing factors. In light of the last point for example, after Kylie Jenner admitted to fillers, London surgeries reported a 70% rise in enquiries for the procedure within the following 24 hours.
These elements have also influenced who’s making aesthetic alterations. No longer are Botox and lip-fillers associated with celebrities or your friend’s glamourous mother – but young women, and people really, in their 20s.
We’re diving into preventative Botox and lip fillers, from the perspective of opinions ranging from your neighbours, to advocates, and professionals.
How big are these trends?
According to research, Botox injections alone have increased 28 percent since 2010 amongst 20 to 29-year-olds, as per Vogue. As Vibrant Med pointed out last year, “Surprisingly, the greatest number of people electing to have lip augmentation procedures are women in their 20s.”
Immediate society’s opinions.
Now, talking about getting botox or lip fillers is already a polarising topic, but a very current one, especially in Cape Town. As someone who is a woman a part of the young 20s domain living in this city, I can attest that it’s highly relevant. If my friends haven’t done it yet, many of them are thinking about it. From what I’ve seen there seem to be three camps of thought. The people who are against it, the people who are for it, and those who believe that it’s neither-here-nor-there, but rather something everyone should decide for themselves.
To draw these conclusions, we asked the Cape {town} Etc Community on their thoughts, as well as Love Island’s Millie Terblanché (an advocate for aesthetic alteration) and added the opinions of doctors.
Cape Town’s opinions.
“Personally I find it unnecessary however if it makes you feel good then go ahead as long as you don’t over do it. Botox is temporary and is really for wrinkles and some races don’t have a lot of melanin therefore they age quickly especially around the eyes and mouth. There is no need for anyone to look and feel old especially when they do not feel it. And if it bothers you, do it sis. It won’t ruin your face(unless you over do it) .
Now lip fillers are another story, one wrong jab you are looking like blowfish. And if you do not have big lips, and get lip fillers, try a small amount. PLEASE. I’m not trying to shame anyone who does it but it just looks botched when you just put lip fillers and your lips aren’t designed, for a lack of a better term, to be that big.”
“It’s not for me and I didn’t even know it’s a trend. For the most I believe most of you probably look really beautiful without it. I was looking at some bootilcious girls today and I realize how much skinny girls wish they had big butts while the booty but bigger girls often want to lose weight. Look at us admiring each other but deep down wanting to change ourselves. How ironic.”
“No harm in a little tweaking here and there if you have the money honey go for it, just don’t go overboard. No judging, whatever makes one happy with their hard earned money.”
“Do botox early. I’m 32 and dealing with trying to make my forehead not look like 10 yrs too old. Prevention is better than cure.”
“Each to their own, but I do think celebrities have given young people especially girls unrealistic and unnatural standards of beauty.People can do what makes them happy so I don’t mind it at all”
“It’s up to the parents, I guess. There’s too much pressure on kids to compete. Different strokes for different folks.”
Here’s what Millie Terblanché expressed
Love Island South Africa’s Millie Terblanché is an advocate for beauty enhancement. She’s authentic about work she has done and believe in changing the narrative of perfection by being open and honest.
“I was so happy to grow up in a household where my mom was super open to it, & for that I’m so grateful. I think parents should be more open to the idea of enhancement, we do it through exercise, through skin care, through make up.
I feel that botox is just another part of enhancement, but through aesthetics. I feel it’s completely shaped who I am today, my confidence, I just want to look like I’m wearing make-up without actually wearing it, & I feel through the use of botox and aesthetics it given men that.
I feel as though the comments saying people that get any form of surgery because they aren’t confident enough, are said by those with the least confidence of them all, as they are so quick to judge something that makes someone feel beautiful.
I also love to change the narrative by being open & honest about everything I do & have done, showing that I’m not naturally as perfect as people think I am. I live by the term prevention is better than correction.”
Doctor’s thoughts
It seems that professionals are somewhat as divided as the public. For Doctor S’li’, the early ’30s is a good age to start, “because that’s when the skin starts to lose elasticity,” she expressed as per Channel24.
Dr. Askari Townshed, the founder of an aesthetic clinic in London expressed advocacy for having Botox preventatively. He says it’s “like giving a leather jacket a break to let the creases drop out.”
For Dr. Zamani who specialises in ophthalmology, it’s not worth it before the age of 25 and can make you look older.
Just some factors to consider
Now, these are just some nuggets of thought based on research and opinions. Here, I’m focusing on general considerations that relate to both Botox and lip fillers in a general sense. The best go-to is of course, a professional who will give you the nitty-gritty and all-you-need-to-know basis.
- Everyone is different. Your personal skin type, whether you have a ‘mobile’ or ‘expressive’ face for example, is worth thinking about. Your lifestyle too plays a role. “I see some ladies who are 23, 25, and they’ve been smoking for 10 years and using sun beds, so they’re very different to somebody who’s 35 who’s looked after themselves, ” as per Dr. Townshend.
- Too much of anything will have an impact and can mean the difference between luscious lips and blowfish lips, as well as a forehead or smile area that is smooth, or ice rink tight.
- It depends on who you go to, and this is probably the most important factor. When your local spa or gym is offering beauty alterations, it can seem tempting. However, you really want to look out for the “core four”: a board-certified physician who is either a dermatologist, a plastic surgeon, an ear-nose-and-throat doctor, or an ophthalmologist.
- Even if it’s preventative in the case of Botox, more isn’t necessarily better and can restrict movement drastically. The same goes for lip fillers. More isn’t always the best order.
My take is that it depends on you, your financial situation, your natural makeup and what you want to gain from aesthetic alternations. If it is on a basis of self-love, then go for gold. If you’re trying to please society, I hope this piece provides some insight that society is always going to be divided, and that’s why it’s important to decide on who you’re really doing it for, and I hope that it’s always you in these situations.
Picture: Anna Sudit