Hyaluron Pen Lip Filler: The Risks & Dangers Explained
While so-called needless lip fillers have grown in popularity because of social media promotion, they are associated with greater risks than treatment with traditional fillers. Learn about what happens when the hyaluron pen goes wrong—and how to avoid a negative outcome by seeing an experienced medical professional for lip enhancement with injectable lip fillers instead.
HOW DOES THE HYALURON PEN WORK?
We will start with the basics: what is a hyaluron pen, and how does it work? The hyaluron pen is a device that delivers hyaluronic acid (HA) into the upper layer of skin using highly pressurized air. This tool is used to disperse hyaluronic acid gel into the superficial layers of the skin to add volume while shaping and contouring the lips.
In theory, the hyaluron pen can deliver more precise amounts of hyaluronic acid product into the lips because it has a lower viscosity or thickness than traditional filler products.
Hyaluron pen fillers gained widespread popularity in 2017 after social media influencers promoted them as a safe way to increase volume in the lips and smooth wrinkles on the face. This tool has been touted on social as a DIY version of dermal fillers, which can save time and money.
With the growing popularity of this tool on social media, many people are experiencing what can happen when the hyaluron pen goes wrong. If you try to use this device at home on yourself or a friend, the aesthetic outcome can be poor. But more than that, using a needless lip filler device can be dangerous.
The hyaluron pen can be dangerous when used by people without medical expertise, sterile equipment, or both. The device is not FDA-approved, and indeed, the FDA issued an official warning about needle-free filler devices in 2021.
Here’s where things can get risky from a medical perspective: Since these needle-free devices are available online for anyone to buy—and can be used without a medical license or any professional training—many people have decided to try lip fillers at home. If you are considering using needleless lip fillers, we want you to know about the potential hazards involved, both from an aesthetic and medical point of view.
If you are looking for a safe, FDA-approved way to enhance the shape and volume of your lips, you can learn more about dermal fillers here.
THE RISKS OF USING HYALURON PEN AT HOME
Want the TL/DR version? Here are the risks of at-home filler with a lip filler pen like the hyaluron pen:
Skin discoloration
Temporary or permanent scarring
Damage to the eyes
Bacterial, fungal, and viral infection
Transmission of blood-borne pathogens when people use the same device
If a blood vessel becomes blocked, it can cause tissue death (necrosis), blindness, or stroke
Keep reading to get more info on each of these possible aesthetic and health risks in the next section.
THE DANGERS OF DIY LIP FILLERS
At-home lip fillers are potentially dangerous, especially when the people using the device are untrained and inexperienced. While manufacturers advertise these cosmetic devices as a safe, low-pain, non-invasive version of traditional fillers, these claims have been refuted by the FDA, which prohibits hyaluron pens, especially for at-home use.
Why? According to a 2020 Federal Drug Administration communication report, incorrect use of at-home lip fillers results in injuries, including permanent harm to skin, eyes, and lips. Not worth it, cuties!
If you are considering trying the hyaluron pen at home, we want you to educate yourself about the potential dangers of using this device on yourself or others.
Yes, you risk a negative outcome in terms of appearance. This can include changes in skin color and scarring. And you may end up with lips with a “botched” lip filler look, often characterized by an asymmetrical, overly full pout.
But beyond risking your appearance, you also run the risk of harming your body in severe and permanent ways, including necrosis (tissue death), blindness, and stroke. These complications require immediate treatment from a medical doctor.
And again, since the FDA does not regulate these at-home filler devices or the hyaluronic acid products they use, there is a risk of contamination, leading to bacterial, fungal, and viral infection. The complications that can result from these infections include but are not limited to the formation of abscesses, cellulitis, granulomas, disfigurement, and systemic infection—which puts your life at risk.
Dermal Filler Care Products
THE SAFE ROUTE: DERMAL FILLERS
Seeking lip filler treatment from a certified medical professional is the first step to achieving the voluptuous lips you want.
FDA-Approved Products
While the filler products made for hylauron pens contain non-medical grade hyaluronic acid, you can avoid this risk with a traditional HA filler administered by a medical professional. When you come to FACE or another medical clinic to plump your pout, all products being used by your medical pro have been approved by the FDA, ensuring they meet stringent standards for safety and efficacy.
Safety and Supervision
Because the hyaluron pen can be used by anyone regardless of medical knowledge and training, it can be used in ways that put both your appearance and health at risk. At FACE, all treatments are administered in a sterile, controlled environment by Nurse Desiree, RN, FNP-S.
Expertise in Facial Anatomy
Risks are inherent anytime medical aesthetic treatments are administered by someone without an understanding of facial anatomy. At FACE, Nurse Desiree brings her combined skill as a successful, multi-decade artist with her medical expertise to enhance your lips for safe, gorgeous, and long-lasting results.
Management of Complications
While traditional dermal fillers are far safer than needleless lip filler products and devices, there is a risk involved anytime the skin barrier is broken and filler is placed in the tissue. While complications resulting from the hyaluron pen can go unrecognized and untreated, a trained medical professional like Nurse Desiree can recognize and handle complications in the unlikely event that they arise.
Learn more about Volbella and all the different formulations of Juvederm-brand fillers here.
These incredibly natural-looking results showcase the client’s beautiful lip shape while amping up the volume. Desiree used a total of 2.5 mL of HA filler, built up over the course of 3 sessions.
Desiree used 2 mL of HA filler to emphasize this client’s naturally stunning lips for maximum pop and pout.
TAKEAWAY
The FDA does not approve the use of the hyaluron pen and other needle-free filler devices.
Because the hyaluron pen can be dangerous, the FDA prohibits using hyaluronic lip filler.
Please do not attempt to use hyaluron pen lip filler at home—it just is not worth the risk!
If you want to enhance the fullness of your lips with fillers, see a medically-accredited professional who can safely treat you with FDA-approved dermal fillers.
Content & Strategy by
Ella Marcantonio
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