Around 27,500 patients went through surgery to get lip implants in 2015, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which is a 48 percent increase since 2000. This means that every 19 minutes someone is getting a lip implant, the society said.

This procedure has become more popular for both woman and man. About 1,200 male lip procedures were performed in 2015, representing a 400 percent increase since 2000.

Aside from the lip implant, other ways for lip augmenting have also increased, Lip injections, which include Botox and various soft-tissue fillers, having increased by 1,000 percent over the past 15 years, according to the ASPS, reaching nearly 9.2 million.

Around 27,500 patients went through surgery to get lip implants in 2015, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which is a 48 percent increase since 2000. Photo credit: Cosmopolitan
Around 27,500 patients went through surgery to get lip implants in 2015, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which is a 48 percent increase since 2000. Photo credit: Getty Images / Cosmopolitan

Dr. Robert Houser, a plastic surgeon in Westerville, Ohio, claims that, for those that never have had a cosmetic surgery, the lips are a good place for people to start. According to the doctor, patients may not want to do something dramatic like facelift or eyelid surgery, but since there are many ways to change the shape of the lips that are not so scary, like the injections, this area of the face could be easier.

Doctor Houser also added that if a patient does not like the results of the injections, the effects will wear off and everything will go back to normal, and if they do like them, they can maintain them by going back to the doctor’s office to get them filled again.

Why do people want to make their lips bigger?

Dr. David Song, the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, says that selfies are the reason why more people are getting lip implants.

“We live in the age of the selfie, and because we see images of ourselves almost constantly on social media, we’re much more aware of how our lips look,” he added.

The silicone implants are made from soft and flexible silicone, and they are inserted into the lip. The doctors make two small incisions in the corners of the mouth, and use a tiny passing instrument to pull the implant into place. People will have two stitches, small bruises and minimal swelling, meaning they will recover quickly.

“This is a real procedure with real risks and potential complications,” Dr. Song said. “We feel that the best physicians that offer this are plastic surgeons that are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.”

The ASPS made a survey and asked thousands of women which celebrities’ lips they would most likely want, Jennifer Lawrence coming in first, followed by Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Garner, Angelina Jolie, Kylie Jenner,Beyonce, and Lisa Rinna, and Johansson and Lawrence’s were deemed the most attractive.

Source: Philly