Filler Queen
My ex told me that if I ever got lip filler, he would dump me.
It’s been about 2 years since we broke up, and I’ve had 3 injections of hyaluronic acid since then. I’m a lot happier.
I’ve had great results with my filler, but I still wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone. It’s an elective cosmetic procedure. There are risks and costs involved. I want to talk about my experience with injectables for anyone that might be thinking about it, and for anyone like that ex of mine who has negative opinions about people who choose to have work done.
Before you get filler, you should ask yourself why you want it. I feel the same about cosmetic procedures as I feel about the entire beauty industry:
If you’re using cosmetics to express yourself, that’s wonderful.
If you’re using cosmetics to try to “fix” things, please be careful.
There’s a big difference between throwing on blue eyeshadow for fun and spending an hour every day before leaving the house applying color correctors and concealers just to feel like you can be seen in public. If you can’t accept one part of your appearance, it can become a slippery slope. Please don’t try to be pretty like everyone else. I don’t even mean that in a like “oh you’re beautiful, love yourself” kind of platitude way. I just mean it’s boring and uncanny seeing so many people aiming for the exact same aesthetic. Embrace your perspective, heritage, and experiences. It’s much more captivating and fulfilling.
I was never insecure about my lips. When I went in for filler, I had a specific goal and shape in mind. A taller top lip and an overall rounder silhouette. Like Brigitte Bardot or Princess Peach. I wanted something that looked cute and sweet. I got the idea from experimenting with my own makeup and art. Beauty is largely artificial, but that doesn’t mean it has to be inauthentic. I think of my lip filler as being similar to a tattoo or a piece of jewelry. I didn’t need it, but it’s a fun expressive thing I chose to get. It compliments my personality and the rest of my face.
I’m not judging anyone that uses makeup or elective surgery to try to mask perceived flaws. The world is cruel. The people we see on our screens are professionally styled, surgically enhanced, airbrushed, and still picked apart by the media. The 21st century has made this problem so much worse. In the 2000’s tabloids dissected every part of celebrity’s appearances. 20 years later every dumbass with a smart phone is doing the same thing.
Is glamour expressive and freeing or objectifying and oppressive? Yes! Both.
The other major factors to consider if you’re thinking about filler are the costs and potential side effects. I got my filler done at Mia’s Medical Spa (it wasn’t sponsored, but there’s a referral bonus so if you do go let them know I sent you). One of the aestheticians there, Susada, had done my laser hair removal before. It was reassuring to have work done by someone I know is professional and has my best interest in mind. It’s roughly 400 dollars for a half mL. It lasts 3-6 months. I got an early refill recently to make them a little bigger. Whole thing only takes about half an hour. Supposedly it takes about 2 weeks to heal. Everyone is different though. My injections didn’t bruise much at all and looked basically normal the day after. People that see me every day didn’t even notice it unless I pointed it out.
Here’s a side by side (and some rare out of drag photos) for a more direct comparison:
Was this “selfish” like my ex said? A little sure. But that same man has spent more on tattoos. I think it’s fine to be selfish once in a while and splurge. Are there better things I can spend my money on? Yeah, but there are way worse things too!
If having lip filler means I won’t be with a man like that again, it was a great investment.
