Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge Dangerous! Stitches, Blood Clotting & Other Harmful Effects, According to Doctors
Experts warn of the dangers of the recently popular "Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge" amongst teenagers.
The new fad involves placing a small container, usually a shot glass or jar, over the lips and then creating suction by sucking all the air out. This causes the lips to become swollen and look "plump" to resemble those of Kylie Jenner. According to NJ.com, this type of activity popular among teens may cause permanent disfiguration.
The "lip challenge" could cause blood clotting, permanent bruising, or discoloration around the mouth, scarring, and stitches if the object used to achieve the plump lip look is breakable, like glass.
"I don't think they understand that it's something that can go terribly wrong," according to Dr. Steven L. Davis, plastic surgeon at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. "I've been hearing about it and thinking about it from a parent's perspective, as well as a doctor's."
Davis warns that it is dangerous to place a glass object on your face.
"It could break, or already be chipped, which could be a disaster before you even start sucking the air out," he warned. "If you get cut and have to have stitches, you will have a permanent scar around your mouth."
The doctor also warns of discoloration or bruising around the face. There is a possibility that this could be permanent.
"Now, for the rest of their life, they will have a ring around their lips where the shot glass was," Davis said but added that the lips will look distorted instead.
Dr. Angela Lennox of NHS England said over at Leicester Mercury that, "This practice is just like strangling your lips. It is not natural and not something that doctors would recommend."
It could cause injury to achieve the look but the effect won't be long lasting.
"I'm sure it is quite painful and the swelling doesn't look good while it lasts," the doctor added.
A board certified surgeon Dr. Dendy Engelman, told Seventeen that the lip suction challenge can cause real damage.
"The new trend in trying to DIY lip plumping is quite concerning. Not only can significant pain, swelling, and bruising result from these suction techniques, but there is potential risk for scarring and permanent disfigurement with repeated attempts."
The 17-year-old Keeping up with the Kardashian's star reacted in two Twitter posts last April 21 about the viral challenge.
"I'm not here to try & encourage people/young girls to look like me or to think this is the way they should look.
I want to encourage people/young girls like me to be YOURSELF & not be afraid to experiment with your look."