Products sold over the counter to consumers as lip enhancers, with the promise of fuller lips, don鈥檛 live up to their claims, according to a new study conducted at the 91探花Medical Center鈥檚 Cosmetic Surgery Center and published in the May/June issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.
鈥淢any manufacturers have attempted to parlay the public鈥檚 desire for quick and painless methods for cosmetic enhancement, with the promise of results similar to time-tested surgical and non-surgical methods,鈥� said Dr. Sam Most, assistant professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the 91探花School of Medicine.
鈥淚n many cases, these products are sold at the cosmetic counter or on the Internet as effective without scientific study, and consumers should be wary of them.鈥�
In the case of one such product, Most and his co-author, Dr. Samson Lee, demonstrated that no lip enhancement was detected in a small study of female patients.
鈥淚t should be noted that these patients were all quite motivated to try this product,鈥� Most said. 鈥淲hile no adverse effects were noted, only 14 percent said they would use the product again.鈥�
The study found that no statistically significant change in lip size was detected in patients who used the product.
The duration of treatment ranged from one to four months. Digital before-and-after photographs were used to quantify the lip measurements.
There are a number of proven methods of lip augmentation, including filler injections and surgery, Most said.
鈥淚n an age of every-increasing demand for facial enhancements, many such devices or 鈥榗osmeceuticals鈥檆an be expected to be sold over the counter,鈥� Most said.
鈥淔acial plastic surgeons have a responsibility to determine the efficacy of such products to provide unbiased, evidence-based advice to our patients.
More studies such as this will likely be needed for such products as they come to market.鈥�