Skincare, lip fillers, or other cosmetic procedures are optional—owning your choice isn’t. Let’s talk about why beauty should never be a one-size-fits-all conversation.
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It always starts with a mirror. We analyze, compare, and sometimes we wonder—what if? For me, it wasn’t about dissatisfaction; it was curiosity. I had spent countless moments taking in my reflection, appreciating the whole picture but nitpicking the details. The more I paid attention to my facial proportions, the more I noticed how small my lips were and wondered how a slight enhancement might change that. After a year of telling myself, “Maybe later,” I finally booked the appointment. And guess what? I loved the result.
Now, before you think this is me telling you to do the same—it’s not. The fact that I got them doesn’t mean I think everyone should. In an era where social media feeds are flooded with before-and-after transformations, the pressure to tweak something about our appearance has never been stronger. Lip fillers, buccal fat removal, and all types of tox—what were once exclusive treatments for the rich are now as common as switching up your skincare routine.
While having options is empowering, the unspoken expectation that everyone should participate in this endless cycle of beauty “upgrades” is something else entirely. Models, content creators, and celebrities make cosmetic procedures seem like a rite of passage, but the truth is, they’re a choice—one that should be made for yourself, not because of outside pressure.
To Fill or Not to Fill?
We’ve all been there—scrolling through TikTok, watching someone’s “transformation,” and suddenly wondering if we, too, need a little oomph here and there. The algorithm favors the snatched-nose, plump-lipped, clear-skinned clean girls (or whatever trend is in for the week), reinforcing the idea that these features are the standard. Even when influencers preach “do what makes you happy,” the constant exposure to these enhancements normalizes them to the point where not getting them almost feels like the wrong choice.
Here’s the catch: many of these TikTok-inspired looks are amplified by beauty filters. What we’re seeing isn’t always reality, yet it still makes us second-guess our own features. So before booking an appointment, it’s worth asking: Am I doing this because I want to, or because I feel like I should?
Before I got lip fillers, I sat with the decision longer than I expected. It wasn’t about whether I wanted them—it was about whether I’d be okay without them. I asked myself, “Would I still be happy with my appearance even if I didn’t get them?” If the answer had been no, I knew I’d be chasing an ideal that would never feel like enough. Enhancements should be about preference, not pressure.
And honestly? Getting them didn’t suddenly bring a new level of confidence. Sure, it gave me a little boost—getting something new tends to do that—but I already liked my face before, and I still looked like me after. At the end of the day, cosmetic procedures, like skincare or makeup, can be a form of self-expression. Think of it as a way to align your appearance with how you see yourself. However, if the decision stems more from insecurity than empowerment, it’s worth taking a step back.
Lip Fillers: The Process, The Healing, and My Honest Thoughts
Getting fillers wasn’t some random, spur-of-the-moment decision. I did my research, asked around, and made sure I was going to a clinic I could trust (more on that later because, trust me, it matters). Eventually, I landed at Lift Aesthetic Clinic in BGC for their Liptastic Fillers, which is a non-surgical procedure that requires no downtime—and if you’re anything like me, the thought of pressing pause on your life for weeks isn’t an option.
My lips were done by Dr. Cyril Agan, and before anything, we sat down for a consultation. Once everything was set, they applied EMLA cream and let it sit for 30 minutes. In the meantime, I appreciated having a space where I could feel comfortable—one that allowed me to chat with Jan Conadera. He walked me through what to expect, making the experience feel even more reassuring. By the time the procedure began, I felt ready.
Pain? Not at all. Discomfort? A little. It’s an odd sensation as the filler goes in, but nothing too intense. As for healing, the tiniest bruise appeared after the procedure (totally normal), and by the next day, the swelling had peaked before settling down.
BTW, I have tattoos—some of which led me down a rabbit hole of removal options—so did I regret another aesthetic procedure? Not this time. For one, I reminded myself that fillers can be dissolved if I ever changed my mind. Plus, having someone with me made all the difference. Left alone with my thoughts, I probably would’ve overanalyzed everything and backed out.
We all do our homework before making a change—the before-and-after comparisons, the dos and don’ts, the healing process. But what doesn’t get talked about enough? The upkeep. Lip fillers aren’t permanent, so if you love the look, touch-ups become part of the deal.
While I’m fully obsessed with my results, this is still a personal choice—one I’d be just as okay not maintaining in the future. Full disclosure, though: I can already see myself doing it again. It made my features feel more balanced, and more importantly, it felt right for me. And at the end of the day, that’s the only opinion that really matters.
The Risks of Rushed Decisions
Here’s where things get alarming: As lip fillers become more accessible, too many people—particularly Gen Z—are prioritizing price over quality. The surge of budget cosmetic clinics offering cheap fillers is a warning sign. An online search will instantly reveal procedures priced as low as ₱8,000, when in reality, a safe, medically supervised treatment typically falls within the ₱20,000 to ₱30,000 range.
The Liptastic Fillers cost ₱24,000—standard for a procedure performed by a professional. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. And when it comes to your face, the real cost of a bargain can be far more than a botched result. We’re talking about filler migration, allergic reactions, and, in worst-case scenarios, irreversible damage like vascular occlusion—where a poorly placed filler can block blood flow, leading to tissue death. These risks aren’t horror stories; they’re real, and they happen far too often.
This is why, if you’re considering fillers, go to a reputable clinic, check their credentials, and don’t hesitate to ask a million questions. Your face is not something to gamble with when the price of cutting corners is your safety, your health, and your confidence.
Beyond the risks, there’s a larger conversation: Beauty should never be one-size-fits-all. With mainstream media and social platforms continuously pushing a singular, idealized look, it’s easy to feel pressured to alter your appearance—all to fit a mold never designed with individuality in mind.
This is where rushing into procedures becomes dangerous. When decisions are driven by trends (or another person) rather than personal suitability, the results can feel foreign rather than flattering. And while beauty treatments should be about choice, we wonder: How much of that choice is truly ours? There’s a tension between personal agency and the illusion of agency, where self-improvement is encouraged but only in ways that align with marketable looks.
Enhancements should complement your natural features, not erase them. Looking like someone else is never a guarantee—something people often overlook when they bring a photo of someone else to their doctor. Bone structure, proportions, and even the way features age all play a role in how the results will actually turn out. Beauty should be about refining what makes you feel confident, not conforming to a specific standard. Too often, the pressure to fit in overshadows the fact that beauty is deeply personal.
The Subtle Shift in Self-Perception
Right after the procedure, I was still getting used to the change, but I felt amazing—my lips looked fuller, and I finally had what I’d always wanted. But here’s the thing about beauty: once you start making choices for yourself, you understand how much it comes down to what you want, not what anyone else expects.
This is the part no one really talks about: getting a procedure doesn’t mean you’re insecure, and choosing not to doesn’t mean you’re above it. I liked getting my lips done. In fact, I’m already considering my next procedure—something subtle, something natural, but that’s a conversation for another day. Then again, this isn’t about whether you should or shouldn’t get anything done. It’s about recognizing that beauty isn’t universal—it’s individual. What feels right for one person won’t be the same for another.
The Takeaway: She’s Plumped and Pondering
At the end of the day, lip fillers—like any beauty decision—are exactly that: a choice, and it’s yours alone to make. Skincare, style, and at some point, even cosmetic procedures, become part of how we explore beauty, but they don’t define confidence or self-worth. They’re not a necessity to stay aligned with ever-shifting beauty standards, either. But when trends move this fast and aesthetic tweaks start feeling as routine as a haircut, it’s easy to lose sight of why we started considering them in the first place.
So, should you get lip fillers? That’s entirely your call. But if you do, let it be because it truly feels right for you—not because an algorithm made it seem like an expectation.
If you’re still caught in between, trust me—I’ve been there. Then again, it’s always better to rethink something a thousand times than to make a choice you’re not completely at peace with. I wrote half of this in my head midway through my 15-minute procedure, stuck somewhere between curiosity and an endless inner monologue, wondering if I was overthinking or not thinking enough.
Looking back, that’s the part we often skip—the pause. We do the research, weigh the pros and cons, consider the practicalities. But the most important question is the one we ask ourselves: why do I want this? And when you can answer that with certainty—free from doubt, pressure, or outside influence—then you have your answer.
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