Kylie Jenner lip fillers: Experts explain the medical and ethical minefield around injecting a 17-year-old girl

The reality star can't vote, can't drink, but can have a face-altering cosmetic procedure

Kylie Jenner, 17, finally admitted to having the non-surgical procedure (Broadimage/REX)

Kim Kardashian's half-sister, Kylie Jenner, has admitted that her lips are plumped up with fillers after months of speculation.

The teenage girl confessed that she'd had temporary fillers, having previously claimed that her distinctive look was down to carefully applied lip liner.

Jenner's lips triggered a meme in which teenagers copying her plump pout by putting their lips into a shot glass and sucking in order to create a swollen, painful mouth resembling Jenner's.

However, the "Kylie Jenner challenge" turned out to be dangerous, with some people suffering bruised lips and long-lasting damage.

But what if normal teenagers wanted to really copy Jenner's full lips and get fillers?

Two experts in non-surgical procedures navigated The Independent through the moral and medical maze that is injecting a minor to make her have fatter lips.

Dr Carolyn Berry, Medical Director and Founder of Firvale Clinics, says that self-esteem needs to be considered when young people want to have this kind of treatment.

The Independent: Is it bad for young people to have these injections?

Dr Carolyn Berry: "The most common lip filler is hyaluronic acid and this is not bad per se for the body as it is produced naturally but declines with age. However with young people under the age of 18 years, there are other factors to consider. They may be having treatments for the wrong reasons, to boost low self esteem, they tend to follow celebrities and not consider what suits their face, quite often believing the bigger their lips, the more attractive they will be.

CB: "Fillers are not properly regulated in this country and young people are less likely to go to a reputable doctor and more likely to seek out a cheap injector. This leaves them much more open to complications such as infection, or even death of tissue as poor technique can lead to injection into an artery and cut off blood supply to an area."

How about the legal aspect?

CB: "There is no clear legal guidance but most good doctors will not inject anyone under 18 years and most certainly not without parental consent. I personally like a parent with someone even of 18 up to the age of 20 years. Most young people look better without any enhancements and I always make this clear to them. At a young age, most people's lips suit their facial shape and are in proportion to their other features."

Bernadette Harte, Non Surgical Manager at The Harley Medical Group, says she would not have given the fillers to Jenner.

The Independent: Would you give a 17 year old lip fillers?

Bernadette Harte: "The decision to undergo a non-surgical treatment is a big decision for a patient and one that requires careful consideration. For this reason at The Harley Medical Group we will not treat patients under the age of 18 even with parental consent."

Why is that?

BH: "During teen years, particularly between the age of 16 and 18, lips are naturally at their plumpest as our collagen production only begins to decrease after the age of 25. This collagen loss decreases by 1.5 per cent each year and comes as a result of the natural ageing process, which is why individuals may consider a Lip Enhancement treatment later on in life to regain former volume. The depletion of collagen in the lip area can also be accelerated by other factors such as smoking and sun damage."

So is there a long-term impact?

BH: "Undergoing lip fillers at a young age can risk lasting damage to the natural lip line as the natural shape of the lips is still developing. If a practitioner does treat a younger patient with Lip Fillers you can also risk ‘over-correction’, where the lips will lose their natural appearance and begin to look artificial. As a general rule, the bottom lip should be one third larger than the top lip."