Yesterday, Kylie Jenner admitted in a Keeping Up With The Kardashians clip that she gets temporary lip fillers to achieve her highly sought-after pout. MTV asked Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim,  how young is too young to get lip injections?

“The most common lip fillers only last 6-9 months and are made of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance found in the body. “It’s a very quick, minimally-invasive procedure that takes 10-20 minutes. The lips are anesthetized with a topical cream or injection and the filler is added to the lips using a syringe and needle.” said Dr. Kim.

The upside to temporary lip fillers is that they have very few side effects, most of which are short-term like bruising, swelling, or less commonly, allergic reactions, infection and raised bumps known as granulomas. He said the most common complaint is how short they last–considering they cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 per session–but if you’re looking for a temporary fix, it’s a great option. “The biggest advantage of using a hyaluronic acid for fillers is that the treatment is reversible. If you’re unhappy with the appearance, a medication called hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve the filler that was injected and the lips will return to their normal appearance.”

But when it comes to underage clients wanting lip injections, like Kylie, is there any special protocol? “When young patients come into my office for lip augmentation, I first like to have a conversation with them to see if they’re mature enough to understand the treatment and make sure they’re doing it for the right reasons,” said Kim. “The FDA does not approve the use of fillers in patients who are under the age of 21, but it can still be used as an ’off-label’ treatment. If they’re under the age of 18, patients would require the consent of their parent to have the procedure done.

He also said there’s no additional risks associated with a treatment for teens, but it can be costly to maintain the look when starting at an early age since the filler is temporary. But even though young people may be physically ready for plastic surgery, are they mentally capable of making these decisions—and should they? Read more