A Manchester influencer has defied repeated warnings from medical professionals by injecting her own lip filler at home, after several clinics refused to treat her.
Sofia Lips, once known for having Britain's “biggest lips”, had dissolved her filler for the first time in a decade in pursuit of a more natural appearance. She has now reversed course, declaring her intention to reclaim her former look. “I wanted the ultimate fake look again,” she said.
Clinics refused treatment
Clinics declined to carry out further treatment, warning that her lips were already overstretched and that additional filler would be unsafe, according to Manchester Evening News.
“I took their words with a pinch of salt – and decided to do it myself,” she proclaimed. Sofia forked out £500 for a six-week online training programme covering Botox administration and how to inject filler into the lips, cheeks and chin. She then purchased 20 1ml syringes of filler online for £488 from a Korean-based retailer.
DIY procedure and risks
NHS England guidance cautions that complications from 'dermal fillers can be serious, including infection, nerve damage and blindness' and urges people to 'avoid practitioners who've only completed a short training course'.
Sofia said: "I used all of them at once. I'm so happy with the outcome that I think I'm ready to start doing this on other people."
"My lips were quite stretched at first, so I struggled to drink and eat. But now, a few days later, they're just slightly tender. I think I've done a better job than the supposed professionals."
Even though Face ID has failed to recognise her yet again, Sofia remains unfazed. She explained: "The gasps I've been getting in public are wild. So many people are taking pictures of me. Clinics just don't understand the look I'm going for.
"I want to look like I've gone too far and over-the-top. I'm aiming to be the ultimate fake bimbo doll. So it's just something I'm going to have to do myself. As I'm on the ultimate quest for perfection – and I won't stop until I'm perfect."
Trend of DIY fillers
Sofia is not alone in attempting DIY filler injections at home in recent months. A growing trend of so-called 'looksmaxxers' has emerged across social media platforms.
Reports suggest individuals are attempting to recreate the natural appearance of well-known influencers using unidentified substances – typically silicone – purchased through online channels.
Medical professionals worldwide are now documenting encounters with patients suffering serious complications from these procedures – with one describing the situations as "disturbing".
Sofia continues to disregard professional medical guidance, despite previously facing a life-threatening ordeal following unsuccessful cosmetic surgery. She recalled: "I literally nearly died as it got so bad.
"There was green gunk all over my bandages from where I was leaking. I didn't know what was going on – and I worried my life was on the line."
NHS England urges anyone thinking about getting dermal fillers to 'avoid practitioners who've only completed a short training course in your chosen procedure'.
The health body adds: "This is because complications of dermal fillers can be serious, including infection, nerve damage and blindness."
