A woman from South Shields has described her ordeal after a botched lip filler injection cut off the blood supply to her face, leaving her fearing she might 'lose' her lips. The woman, identified only as Emma, received the injection from a practitioner she found on social media in July, during the lockdown when non-essential businesses were closed.
Emma said the woman hit an artery during the procedure at her flat, causing her lip to swell 'like a golf ball'. The skin on her face began turning purple as the blood supply was blocked. Despite the practitioner dismissing it as bruising, Emma sought help from aesthetic nurse Sue Young, who managed to dissolve the filler. However, necrosis—where skin dies due to lack of blood—had already started.
Sue Young warned that in extreme cases, botched fillers can lead to blindness as the facial artery connects to the retinal artery. She stressed the importance of seeking timely medical help, noting that Emma was 'very lucky' to come to her in time.
New figures from the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) show that 40% of its members had treated complications from fillers performed by untrained practitioners in the past year. The BACN is calling for stricter regulation, arguing that such procedures should only be carried out by medical professionals.
Patient safety minister Nadine Dorries acknowledged the risks, stating she is 'committed to ensuring the safety of patients' and that too many women are being left scarred. She said the government is exploring further regulation of practitioners and premises.
