AN extreme reaction to lip filler dissolver left a terrified woman “gasping for air” as her face ballooned to double its size.
Shaunna Harris was left unrecognisable after her face “blew up” minutes after being given a shot in January.
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The 24-year-old had had lip filler injected twice before to plump up her pout.
She decided to dissolve her existing filler prior to having another 1ml put back in at her appointment.
However, the radiographer, who lives in Bridgend, Wales, never expected to experience a severe allergic reaction moments after the dissolver was injected.
Shocking photos and video footage show Shaunna’s swollen lips, cheeks and eyes, which took nearly a week to return to normal.
When her aesthetician realised the severity of the allergic reaction, she rushed Shaunna to A&E where she was pumped with adrenaline and placed on a drip.
During the drive to hospital, Shaunna feared she would die as it became more and more difficult to breathe.
I thought I was going to die. I thought if my throat closes up anymore I would die. I was gasping for air
Shaunna Harris
Shaunna said: “I went to have my lip filler dissolved and I didn’t think anything of it because I’d had lip filler put in in the past and it was all fine.
“I’d had 0.5ml when I was 18 then when I was 22 I had 1ml.
“That 1ml never dissolved, it just migrated. So I decided to get the filler that had migrated dissolved and get another 1ml put back in.
“Straight away I knew something wasn’t right. She gave me the dissolver and my lips just blew up.
“I asked the aesthetician if it was normal and she said ‘yeah people’s lips do tend to swell up’ but it didn’t look normal.
“Then I started to get hives all over my eyelids in the next five minutes, which were really itchy and painful.
“Then within 10 minutes, my face was all blown up and swollen. I couldn’t see out of my eyes.
“My face was completely blown up and swollen so [the aesthetician] took my car and drove me to A&E. I looked unrecognisable.”
After a 20-minute drive to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Shaunna arrived “gasping for air” and was immediately treated by medics.
Shaunna said: “I was really struggling to breathe in the car.
“I was trying not to speak because it was so hard to breathe. I felt like I was going to faint.
“I thought I was going to die. I thought if my throat closes up anymore I would die. I was gasping for air.
“I walked into the hospital and was taken straight through. They laid me down, injected with me adrenaline and put me on a drip.
“My body was covered in hives. I felt like my skin was burning.
What are the risks of lip fillers?
THE RISKS of dermal fillers depend on whether the procedure was done correctly and the type of filler used.
The NHS recommends you speak to your practitioner about the risks beforehand.
Serious problems are rare but can include:
- Infection
- A lumpy appearance under the skin, which might need to be treated with surgery or medicine
- The filler moving away from the intended treatment area, which may need to be removed using surgery
- Scarring
- Blocked blood vessels in the face, which can cause tissue death and permanent blindness
You should see your GP if you have any complications that need medical attention and speak to your practitioner if you’re not happy with the results or experience lumpiness.
Source: NHS
“As soon as I got in, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t answer their questions because I couldn’t breathe. All the nurses were worried.
“When they gave me the adrenaline, it opened up my airways and my breathing improved.
“But my face was swollen for days after. I was really worried my face wouldn’t go down. I didn’t go out the house for three days.”
Doctors told Shaunna she had an allergy to hyaluronidase – a soluble protein enzyme that is typically used to break down the hyaluronic acid found in dermal filler.
Shaunna, who now carries an epi-pen, is urging others to ask for allergy tests before having their own filler dissolved.
Shaunna said: “I really didn’t expect it because I hadn’t had any issue with filler in the past.
“The doctor told me a second reaction is usually 10 times worse and I could die so I don’t think I’ll ever get filler again. Risking my life isn’t worth it.
“You never expect something like this to happen to you.
“I would say to other people: ask if there’s any testing they can do beforehand for allergies because there’s a risk it can go wrong.”
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