Lip Filler Nightmare - Woman, 24, Left Struggling to Breathe with 'Balloon Face and No Eyes' After Dissolution Procedure

Shaunna Harris thought she was walking into a routine lip-filler reset, dissolve the old stuff, then top up with a clean new 1ml. Instead, within minutes, her face flipped from “freshened up” to “who is this?” Her lips, cheeks, and even her eyes swelled so hard she looked unrecognizable, and the whole thing started as a simple appointment in Bridgend, Wales.

To make it worse, Shaunna was 24 and had already had lip filler twice before, so this reaction landed like a jump scare. She wasn’t just dealing with the physical shock, she was watching her breathing get harder while the minutes felt endless, and she ended up rushed to A&E after an adrenaline response and a drip.

Now, the real nightmare is what happens after the swelling goes down, and Shaunna is left trying to process what her face went through in the space of an injection.

Shaunna Harris underwent a harrowing experience in January when her face underwent a dramatic transformation shortly after receiving an injection. Within mere minutes, her features swelled to such an extent that she became virtually unrecognizable.

The sudden and extreme change left her grappling with shock and disbelief as she struggled to comprehend what was happening to her appearance. This unexpected turn of events has not only left Shaunna physically altered but has also taken a toll on her emotional well-being as she navigates the aftermath of this alarming incident.

That’s when it turned from “dissolve and repeat” into a full-on allergic reaction, with Shaunna’s lips and cheeks blowing up almost immediately after the dissolver was injected.

At just 24 years old, Shaunna had undergone lip filler injections twice before to enhance her pout. Prior to her recent appointment, she made the decision to dissolve the existing filler in preparation for receiving another 1ml injection.

However, the radiographer from Bridgend, Wales, was completely unprepared for the severe allergic reaction she experienced moments after the dissolver was injected. Shocking photos and video footage captured the extent of Shaunna's ordeal, showcasing her swollen lips, cheeks, and eyes.

It took nearly a week for her facial swelling to subside and for her features to return to their normal appearance. The unexpected and distressing nature of this reaction serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in cosmetic procedures, even seemingly routine ones like filler dissolution.

The photos and video from Bridgend made it clear this wasn’t a mild side effect, because her eyes were swelling too, leaving her looking completely different.

Recognizing the severity of Shaunna's allergic reaction, her aesthetician quickly sprang into action, rushing her to the Accident and Emergency department (A&E). There, medical professionals administered adrenaline and placed her on a drip to address the alarming symptoms.

Throughout the tense journey to the hospital, Shaunna grappled with intense fear, increasingly struggling to draw breath. The uncertainty of her condition compounded her anxiety, leading her to fear for her life as each moment passed.

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Shaunna recounted, "I went to have my lip filler dissolved, and I didn't think anything of it because I'd had lip filler put in the past, and it was all fine. I'd had 0.5ml when I was 18, and then when I was 22, I had 1ml."

She continued, "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."

Then the trip to A&E got terrifying, as Shaunna fought panic and struggled to draw breath, knowing something was seriously wrong.

"I asked the aesthetician if it was normal, and she reassured me, saying, 'Yeah, people's lips do tend to swell up.' But deep down, I knew something wasn't right. Within the next five minutes, hives began erupting all over my eyelids, causing intense itching and pain.

"Within just 10 minutes, my face had ballooned up, rendering me unable to see out of my swollen eyes. I was utterly unrecognizable, my features distorted by the rapid swelling. Sensing the urgency of the situation, the aesthetician rushed me to A&E, commandeering my car to get me there. The sight of my swollen face left me in disbelief."

Following a tense 20-minute drive to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Shaunna arrived "gasping for air" and immediately received urgent medical attention. Reflecting on the terrifying journey, Shaunna recalled, "I was really struggling to breathe in the car, consumed by fear of what was happening to me."

Even after the adrenaline and the drip, it took nearly a week for the swelling to calm down, and Shaunna was still stuck living with the aftermath.

Struggling to utter a word due to the difficulty in breathing, I feared I might pass out. The dread of death loomed over me; each breath felt like a battle for survival as I gasped for air. Upon arriving at the hospital, I was swiftly ushered in and laid down.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as they administered the injection and hooked me up to a drip. My entire body erupted in hives, each one a fiery sensation on my skin, intensifying the feeling of distress and discomfort.

"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 afterward. I was really worried my face wouldn't go down. I didn't go out of the house for three days."

Doctors informed Shaunna that she had an allergy to hyaluronidase, a soluble protein enzyme typically used to break down the hyaluronic acid found in dermal filler. Now equipped with an epi-pen, Shaunna is advocating for others to request allergy tests before undergoing filler dissolution.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Shaunna shared, "I really didn't expect it because I hadn't had any issues 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."

She went in for a 1ml upgrade, and walked out looking like the person she used to be might never come back.

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