A young woman has issued a warning about the risks of overusing lip fillers after a dissolving procedure left her face severely swollen. The reaction was so extreme it made her look, in her words, “like a Bratz doll.”
Kimia Awazi, 24, from the Netherlands, began getting filler injections in her lips and nose at the age of 18. She used hyaluronic acid, a gel-like substance commonly used for cosmetic enhancements. However, over time, the filler began to migrate, affecting her speech.
Wanting to start fresh, Awazi decided to dissolve the filler using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. This enzyme helps break down hyaluronic acid faster. While mild swelling is normal after this procedure, Awazi suffered a severe allergic reaction shortly after leaving the clinic in March 2024.
She said the practitioner used 3ml of the dissolving agent—three times the standard 1ml dose—leading to rapid and painful swelling.
“I was just watching my lips get bigger every minute,” she said. “It was funny at first but also terrifying. I felt like they were going to explode.”
Her lips became so swollen that she compared her appearance to a cartoon-like Bratz doll. The swelling lasted for about 24 hours, during which she could barely eat, drink, or speak. Fortunately, it subsided on its own without the need for emergency treatment.
Awazi admitted she had ignored her own advice by choosing a cheaper clinic. “It wasn’t worth it,” she said. “Just because somewhere is popular doesn’t mean it’s right for you.”
After a six-month break from cosmetic procedures, she eventually returned to lip fillers—but now limits herself to just 0.5ml. “Now I’m much more cautious. I’m happy with how my lips look, and I’m sticking with what I know works. Don’t risk your face just because it’s trending or cheaper.”
Medical professionals have long warned about filler migration and other risks. Overuse or poorly administered fillers can lead to lumps called granulomas—clusters of immune cells that form under the skin. Dissolving agents like hyaluronidase can also damage healthy tissue, leading to permanent changes.
If done by a skilled professional, both filler and dissolving treatments are generally safe. But cosmetic doctors told The Mail on Sunday that mistakes by untrained practitioners can leave lasting damage.
In a separate study, Harvard University researchers highlighted another worrying side effect of filler injections—kidney damage. They linked fillers to potentially fatal kidney inflammation, with three known deaths so far. Researchers believe many cases go undiagnosed.
Dr. Agustin Posso, who led the study, said unlicensed practitioners are increasing these risks. “This underscores the need for stringent regulations and education to ensure that cosmetic interventions are performed by qualified professionals,” he said.
The most common kidney complication was chronic kidney disease, affecting more than half the patients studied. This incurable condition prevents the kidneys from properly filtering waste, sometimes requiring dialysis—a grueling treatment involving multiple hospital visits each week.
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