Member Article

Tracey Bell treats young women facing facial disfigurement

After a week during which she has treated several young women who were facing serious issues following lip fillers which had been administered at other practices, aesthetics expert Tracey Bell is again calling for tighter regulation in the field of aesthetics in the Isle of Man.

She explained that although many people still think of lip fillers as a relatively minor procedure, if anything goes wrong, you need to be in the hands of an expert who can administer the correct product to reverse the procedure before permanent damage is done to the lips.

Tracey said: “After a week of helping people - I’d like to show people the problems presented this week - and all to do with lip fillers.

“Lip 1 - this is a necrosis (death of lip tissue) and occlusion. This can happen to any injector and it is a risk that patients should be made aware can happen. The practitioner treating the lip should be able to treat this immediately should it occur.

“The problem in this case was that the Registered Nurse completing the treatment was legally unable to carry the drug needed to reverse the filler procedure - had no emergency cover and left the area after a visit.

“The result - a patient left in pain with an ever-darkening lip and unaware of what was happening to her.

“A friend contacted me while I was on holiday for help - the result - we had to inject an emergency drug, call an oral surgeon and place the patient under observation and medication whilst recovery was monitored.

“Again, not the patient’s fault - she trusted the professional, she trusted the product which had been injected was exactly what she thought it was (it wasn’t) and she trusted that should an emergency happen - this could be dealt with - again it couldn’t.”

“Lip 2 – a 22-year-old girl who attended for first ’ free’ Cinderella Lips and following this a real lip filler.

The product was injected with no gloves used, no consent, no before pictures. Three days later - an admission to hospital where treatment with an intravenous antibiotic was needed - sepsis and still 6 months later - ongoing problems.

“Lip 3 - again infection - a visiting practitioner - no aftercare, no follow up. The factor that links all three women is they are all young women who simply wanted to look and feel better by having lip fillers - nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is the care provided by the practitioners who treated them all in some shape or form. All 3 have been reported to the Isle of Man Health Authority - and I am pleased to say they are investigating and all matters have been fully discussed.

“So, to those who believe aesthetic medicine is a quick buck to pay the bills, the rent and fill their rooms - please think again. It’s not about further competition either - this is about patient care – that’s what matters - not the ‘Benjamins’!

“Be safe - ask questions - report them if you are not happy. In 15 years of aesthetics I have never seen so many complications as in the last 6 months. It’s a drain on NHS resources. It’s unfair to patients and as practitioners it’s simply wrong morally and ethically.

“It’s a medical treatment and therefore should only be offered in a medical environment - any complications that occur should be swiftly dealt with and ongoing care should be given.”

Visit: www.traceybell.co.uk

ENDS: Email emma@eg-publishing.com to request an interview with Tracey Bell or with the women affected by the above treatments. Further quotes and images are available upon request.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Hill .