Westbury Aesthetics

Complications & Support

Your safety is our absolute priority. This page explains what to do if you experience a complication, how to reach us, and the protocols we follow to keep you safe.

Our Commitment

We Stand Behind Every Treatment

Complications arising from treatments performed at Westbury Aesthetics are assessed and managed by our clinical team at no additional charge. We do not leave patients to deal with problems alone.

Our practitioners are trained in recognising and managing complications. Hyaluronidase for filler dissolution, adrenaline auto-injectors, and anaphylaxis kits are stocked on site at all times.

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Need Urgent Help After Treatment?

If you are experiencing a complication or are unsure whether something is normal, contact us immediately. Do not wait.

020 8769 1919Clinic — Mon–Fri 9am–6pm
07980 690957Emergency mobile — out of hours

For life-threatening emergencies (severe allergic reaction, difficulty breathing, chest pain), call 999 immediately.

Know What to Look For

When to Contact Us

Use the guide below to understand the severity of your symptoms and what action to take.

🔴Contact Immediately

Urgent

  • Blanching — white patches on the skin
  • Dusky or blue discolouration
  • Any change in vision after filler
  • Severe, worsening pain unresponsive to paracetamol
  • Signs of infection — increasing redness, warmth, pus, fever
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Hard, painful, or growing lumps
🟡Contact Within 24 Hours

Monitor

  • Asymmetry that persists after swelling has settled
  • Bruising that spreads or darkens significantly
  • Lumps that are soft but have not resolved after 2 weeks
  • Persistent numbness or tingling beyond 48 hours
  • Eyelid heaviness or drooping (anti-wrinkle)
  • Peeling that seems excessive or unusual (peels)
🟢Normal — No Action Required

Expected

  • Mild swelling for 2–7 days (fillers, especially lips)
  • Small bumps at injection points (skin boosters) — resolve within hours
  • Light bruising at injection or cannula sites
  • Tenderness when pressing the treated area
  • Temporary headache on the day of treatment
  • Warmth and redness after microneedling — like mild sunburn
By Treatment

Known Risks & Possible Complications

All treatments carry some degree of risk. Below are the recognised complications for each treatment category.

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Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Common (mild, temporary)

  • Redness, small bumps at injection sites
  • Light bruising — fades within days
  • Mild headache on day of treatment

Uncommon

  • Eyelid ptosis (drooping) — temporary, resolves in 2–6 weeks
  • Brow heaviness
  • Asymmetry — corrected at 14-day review

Rare

  • Allergic reaction
  • Infection at injection site
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Dermal Fillers

Common (mild, temporary)

  • Swelling — 3–7 days (lips up to 2 weeks)
  • Bruising at injection sites
  • Tenderness and firmness

Uncommon

  • Lumps or nodules — may require massage or dissolving
  • Asymmetry — may need correction
  • Migration of product

Rare but serious

  • Vascular occlusion — blanching, pain, discolouration (requires immediate hyaluronidase)
  • Vision changes (filler near nose/forehead) — requires A&E
  • Delayed hypersensitivity or granuloma
💧

Skin Boosters & Polynucleotides

Common (mild, temporary)

  • Small raised bumps (wheals) — flatten within hours
  • Mild redness for 24–48 hours
  • Tenderness and itching

Uncommon

  • Prolonged redness or swelling beyond 48 hours
  • Small bruises at injection sites

Rare

  • Allergic reaction
  • Nodule formation
🧴

Chemical Peels

Expected

  • Redness, tightness, and tingling
  • Peeling and flaking from day 2–3

Uncommon

  • Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (especially darker skin tones)
  • Prolonged redness beyond expected recovery

Rare

  • Scarring (deep peels)
  • Bacterial or viral infection (e.g. herpes reactivation)
🔬

Microneedling

Expected

  • Redness and warmth (sunburn-like) for 24–48 hours
  • Mild swelling and skin tightness

Uncommon

  • Prolonged redness beyond 72 hours
  • Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Rare

  • Infection
  • Scarring (with incorrect depth or poor aftercare)
🩸

PRP & IV/IM Treatments

PRP — Expected

  • Redness and pinpoint bleeding at injection sites
  • Mild swelling and tenderness

IV Drips — Expected

  • Bruising at cannula site
  • Cool sensation during infusion

Uncommon (all)

  • Vasovagal reaction (lightheadedness)
  • Localised infection at puncture site
How We Protect You

Our Emergency & Safety Protocols

💉

Hyaluronidase On Site

HA filler dissolution agent available at all times for immediate reversal in case of vascular occlusion or adverse reaction.

🏥

Anaphylaxis Kit

Adrenaline auto-injectors and full anaphylaxis management kit immediately accessible in the treatment room.

📋

Vascular Occlusion Training

All practitioners are trained to recognise and manage vascular compromise, including the hyaluronidase protocol.

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Out-of-Hours Contact

Emergency mobile available outside clinic hours. Complications from our treatments are managed at no additional charge.

Frequently Asked

Complications & Support FAQ

Will I be charged to treat a complication?+
What is vascular occlusion?+
What should I do if I notice vision changes after filler?+
How long after treatment should I be vigilant?+
Can you dissolve filler if I am unhappy with the result?+
What if my complication was caused by a treatment elsewhere?+

Your Safety is Our Priority

If you have any concerns — before, during, or after treatment — we are here to help. Never hesitate to reach out.

Call 020 8769 1919View Aftercare Guide