Patient safety
A problem after cosmetic treatment: what to do
Call 000 for trouble breathing, collapse, sudden vision change or stroke symptoms after cosmetic treatment. Severe or worsening pain, unusual skin colour or rapidly increasing swelling needs urgent assessment. For a stable concern without urgent symptoms, contact the practitioner who treated you. Do not wait for a routine review if symptoms are changing.
Which action fits the problem?
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Breathing difficulty, collapse, sudden vision change, facial drooping or difficulty speaking | Call 000 now. Tell the operator you recently had cosmetic treatment. Do not delay for a clinic reply. |
| Severe or worsening pain, pale or dusky skin, spreading colour change, rapidly increasing swelling, or spreading redness with fever | Seek urgent medical assessment. Contact the treating practitioner, but do not let a delayed response hold up care. |
| A stable appearance question, unevenness or a recovery question without urgent symptoms | Contact the treating clinic using your written aftercare details. Explain what has changed and ask when you should be examined. |
If you are unsure how urgent a symptom is, Healthdirect provides nurse advice on 1800 022 222. This is not a substitute for 000 in an emergency. Read the emergency guidance.
What should I tell the treating clinic?
Start with the symptom and when it began, rather than asking only whether something is “normal”. Give the date and area of treatment, whether the problem is improving or worsening, any advice already received and how to reach you. Have your medicines, allergies and treatment details available, but do not delay urgent care to gather them.
A photograph may help show a change, but cannot rule out a complication. Ask whether you need an in-person assessment and where to go if the practitioner is unavailable.
What if the clinic is closed or does not answer?
Use the after-hours instructions you were given. If symptoms are severe, worsening or urgent, seek medical assessment instead of repeatedly leaving messages. For a stable concern, keep a record of when you contacted the clinic and ask another appropriate health practitioner what to do next.
Should I massage it or try a remedy?
Do not try to diagnose or correct a suspected complication using social media instructions. Ask the treating practitioner before changing your aftercare, massaging the area or arranging another cosmetic procedure. A remedy that is appropriate for one procedure may be inappropriate for another.
When does a second opinion make sense?
A second opinion can help with a stable concern once any urgent problem has been assessed. Bring the original treatment record and aftercare advice if available. Explain what you were hoping for and what concerns you now; another procedure is not automatically the next step.
Core Aesthetics can discuss suitable non-urgent concerns about previous cosmetic care. The clinic is not an emergency department and cannot promise to correct another procedure. See questions about regretting cosmetic treatment.
Where does the safety advice come from?
Healthdirect’s stroke guidance and anaphylaxis guidance explain emergency symptoms. The TGA’s consumer information describes potentially serious harms from cosmetic procedures. Your own written instructions should identify procedure-specific symptoms, contacts and follow-up; this page cannot diagnose a problem or tell you that waiting is safe.
Questions you may still have
Should I wait until my two-week review?
Not if a symptom is severe, unexpected or worsening. Contact the treating practitioner promptly and seek urgent or emergency care when needed. A routine review is for follow-up, not a reason to delay assessment.
Can a photo confirm that swelling is harmless?
No. A photograph cannot safely exclude a complication. The practitioner may need to examine you and understand your procedure and symptoms.
Does a second opinion mean more treatment?
No. It may lead to reassurance, monitoring under clinical advice, further medical assessment or no additional cosmetic care.