CORE AESTHETICS · OAKLEIGH
Worried after cosmetic treatment: who should I call?
Call 000 now for breathing difficulty, collapse, sudden loss or change of vision, or stroke symptoms such as a drooping face or slurred speech. For worsening pain, unusual skin colour or spreading redness, seek urgent assessment rather than waiting for a routine review.
Which symptoms mean I should call 000?
Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance for:
- Trouble breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, or collapse.
- Sudden loss or change of vision, particularly after a facial procedure.
- A suddenly drooping face, weakness in an arm or slurred speech-even if it improves.
Do not drive yourself or wait for a clinic message to be answered. Tell the ambulance team what procedure you had and when the symptoms began.
What needs urgent assessment even if I feel otherwise well?
Increasing or severe pain, skin that becomes unusually pale, grey, dusky or mottled, and skin that feels cold can signal a problem with blood supply. These changes need urgent assessment, even if pain is mild or absent.
Contact the treating practitioner immediately for urgent in-person assessment. If they cannot assess you promptly, seek urgent medical care or an emergency department. Do not wait for a scheduled two-week review.
Could redness or swelling be an infection?
Redness that spreads, increasing warmth, worsening tenderness, discharge or fever can be signs of infection. Seek medical assessment that day. Rapid deterioration or feeling very unwell needs urgent care.
A photograph cannot reliably rule out infection or a blood-supply problem. A clinician may need to examine the area.
What about ordinary swelling or bruising?
Mild swelling, tenderness or bruising can occur after some procedures. What is expected depends on the treatment, the area and your aftercare instructions. New or worsening symptoms deserve a call rather than an assumption that they are normal.
For swelling that is improving and matches the advice you were given, follow your written aftercare and review plan. If you are unsure whether the pattern fits, contact your practitioner.
What if the clinic is closed or does not answer?
Use the after-hours instructions provided by your treating clinic. If symptoms need urgent assessment, do not wait for a reply or book the next available routine appointment.
For advice when you are unsure where to seek care, call 1800 022 222, the 24-hour Healthdirect service, known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria. For the emergency symptoms above, call 000 directly.
What information should I have ready?
Tell the clinician the treatment date and area, when the symptoms began, whether they are worsening and the name of the treating clinic. Bring your treatment record, aftercare instructions and medicine/allergy list if available.
Do not delay seeking help to collect records. The original clinic can supply procedure details to the clinician caring for you.
Should I massage the area or try to fix it myself?
No-not unless your treating clinician has specifically instructed you to do so for your situation. Pressing, massaging or trying a home remedy may delay appropriate care. Do not try to drain a lump yourself.
Who handles follow-up once the urgent problem is treated?
The clinician treating the problem should explain the next review, aftercare and warning signs. Let your original practitioner know what happened so the records and follow-up are coordinated.
For non-urgent Core Aesthetics enquiries, call 0491 706 705. The clinic is not an emergency department and online messages are not monitored as an emergency service. For an ongoing concern once urgent care is complete, read reviewing previous cosmetic care.