A woman suffered a severe allergic reaction and was rushed to hospital after undergoing a discounted cosmetic procedure that caused her lips to triple in size.
Basia Query, a 24-year-old from Las Vegas, is understood to have suffered anaphylaxis after undergoing the popular procedure, which reportedly cost US$350 (NZ$600).
According to reports, a beautician administered dermal filler to Query's lips using a hyaluronic acid pen, a device which uses highly pressurised air to push the filler beneath the skin. Typically, fillers are injected by a practitioner using a thin needle.
The pen, also referred to as the hyaluron pen, has been marketed as an affordable, painless alternative to traditional lip filler, using the force from pressurised air to create microscopic holes in the skin and push the hyaluronic acid beneath the surface. It has become popular on the likes of TikTok, but medical experts have warned that using the device can be highly dangerous and often leads to a botched result.
Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even issued a statement condemning the product.
After having the filler inserted using the controversial device, Query is understood to have suffered a severe allergic reaction which caused her lips to swell significantly, making it difficult for her to eat, drink and speak over the following hours.
Query was rushed to hospital and a shot of adrenaline was administered to raise her blood pressure and prevent the airways from tightening. According to reports, she was kept on the wards for three hours before being discharged.
While the swelling subsided within 24 hours, her lips have remained incredibly bruised, she said.
Documenting the terrifying ordeal in a viral video that has since amassed almost 20 million views on TikTok, Query ranked the results a "0/10" and said she wouldn't recommend the procedure to anyone.
The clip, which has been liked by more than 1.9 million people, contains a series of shocking photos of her severely swollen lips, which had ballooned to almost three times their normal size. The clip also shows footage of Query in hospital after suffering the reaction.
"When you get your lips done," Query captioned the footage, which was set to the popular audio 'Oh no, oh no'.
While many viewers assumed Query had been allergic to the filler, in an update shared earlier this week she confirmed she'd suffered the reaction to the topical ointment lidocaine, an anaesthetic that causes loss of feeling in the skin and surrounding tissues to prevent pain during some procedures.
In the update, Query also said she had undergone the procedure twice previously without issue - performed by the same beautician - but never had lidocaine applied.
"I was allergic to the topical cream lidocaine. I've never used it before. I've gotten them done twice before - same girl, same hyaluron pen. I'm not putting down this product or this service, I've just never had this reaction," Query said in the video.
"I'm still super bruised, as you can see, all over. They're still really swollen, but I'm okay."
Many viewers have criticised Query for opting for the hyaluron pen over traditional injections, with one commenting: "Hyaluron pen?! That's the first mistake. Those aren't FDA approved or monitored."
"As an injector, I would highly avoid hyaluron pens," another wrote, with a third adding: "Injections are safer, don't use the pen."
"Can you talk about why you picked the pen over regular filler?" another asked, to which a viewer responded: "Nine out of 10 people choose it because it's a quarter of the price, but it's definitely not worth the cut."
As quoted by the Daily Mail, Query has since said the ordeal has scared her into swearing off cosmetic procedures, prompting her to cancel an appointment she had for Botox next month.
"I was terrified and thinking, 'what if they cut my lips off, or stay this way forever?' I didn't know what to do. I had never seen lips this big.
"I will not do it again, I am done with getting filler. I was also going to get Botox next month but have cancelled it."
She added: "I have learnt to always do research... It's the same thing with Botox or getting a boob job. It's different for everyone."
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected under the skin to create a smoother or fuller appearance, either filling lines and wrinkles or adding volume to areas such as the lips or cheeks. Fillers are not permanent, typically lasting between six and 18 months.
While serious side effects are rare, they can be dangerous. Some people may have their filler migrate from the intended area, and others may suffer a lumpy or botched result. In severe cases the filler can block blood vessels, and some have gone blind.
