How cosmetic fillers can blind you as Bobby Norris opens up on 'abusing' procedure
In a generation that is more concerned than ever about their looks, it's no surprise that so many are turning to cosmetic procedures.
While some are using weight loss medications as a way of altering their body, others are heading for expensive botox and filler treatments, even if it means losing the ability to show emotions through expressions.
There's no doubting the impact that good quality botox can have, as identical twins showed off as they compared faces after one went under the knife, but the ever-growing number of places to get treatment means that there can be some risks involved when the procedure is not done properly.
On a recent appearance on This Morning, The Only Way Is Essex alum Bobby Norris debuted his new look after over 10 years of 'abusing' different cosmetic procedures, while also admitting that a doctor told him he could have been 'dead in 12 hours'.
What happened to Bobby Norris?
During his appearance earlier this week, the 39-year-old showed off his 'new face', admitting that it was a bit swollen but it could take 12 months for it to 'really settle in'.
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The reality TV star confessed that he was previously going for injections and fillers every 12 weeks, but it's unclear if those regular treatments lead to the health problems which eventually saw a doctor give him an ominous warning.
He said: "The doctor was quite honest...I mean, I was having so many tests done.
"The lovely doctor said at one point, 'We've got a specialist here. And if it's something he thinks it is, you could be dead in 12 hours'."
Comically, he then went on to say: "And in your head, you think...and this sounds really crazy to say, but I thought, 'Well, I can't die. I'm going to Sheesh tonight!'
"At my age, you don't expect to hear that. And then I kind of thought, 'Well, we all have these age things in our heads'. I thought, 'Well, why am I waiting for my 40s to correct something?'"
The close call with death only spurred Norris on further to get more work on his face done, since 'tomorrow ain't guaranteed'.
How can cosmetic fillers lead to blindness?
In rare and complex cases, cosmetic fillers can even lead to a customer losing their sight.
It occurs through something known as 'vascular occlusion', where injected material enters an artery, travels backward, and blocks blood flow to the eye.
Brazilian radiologist Rosa Maria Silveira Sigrist told The Independent: “Vascular occlusion events in the face can be devastating, because, if they’re not properly treated, they can cause necrosis and even facial deformation.”
Experts have suggested that ultrasounds should be used more commonly ahead of these procedures in increase safety, as without the ultrasounds, the cosmetician will 'inject blindly' based on clinical findings alone.
What are the other dangers of cosmetic procedures?
Apart from potential issues when it comes to smiling and laughing, there are also some more serious concerns associated with cosmetic procedures, especially when they utilise counterfeit/mishandled botulinum toxin.
While common side effects include droopy or crooked smiles, watery or dry eyes and flu-like symptoms, other more serious symptoms can lead to difficulty breathing, fatigue, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing.
Professor of plastic surgery Dr Ash Mosahebi said: "If you didn't use your abs [abdominal muscles] for 10 years, they would waste away.
"So in a similar way, if the muscle that causes the creasing of your face doesn't get used, or is paralysed with Botox, after a while it's not as strong as before, so you have less of an expression."
Topics: TOWIE
James Moorhouse