PERMANENTLY scarred and swollen, Siana O'Connor wishes she had never had lip fillers.

The mum, 24, had the pout-plumping procedure after becoming obsessed with how it looked on celebrities like Kylie Jenner.

But now Siana, from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, is warning other women to avoid cheap cosmetic surgery procedures – after her lip fillers were botched.

Siana said: "The cheaper it is, just stay away, you'll get what you pay for. I regret it so much."

Siana first decided to have lip fillers after admiring the look on other people – including her friends, social media influences and celebrities.

And as she saw more and more people getting it done, Siana began to feel the pressure to have it done herself.

She told the Hertfordshire Mercury: "All my life my friends had told me that I never needed lip fillers, but they then became really popular among people like Kylie Jenner.

"I never considered it as I didn't think there was any point, but then I saw everyone else doing it and I became insecure about my top lip.

"I felt it looked small compared to my bottom one."

It was very addictive and after you see the results and you just want more

Siana soon decided she would have the procedure and found a beautician who was offering cheap lip fillers in the South East.

She had her first filler in April 2016 and within just a few months she was back getting more.

She said: "It was very addictive and after you see the results and you just want more.

"I was travelling miles from my home to get there and the procedure only cost me £70 for 0.25ml."

In comparison, the NHS advises the cost of dermal fillers can range from £200 to several hundred pounds, depending on things like the type of product and number of syringes used, and the complexity of the area being treated.

Siana continued to get her lip filler top ups until she became pregnant and had a year off from them.

After she gave birth to her son, Levi, who is now 10-months-old, she decided to go back and have another filler in April of this year.

However, it was then that everything went wrong – and Siana's outlook on plastic surgery was completely changed.

Discoloured lips

She said: "In April I had 0.5ml put in and immediately I knew something wasn't right.

"I said 'I can feel my lips starting to swell up'.

"After a week, my lips still hadn't gone down and they became badly discoloured and they went white.

"I looked online about what this meant and it said it was because of there being no blood circulation to the lips.

"I started to get bubbles of puss on my lips and it was so painful just to even touch. I couldn't even open my mouth to eat.

"I then went to A&E to get checked out and they said that because they weren't the people who did them I have to go back to where I had them done.

How to have Botox and fillers safely

You should always do your research and take time to find a reputable practitioner.

Save Face, which is a government-approved register, provides a list of people who are qualified here.

Make sure the treatment is carried out in a clean, safe and appropriate environment.

Before you have Botox or fillers you should always ask your consultant what qualifications they have, what brands they're using and if they've been extensively tested.

People with damaged nerves or muscle complaints should make sure whoever is carrying out Botox treatment is aware of this.

And Botox, along with fillers, is not advised for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you have problems take up the issues with your practioner as soon as possible.

And if you need medical attention, go straight to your GP or local A&E.

"The woman where I had them done then told me I had a really, really bad infection and I was given antibiotics and steroids. I was taking around 10 or 12 different pills a day.

"The bubbles of puss were then bursting and leaking and I had three or four holes in my lips. The inside of my lips went purple and in the end I had to press my lips to let the puss out."

Over the course of around three years, Siana had around 4ml injected into her top lip and had spent around £500.

However even today, she is still feeling the painful effects of the procedure that went wrong.

She added: "They are permanently scarred and that'll never go away unless I have more work done to remove the scarring.

"It really shocked me as I used to be an advocate them but now I would never recommend them. I've been advised to not get anymore done.

"I'm starting to become more secure with my natural lips. You just have to love yourself naturally."

Siana is now warning others against having cheap procedures following her agonising ordeal.

She said: "Please, please make sure you go to trained doctor.

"Find a reliable practice and just do an extensive amount of research beforehand and don't do it just because everyone else it.

More on cosmetic surgery

"It gave me social anxiety and I wasn't going out as it was so embarrassing.

"I used to burst into tears because it was just awful and I couldn't even work because of the pain. It was so severe.

"I was looking at everyone else and got something I didn't even need."

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