When Sharna faced one of the most challenging moments in her career, Fresh Clinics helped her navigate it smoothly.
Introducing Sharna
Sharna is a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience across various fields. In 2021, she founded Canvas Cosmetic Clinic in South Perth.
One of the first things Sharna did when opening her practice was to join Fresh Clinics. Over the years, she’s valued our support, medical oversight, and professional guidance – but never more so than in August 2024.
Recognising the emergency
It began as an ordinary day. Sharna was performing a cheek filler, and everything seemed normal.
“We were doing cheek filler, and so we had an entry point at the zygoma. We had just started when I saw a big white flash. I knew straight away it was a vascular occlusion,” Sharna recalls. “I waited a few seconds, checked the capillary refill, and confirmed it. ‘Yep, we actually do have one.’”
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Sharna didn’t panic. Instead, she stopped everything, took a breath, and reassured her patient.
“The most important thing in that moment is to stay calm,” she explains. “There’s nothing you can do to change it – only move forward positively and ensure the patient remains calm.”
Immediate response with Fresh Clinics’ guidance
With no time to waste, Sharna immediately reached out to Fresh Clinics’ medical team for expert support. “We got on to Fresh, and they guided us through reconstituting the Hyalase and starting the dissolving process.”
Over the next 4-5 days, Sharna used 17 vials of Hyalase to dissolve the filler, far more than many practitioners might anticipate needing. No adverse event is ever the same as the last, so it’s important to remember that the same rule applies to the treatment and resolution; the response and requirements are always on a case by case basis.
“A lot of people assume that if you have a vascular occlusion, you inject Hyalase, it dissolves, and that’s the end of the story. But that’s not the case,” she explains. “You have no control over where the filler embolises. Little chunks break off into other vessels, so you have to keep treating until it’s all gone.”
The importance of preparation and support
Reflecting on the experience, Sharna notes the importance of having the right support and stock on hand, especially for practitioners working in remote areas.
"Imagine how stressful that would be if you were on your own, felt unsupported, and didn’t have the product you needed to dissolve the filler. That’s why stock management is so important,” she says.
Despite the high-pressure situation, Sharna never doubted her ability to handle it. “I felt quite calm in the moment. I never once thought, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do?’ I knew I had used the right technique and mitigated risk as much as possible, but this just proves that complications can happen to anyone.”
Why Fresh Clinics is essential for every cosmetic practitioner
Sharna believes every cosmetic nurse should have a trusted medical oversight partner like Fresh Clinics.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. You can be as confident as you like, but when something happens, you realise there are things you hadn’t even considered,” she says. “Having Fresh means you’re supported from every angle, whether it’s business, medical guidance or dealing with adverse events.”
For Sharna, the experience reinforced the need to avoid isolation. “We’ve all been in that position where we didn’t know what to do – whether it was 20 years ago, 5 years ago, or last year. Being part of a cohort that truly supports and helps you is invaluable.”
Fresh Clinics made all the difference in Sharna’s case, providing immediate access to expert medical advice, clear protocols for adverse event management, and ongoing reassurance.
If you want to practice with confidence, knowing you have the right support in place should an adverse event occur, it’s time to partner with Fresh.