I've gotten so used to my puffy cheeks that I don't almost recognize myself when the swelling goes down if I don't purge for week or two. But there is pretty much nothing you can do about it. You throw up, which your body sees as a dangerous thing, and your body reacts to it. It's almost like your salivary glands get infected or something. You body realizes you throw up alot and it gets those glands going and ready to produce saliva which protects your mouth from the acid. The other glands in your neck/cheeks get irritated too(sorry, English is not my native language so idk the word). Vomiting is a sign of sickness or poisoning for the body naturally, so it reacts like you have the stomach flu. That is why they get swollen and why you can't do anything about it. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, I ain't no doctor.

// here's a lovely link again with more info, apparently it has something to do with dehydration too; http://www.bulimiahelp.org/articles/bulimia-face-changes

 

i have never had chipmunk cheeks before. guess i haven't purged enough. i used to purge every day though for months. huh. would anyone care to show me an example of chipmunk cheeks?

 

mine only go away after 1-2 weeks of not purging...and my skin begins to clear up, as well as my eyes.

I guess as long as your electrolytes are stable and sodium is ideal, it could improve?

 

^It's just when your face swells after purging, and I'm pretty certain it happens every time? To everyone? I thought it was a universal thing, at least.

Every time after I purge I ice my face and chin with an ice pack/ cold compress and it really helps prevent swelling.

However I obviously don't condone purging.