• Brazilian influencer suffers severe disfigurement after illegal cosmetic procedure

• Undergoes first facial reconstruction surgery after years of seeking treatment

A Brazilian influencer faced serious facial disfigurement following an illegal cosmetic procedure, after a secret clinic in 2017 injected her face with an unapproved mix containing mineral oil and laxatives.

According to U.S. media reports, the substances caused extreme swelling in her cheeks and distorted her features, leaving her convinced she would be stuck with the damage for life.

Juliana Oliveira, now 32, spoke openly about how the ordeal destroyed her confidence and ability to work, saying her appearance changed so drastically that employers would completely ignore her, making her feel trapped in an unfamiliar body.

After nearly a decade of searching for help, she finally found a surgeon willing to attempt facial reconstruction.

Oliveira underwent her first surgery last week in São Paulo, where doctors spent over four hours removing hardened tissue and trying to reduce the chronic swelling that plagued her for years, newspapers reported.

Additional major surgeries are expected after she recovers from the initial procedure.

Oliveira told her followers that she remains hopeful as she begins the long journey to rebuild her life.