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“It Looked Better Just Thick And Fat”: 45 Beauty Procedures People Regret Having Done
Modern medicine has progressed to such an extent that people can rather easily book surgeries to alter whatever they don’t like about their bodies. On the face of it, this is all well and good, but the reality is that often esthetic surgeries are overhyped or, even worse, utterly pointless.
It tends to be better to learn from someone else’s mistakes first, so we’ve gathered stories from folks who got some cosmetic work done and ended up regretting it. Get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote the most interesting and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments down below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Rhinoplasty. It was an impulsive decision that I regret every single day :( I was also so so young when I did it. I just miss my original nose so much 🥺 Please don’t ever get plastic surgery for other people. And definitely wait until your frontal lobe develops so you can make more rational and conscious decisions about your body.
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#2
Microblading! I thought it would fade over time but 3 years later they’re still dark - just blurry and grey now.
#3
Permanent eyeliner. The top is ok but I let her do the bottom as well. Ugh.
#4
I can’t remember if there was an actual term for it but fat dissolving injections in the stubborn fat pouch under my chin.
First of all, highly expensive and I spent months saving up for it as I don’t have a lot of money and live pay check to pay check. Second of all, my lower face swelled up like a bullfrog and it stayed that way for an entire month - I couldn’t bring myself to leave the house for that entire month.
Third of all, it did NOTHING. Zilch. Absolutely nothing.
It feels frustrating to then go back to the injector (who is a qualified nurse practitioner btw) to show and tell her that it made no difference at all and that I was swollen for a month - only to have her shrug her shoulders. And you can’t get any money back for these things either. Would not get it again and I would advise against it.
#5
I was 20 when I got breast implants. From day one I pretty much hated how I looked and felt in them. Instant regret. They were big and bulky on my small frame even after telling the doctor I didn’t want giant implants.
A turning point for me was when I went to buy new bras as I gained weight and they were not fitting anymore. I had a breakdown when the lady told me I was now a size DDD32 or a E something rather.
Called my husband and told him I hated these things and just started bawling on the phone.
Funny this is around 2 years ago one of them deflated on their own. Since it was still under 10 years it was covered under warranty and they were able to pay for the cost of removal for the deflated implant. I had to pay for the other one of course but I was sooooooo happy they were out.
Instant relief and I loved the new look/feel immediately. Nothing like day after I had gotten my implants.
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 1 month ago
Been a 34E my whole life - can't imagine why anyone would actually WANT these massive, stupid, flappy things!
#6
Filler in my cheeks. Didn’t realize she used permanent filler. Though it fades over time, it can take years. I felt like it didn’t make my cheeks look lifted (like I was told it would). It just made my face look wider and fatter. And older.
Zoe Vokes 1 month ago
I think this sounds like OP didn’t have a proper consultation beforehand or didn’t know enough about the procedure to ask questions. How can you not know it was permanent filler? Surely filler in the cheeks would always make your face look fatter. Maybe whomever she went to just wanted to sell procedures and didn’t explain how it would look ahead of time
#7
Had one of those facials where they scrape your face with a blade. Had the worst breakout of my life. Needed antibiotics.
Laserleader 1 month ago
Dirty blade. To prevent spreading germs they should have sanitized it before each swipe (the real reason why shaving foam is important is its a soap that prevents infections).
#8
I had a small-ish mole removed from my eyebrow when I was 16 for cosmetic reasons. I have transparent blonde eyebrows, and it was a dark spot that grew dark hair. I was always so embarrassed. People would think it was a bug on my face. The doctor froze it several times and then cut it out. He cut so deep I had to have stitches, and now I have a bumpy scar from it; almost keloid-ish... People still ask me what's on my eyebrow, and it STILL GROWS DARK HAIRS 🤬.
#9
Coolsculpting. It drained the fat out of my thighs and now the skin looks loose and saggy. It looked way better just thick and fat.
#10
I got fat freezing and it absolutely ruined my thighs. I still have slightly chubby thighs on a skinny bod, but now I have these two divots in the centre where the paddles were.
Wish I would've left well alone, but I'm also weirdly grateful in a way? Like, now I'm kinda cool with my T-Rex body type; it gave me perspective on perfection 💁♀️.
#11
Tretinoin.
It destroyed my tear glands despite me being careful to keep it from my eyes. Differin caused further damage (I tried it after stopping tret because a derm told me it wouldn't exacerbate my dry eyes. She was very wrong). Now I use 2 excruciatingly expensive prescription eye medications for my dry eyes and I’ll need these prescriptions for the rest of my life. I hate that I destroyed my eyes because I was so desperate to get rid of my cystic acne. I’m also eternally grateful I pushed back so hard against Accutane. If topical Tretinoin caused me so much damage, I can only imagine how bad it would have been orally. I was told by my opthamologist that topical Tretinoin can be absorbed systemically and have similar effects to Accutane.
katiekat0214 1 month ago
FYI Tretinoin is prescription Retin-A, and it really helps wrinkles. I've used it for years, and it has helped and did not damage my eyes, but clearly every body is different.
#12
I’d have to say the thinning of my bucal fat pads. I was 27 and had really chubby cheeks. I never imagined that at 50 I’d really want all that fat back.
#13
Worst: braces. Although the dental professionals claimed that it would even out my teeth wear, I am so salty about it because my midline was centered prior to braces, and now it's off to one side! Every time I smile with teeth, you can see that the midline doesn't align with the center of my top lip, and it looks worse than before >_< I really wish I could undo it and go back to my natural state.
Best: lip blush. I have terribly pale lips and being able to look alive straight from waking up is amazing. I wish they could go darker though.
katiekat0214 1 month ago
I had braces in the 1970s, and I don't regret having them, since my teeth are now aligned, but THE PAIN OMG THE PAIN. My two front teeth lapped over, so they had to be separated. Every single month, the orthodontist would tighten the brace and I couldn't chew for several days and had to have a near liquid diet. It hurt to put my teeth together. Had to have four teeth pulled so all my teeth would fit. Glad I had it done when I was a kid, but still remember the front teeth pain.
#14
Expensive in-office tooth whitening. They smelled terrible for weeks after. I didn’t get anywhere near the shade I was aiming for, and using the boosters they sent home just makes them stink again. God I miss there days before white teeth were a thing.
#15
I had my lips tattooed and I regret it. You can't even tell it was the tiniest shade darker and then my lips were all swollen and crusty for awhile. It also took hours and it hurt soooo bad since lips are a sensitive area and tattoos already hurt bad enough.
#16
Hair extensions. They made me look the most beautiful I've ever looked when I had them in, but when I took them out my hair was so short and damaged :( took years for my hair to recover.
Kalikima 1 month ago
I hated my extensions!! I got them done, and they weren't cheap, and I was in pain from the first day. For weeks you walk around feeling like someone is pulling your hair, and just as the sensation gets bearable and you don't feel like your hair is slowly being pulled out, that just means its time to get them redone, cuz if not they start to show. I couldn't do it, I had her take them out instead. Never again, that was a huge expensive mistake.
#17
Ultraclear laser for hyperpigmentation. So painful and it took me over a month to heal (downtime is suppose to be a 4-7 days). It did nothing for my hyperpigmentation and left me broken capillaries.
#18
Japanese Head Spa. You are literally laying on a table with no padding with your head resting on a plastic block. That becomes very uncomfortable quickly.
The sink attached is plastic which means all the water hitting it echos and is jarringly LOUD.
As they do the washing and the treatments, your head starts to feel cold because your hair is drenched.
They will tangle your hair. Not fun.
Most of these places won’t even give you a rough blow dry just to get the heavy wet without charging you extra. So you either pay or walk out wet.
A day and a half later my scalp broke out in multiple areas. I’m pretty convinced the scrubbing gave me micro cuts and whatever they used after just irritated the hell out of my head.
I know what you are thinking. That it looks so relaxing on TikTok. It’s a lie. It was such a waste of money.
#19
I got laser hair removal back in the day when it was still being advertised as permanent like electrolysis compared to a temporary reduction method. It took forever since I had to wait 2 months between each session & obviously wasn't cheap.
While it did last for around 5 years, it suddenly all grew back at once like I never did anything. If I had known there was a possibility of it coming back, then I would have done electrolysis instead.
#20
1. Every time I get nails I immediately regret them because then I can’t do anything with my hands
2. Botox gave me the worst constant headaches from when I got it for the several months til it wore off
3. Bangs regret, lol
Botox I will not repeat. I’d rather have wrinkles than be constantly cranky because my head is hurting forever .
#21
Cosmetic nosejob when I was 17. I can't breathe properly now.
#22
Expensive facials that had no long lasting results 💔 sure, it’s relaxing but it’s not worth $100+ dollars to fix nothing or to only temporarily improve the look of something for a couple of days at most.
#23
Spending money in high end salons for hair cuts.
Most of the times I have come out looking my hair exactly the same. Rather get it at a basic salon with the cut you actually want plus wash etc and still would not cost as much.
Laserleader 1 month ago
I went to a salon 2 times in my life and both times they shaved my neck after I EXPLICITLY told them not to because it causes a horrible rash. I have cut my own hair since I was 12, and it never cost me a penny for a bad haircut, and I got real good at styling.
#24
Got botox for crows feet and regret it. Now when I smile, I don't look happy. I just look scary instead because my mouth is smiling but my eyes look stoic. Can't wait for this to wear off.
#25
I had otoplasty.
(They removed a section of my ear cartilage in order to make them closer to my head).
Regret it so hard.
I had “spitting stitches” —permanent stitches that my body rejected and were pushing through my skin. Years later and I’ll still have a random stitch work it’s way through my skin. It’s like being stabbed in the ear with a needle constantly.
And there are ugly skin folds on the inside of my ears that the surgeon said was just swelling, and they are not. It’s been 7yrs, they are permanent.
They hurt to sleep on, they hurt to wear ear phones or sunglasses. They smell. It’s awful.
I’d trade them for my old crooked, “dumbo” ears in a heartbeat.
Edit: about the smell and those worried about infection...I have had many infections off and on because of these things. Right now the smell is more because there are more folds, nooks, and crannies because of scar tissue to hold onto sebum, etc. I have to stay on top of it and use alcohol to clean behind my ears, but I’m confident that they are not currently infected.
#26
I got my eyelashes permed right before the mask mandates kicked in. She over processed them and they curled back into my eyelid folds. I sent them photos and they offered to fix them and I hemmed and hawed because I didn’t want to go back to the same woman. Then the mask mandates kicked in and covid “peaked,” so I didn’t go back to get them fixed. I spent the first few months of the pandemic with messed up eyelashes, when they were the most prominent feature of my face.
#27
I got a mini tummy tuck thinking that it would get rid of the indent from my C-section scar that can be seen when I wear form fitting clothing like dresses or bathing suits. 1 year out from my mini tummy tuck and I still have dent but now from my tummy tuck scar. Complete waste of money.
Dee Dee Meunier 1 month ago
So sorry to hear that happened to you. I had the same done and have amazing results!
#28
I was born with a cleft lip and palate so I’ve had a lot of plastic surgery at a young age. I’m 22 now and aged out of the hospital I went to. I’ve had a couple of rhinoplasty and a surgery to move both my upper and lower jaws. I don’t regret anything except for maybe my last rhinoplasty, it was an attempt to gain more symmetry and worked but I ended up with a lump of extra scar tissue in the top of one of my nostrils.
My surgeon said that there is a certain about of asymmetry that people who look at you won’t notice, but you do. Which I think to a point is true as I’ve stopped getting questions about why my face looks the way it does as I’ve had surgery’s. However, I’ve not had surgery on my lip beyond when my cleft was fixed very young and every now and again someone will get bold and ask what’s up with my lip which I take to mean it’s the most noticeable part.
Obviously not many of the surgeries I had were elective but the few that weren’t I overall don’t regret. I feel I look closer to what I would look like without my birth defect. And I feel pretty which was harder when kids would ask me what was “wrong with my face.”.
#29
Regret: eyebrow lamination, hydrafacial. After lamination eyebrows became like fake, difficult to manage. Hydrafacial - simply didn't notice the difference and disappointed that I spent money.
Glad: armpit laser (was enough only 6 sessions, and price even now is at least twice lower than in Bay area. Unfortunately, I moved out...), permanent makeup on eyebrows (powder) and thin eyeliner. Also, 11 wrinkle botox. It actually got even better after second visit.
#30
Birth control to stop acne. It depleted my vitamins, messed with my menstrual cycle, and contributed to weight gain and depression. And getting off caused hair loss and acne that took over a year to resolve.
#31
I had a deviated septum as a kid and begged my parents for surgery to fix it, but really I just hated my nose and wanted a nose job. They let me get it when I was 17 because they were concerned about my breathing and I was able to get the bump removed at the same time. The recovery was horrendous and the swelling took a year to go down.
My nose looks okay, but it’s crooked and one nostril is slightly collapsed. My breathing hasn’t improved at all. Sometimes I wonder if I even really had a deviated septum. Looking back, my nose was totally fine before and I was just an insecure kid. I wish I hadn’t done something so permanent as a teenager.
Edit: I had a septorhinoplasty, which is meant to improve your breathing AND change the appearance of your nose. I regret changing my appearance and believe the doc botched the whole thing, but I know a septoplasty can be a lifesaver for people with breathing issues!
Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
I had a septoplasty and rhinoplasty. I didn't want to change the shape of my nose, just the size. So now I have a nose that's the right proportion to my face and still the same shape. The surgeon also constructed an upper lip for me as mine was practically nonexistent. I never noticed, actually, and he said that was because I was so focused on my nose. I don't remember exactly how he said he did it, but it looks like it's always been that way. That was back in the 80s. My septum re-deviated some years later but I didn't bother having it fixed again. I was nice being able to breathe fully through both sides of my nose.
#32
I’m not sure if this counts, because the surgery was reconstructive, but doctors had to rebuild the Cupid’s bow on my upper lip. Not only is it impossible for them to make it look 100% natural (even though my surgeons are considered to be some of the best in the world), but the amount of occupational therapy involved is ridiculous! The entire process has taken the entirety of the pandemic and they anticipate it will be another 6 months before I am “done.” The doctors are very proud of their work, but I’m still so embarrassed about what I consider to be a disfiguring scar in the middle of my face.
People considering facial cosmetic surgery: it is not an easy quick fix. There is hard work involved, it takes longer than you expect, and there is no way to know going in what you will look like coming out. This is a gamble I wish I had never had to take.
#33
I don't know if this exactly counts but I regret having bunion and hammertoe surgery. I am left with scars on all my toes and the side of my feet and I can no longer bend my toes. It sounds silly to take something so trivial for granted but I really miss being able to bend my toes. I did this because I wanted narrower feet and to be able to wear a smaller shoe size.
I am slowly gaining confidence now and can wear certain sandals. I've always been very self conscious of my feet since they are big on me. I would like to be able to go to the beach shoeless and go swimming without obsessing over the fact that people will notice my feet.
#34
Regret - Tear trough filler. I didn’t need it, wasn’t the best candidate, got it anyway. When my hayfever flares I get quite puffy under my eyes and it doesn’t look great. On the right person it can be transformative, I am not the right person.
Worth it - Lip filler. My natural upper lip is as skinny as a paper cut and I have a very full bottom lip. I adore how it evened out my lips and makes my face look more balanced. I’ve gotten it for over a decade and I’ll continue lip filler until my last day.
#35
Under eye filler. Wish I never had it done.
Nikki Sevven 1 month ago
I had the opposite done, had the fat pouches under my eyes removed. I have always, since puberty, looked like I had bags under my eyes. I had to see a cosmetic surgeon anyway to get a recurring growth removed from my forehead. No regrets at all, and I'm now 60yo with no wrinkles around my eyes.
#36
Keratin treatment! I used to have gorgeus curly hair and now I have to wait for it to grow back in :( It's been a year and half of my hair is pin straight and half of my hair is REALLY curly. I'm also very unlucky to have very slow hair growth LOL.
Kalikima 1 month ago
I did this when I had extensions, cuz it wouldn't work with my curly hair, it was too short. I liked it so much that I did it a couple more times after I got the extensions removed, until my hair was a decent length and I could let the natural curl out and not look like bozo the clown..
#37
Lip lifts are one that I have a hard time suggesting - especially for younger patients. The scar is often times noticeable despite best efforts.
#38
Dunno the name of the procedure. Treatment for spider veins on the outsides of my thighs. They inject this solution to make them stick/collapse and then use a laser to zap them as well.
The procedure was uncomfortable but healing was awful. I had to wear compression tights 24/7 for like 10 days. Any injected solution that didn’t end up in the vein caused ulceration. So I had these weepy sores all over my legs. Then they crusted over and then turned into scabs and caught on *everything* and would rip off. They took forever to heal.
And the first round wasn’t as successful as I would’ve hoped so dummy me did it a second time! Ugh.
Each session was $400.
Now? My veins are much better but not entirely gone. However, all the little scabs caused scarring. When I’m pale as hell, it’s not noticeable. But when I tan, it’s like a fine white leopard print pattern on my legs because the scars don’t tan. It looks super strange.
Upstaged75 1 month ago
My mom had this done too. She had massive varicose veins and went through several procedures to get rid of them.
#39
Thread lift. Specifically Silhouette Instalift. 1.5 years later- not worth the money. I deeply regret being swayed into this by the provider. Sigh, such is life.
#40
It’s kind of just a minor inconvenience compared to some of these but I had a negative experience with Botox where it caused ptosis and eye drift (I have a very unnoticeable lazy eye). It went away after about 2 weeks but I had to conduct a few interviews and my eye kept drifting away and I’m sure it made things very awkward lmao.
The benefits though outweigh a lot of that negative experience. Botox is great for people who suffer headaches which is one of the main non cosmetic reasons I had it done. If it lasted longer on me I would get it done again.
Samantha H 1 month ago
I had Botox injections in my head for Migraines, it was horribly painful, also left a lump there which didn't go down for six weeks. It didn't help at all, good that it works for some people though.
#41
I don't have any regrets but I don't think I'd do my tummy tuck and lipo had I known how difficult recovery would be for me personally. It looks amazing now but it really took me out mentally for the better part of this year.
I don't regret my breast lift or botox!
#42
Love:
-Botox! Honestly don’t ever want to be with out it. Lifts my brows and makes me skin look flawless
- Nanoblading. I waited for years and obsessively researched artists. My brows used to be non existent and now I wake up with beautiful natural brows all the time. I’ve had people ask what brow products I use and I tell them it’s nano blading and they are shocked.
- chin filler: totally improved my profile. Made my face so much prettier
Regret: any and all cellulite treatments and creams. Nothing works. Just genetics. Building muscle helps but nothing gets rid of it.
#43
I regret the series of Fractional and Fraxel treatments I got from a top notch scar specialist. They did absolutely nothing, I swear it made one side worse and their office tried to convince me ‘it did so much!! Zero results and thousands spent.
Tyranamar Seuss 1 month ago
I had fraxel and was not super impressed. I may try one more time in about a year bc I understand it takes a few treatments. But I did not notice a big improvement.
#44
I once got chin filler that balled up and never sat properly. I felt it made my chin look huge. It dissolved as expected and I won’t ever get that again. I do get nasal labial filler and Botox for my crows feet and will continue that. I got cheek filler once but the recovery for me was so terrible, never again.
#45
I kind of regret my rhinoplasty. I had a really big, long nose with a downward tip. The doctor said that a small nose wouldn't suit my face and he just tries to make it more feminine. 3000 € later I can barely see a difference, and absolutely NOBODY saw it, even the people how knew about it. I didn't regret getting it, but I wish I would have gotten to another doctor.
What do you think ?
The Other Guest 1 month ago
I had to look up an awful lot of these procedures. Really glad I came to accept my plain & dumpy appearance years ago.
Auntriarch 1 month ago (edited)
I did toy with the notion of getting Botox because one side of my face has deeper wrinkles than the other, I just wanted it evened up. But then I found out how much it cost and how long it lasts, and thought, nah. I would have sold my brother to get a nose job in my teens because it looked like a ski jump. But I'm glad now that I left it alone, because now that it's drooping with age, it's almost straight.
Stardrop 3 weeks ago
ok 100% unrelated, but i accidentally clicked your profile while trying to scroll up and read your description...right when i was picking at something on my face. thanks for the reminder.
Load More Replies...
T'Mar of Vulcan 1 month ago
"Would negative reviews or regrets from others deter you from trying a beauty procedure?" No, because I'm not stupid or vain enough to do any of that.
Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
I didn't have my nose reduced in size because I am stupid or vain. It was out of proportion and I couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror. It became a mental health issue. As I said, I kept the same shape.
Load More Replies...
katiekat0214 1 month ago
Years ago, I got liposuction above and below my waist, and overall, it was worth it. They took off three inches! I will say, though, that the ITCHING as the skin and subcutaneous layers knit back together was difficult. The nurses told me that I could "scratch" or rub through the compression garment, and it helped some. I do have some orange peel skin on my stomach.
The Other Guest 1 month ago
I had to look up an awful lot of these procedures. Really glad I came to accept my plain & dumpy appearance years ago.
Auntriarch 1 month ago (edited)
I did toy with the notion of getting Botox because one side of my face has deeper wrinkles than the other, I just wanted it evened up. But then I found out how much it cost and how long it lasts, and thought, nah. I would have sold my brother to get a nose job in my teens because it looked like a ski jump. But I'm glad now that I left it alone, because now that it's drooping with age, it's almost straight.
Stardrop 3 weeks ago
ok 100% unrelated, but i accidentally clicked your profile while trying to scroll up and read your description...right when i was picking at something on my face. thanks for the reminder.
Load More Replies... T'Mar of Vulcan 1 month ago
"Would negative reviews or regrets from others deter you from trying a beauty procedure?" No, because I'm not stupid or vain enough to do any of that.
Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
I didn't have my nose reduced in size because I am stupid or vain. It was out of proportion and I couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror. It became a mental health issue. As I said, I kept the same shape.
Load More Replies... katiekat0214 1 month ago
Years ago, I got liposuction above and below my waist, and overall, it was worth it. They took off three inches! I will say, though, that the ITCHING as the skin and subcutaneous layers knit back together was difficult. The nurses told me that I could "scratch" or rub through the compression garment, and it helped some. I do have some orange peel skin on my stomach.
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