Carol Bryan was left severely disfigured after a cosmetic procedure went wrong, forcing her to tape her eyes open. The trauma kept her from leaving her home and even looking at herself in the mirror.
A woman described herself as “looking like a monster” after a cosmetic filler treatment left her severely disfigured.
Carol Bryan, seeking a long-lasting solution to her forehead wrinkles, decided to go for a silicone injection treatment.
Unfortunately, the results were far from what she had hoped for.
Carol’s head collapsed
Before long, her face began swelling dramatically, and she felt as though she was turning into something unrecognizable—a ‘monster’ and even an ‘alien,’ in her own words.
The swelling became so extreme that her forehead began collapsing, drooping over her eyes, and leaving her severely disfigured.
The problem was traced back to the fact that two different facial fillers had been combined in a single syringe and then injected into her face, causing a severe reaction.
To get through her daily life, she had to tape her eyes open just to see and would often hide her face under hats and sunglasses to conceal the damage.
She started modelling at 16
She shared her story, saying: “Growing up, my physical appearance became an asset that opened many doors and became my main source of income.
“I started modeling at the age of 16 and also worked in the beauty industry. I had a beautiful daughter, a successful husband, and a loving and supportive family.”
“From the outside looking in, it must have seemed like I had it all, but looking back now I see that my life was lacking so much.”
It was in 2009 when Carol, feeling pressured to maintain her appearance, was persuaded to try facial fillers.
That decision, she reflects, became a turning point in her life that led her down a dark path.
In an interview with The Independent, she revealed: “My face began to swell and contract to the point where, not only did I have to hide from my family and friends, I actually hid from myself, never looking in the mirror.”
“I felt like I had the head of an alien, my forehead so heavy that it fell and covered my eyes so that I could not see unless I taped or held up my forehead.”
Carol spent years seeking help from various doctors but was met with little success until she connected with plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Boyd, who had been informed of her case by Dr. Reza Jarrahy.
Together, they aimed to correct the damage caused by the fillers.
Carol felt like ‘a monster’
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She eventually underwent a grueling 17-hour surgery to reattach the collapsed skin on her forehead and restore some semblance of her facial structure.
Carol underwent a 17-hour procedure to fix her face
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Reflecting on the experience, she said: “This team of surgeons truly worked miracles. If it weren’t for their vast knowledge and expertise, I would still be wearing head scarves and holding the skin of my forehead up in order to see out of my left eye. I would still be afraid to leave my home.”
Carol now realises beauty is on the inside
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“Despite all their most careful efforts, however, the initial surgery left me blind in my right eye; there could have been worse complications, so ultimately I am lucky to have only lost half my vision.”
Carol also expressed: “Sadly, it wasn’t until I couldn’t recognise myself that I realised true beauty begins on the inside. I have come to realise how truly deceiving looks can be and how precious every moment of life is.”