Mariana Micheline was 35 when she decided to improve her appearance to grow as an influencer.
She lived in Matão, Brazil, and after losing her mother in 2020, she found a way to generate extra income through social media. A local dentist offered her a simple deal: he would perform the facial harmonization for free, and she would show the results to her 36,000 followers. She was told they would use only hyaluronic acid, a substance the body absorbs on its own. Six months later, she woke up with a swollen, red face. Doctors found polymethyl methacrylate, a plastic not authorized for cosmetic use, embedded in her skin.
They removed her upper lip and part of her mustache. She spent twenty days with her mouth stitched shut, traveled to another city for surgery, and organized raffles to pay for the treatments. She never stopped working, even though she went out wearing a mask out of embarrassment. Today, she has sued the person responsible and is moving forward, step by step, with the reconstruction of her face. Her dream is no longer perfection: it is to feel beautiful again and go out without hiding.
