Karamo Brown, 45, known for his role on Netflix’s popular reality show Queer Eye, confessed in an exclusive interview with People magazine that in 2021, during the pandemic, he underwent buccal fat removal surgery after gaining 70 pounds.
The procedure, which was supposed to last just 10 minutes, led to a year and a half of chronic pain, as the scar tissue that formed blocked his salivary glands, leaving his cheeks swollen and causing constant pain when he smiled.
For years, Brown publicly denied having had surgery because he felt ashamed of what had happened to him, while continuing to suffer in silence.
He recently underwent corrective surgery to repair the damage, and today says he feels much better, hoping his story will help others not suffer alone.