Leslie Betancourt, a Cuban TikTok influencer known as @leslie_btnc, recently shared a candid video detailing her regrets over various cosmetic surgeries she underwent in both Cuba and the United States. These procedures have left her with lasting physical and emotional scars that she is still grappling with today.
The video, just over three minutes long, has garnered more than 340,000 views and nearly 10,000 likes on TikTok, highlighting the significant impact her story has had on the Cuban online community.
Reflecting on Cosmetic Choices
The first regret Leslie mentions is her choice to whiten her teeth. "I don't know what I was thinking when I made my teeth this white; now I don't like them," she admits. She feels they no longer suit her and wishes someone had advised her better at the time.
Her most significant regret involves a breast surgery she had in Cuba, which she describes as disastrous. "One breast ended up higher than the other with a terrible scar," she repeatedly emphasizes, stating it seemed as if she had undergone surgery at a veterinarian's office.
Failed Attempts to Fix Surgical Errors
A subsequent surgery in the United States only worsened the situation. "One breast is now higher, and the other lower, worse than before—hard, painful, and horrible," she recounts. Leslie now requires a third surgery for both aesthetic and health reasons, as she suffers from an encapsulated implant causing constant pain during physical activities. "It's on the side of my heart, and it causes me a lot of pain," she explains.
The issue Leslie faces, known as capsular contracture, occurs when scar tissue around the implant hardens and squeezes it, leading to pain, deformity, and displacement. This is a common complication in breast augmentation, exacerbated by the limited resources available in Cuba.
Additional Regrets and Warnings
Leslie also regrets having hyaluronic acid injected into her lips in Cuba, which resulted in a monstrous appearance. "I literally looked like a monster," she says. Luckily, she was able to reverse this procedure since hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
She highlights the lack of accountability from doctors regarding negative outcomes. "No one takes responsibility for a bad surgical result, at least here in the United States. And in Cuba, it's not even worth discussing," she points out.
Leslie's experience is not unique. Fellow Cuban influencer Rachel Arderi also shared her complications after breast surgery in Cuba, which led to a second surgery in Miami to replace worn, encapsulated, and displaced implants. Another Cuban woman, Cynthia Broche, recounted undergoing four emergency surgeries in Florida due to a severe infection from a cosmetic procedure.
Leslie concludes her message with straightforward advice for her followers: "I used to be embarrassed to smile with my natural teeth, and now I'm also embarrassed to smile with these unnatural ones. If your body is fine, don't alter it. Especially your teeth."
Common Concerns About Cosmetic Surgery Complications
What is capsular contracture?
Capsular contracture is a condition where the scar tissue that naturally forms around a breast implant tightens and hardens, causing pain, deformity, and displacement of the implant.
Can hyaluronic acid lip injections be reversed?
Yes, hyaluronic acid lip injections can be reversed using an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which dissolves the filler.