Antonia Higham, a 28-year-old influencer and aspiring actress, has spoken out about her decision to undergo a facelift, attributing the choice to the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards prevalent on social media. The procedure, which cost £9,000, took place in March.
Higham explained that constantly viewing her own face on camera for social media and acting school led her to notice and become insecure about perceived imperfections. Initially considering less invasive procedures like fox eye surgery, she was recommended a facelift during a consultation in Istanbul. She chose to have the surgery done in Turkey, where it was significantly less expensive than in the UK.
Her decision to have the surgery was not initially shared with her family. Her mother, who had advised against the procedure after the initial consultation, discovered the surgery through Higham's TikTok post. Higham's partner also expressed shock at her appearance in the immediate aftermath of the operation, describing her swelling as unlike anything he had seen before.
The recovery process was described as challenging, with Higham experiencing significant swelling and bruising for weeks. She reported looking like the character E.T. and stated that people were scared to look at her. She also faced difficulties returning to drama school, needing to wear sunglasses constantly due to the visible signs of the procedure. Even months later, she continues to experience swelling and some facial numbness.
Despite the difficult recovery, Higham stated she does not regret the surgery and likes the results, though she acknowledges the challenging aspects. She shared that she has received a large amount of backlash online, including death threats, after posting about her experience. However, she also received messages of thanks from others who found her documentation helpful, as she had struggled to find similar content from young people undergoing cosmetic procedures when she was researching.
Higham emphasized that she is not encouraging others to have surgery, but rather aims to be open and honest with her followers about her personal journey. She compared her situation to celebrities who are praised for their honesty about cosmetic procedures. She also admitted that, in retrospect, she may have been too harsh on herself and wished she had possessed more self-love prior to the surgery. She is now focused on her acting career and feels more confident pursuing screen roles with her altered appearance.