Simona Simone

An influencer has gone viral on TikTok after revealing what happened to her face after having fox threads (also called a fox eye lift) – a non-surgical 'tweakment' that has risen in popularity due to social media, which involves threads being inserted under the skin to lift the brow area.

Sharing a series of videos to the social media platform, Jessie Carr documented how her face reacted to the popular cosmetic procedure, which resulted in extreme swelling. "These fox eye threads really are my biggest regret," she said in one of her videos, adding: "It’s definitely not worth it, it doesn’t work and it left me looking botched like this!"

In another clip, she went into detail about what happened, explaining that she was left looking like a cartoon character. "They initially swelled up really, really intensely. I looked like Megamind," she said. "They popped a blood vessel during the procedure, I blew up for a couple of weeks, I was pretty bad. Once the swelling went down I noticed that my eyebrows had lifted and I was so happy with them."

But her satisfaction with the procedure didn't last long as she noticed her appearance became uneven within a week, leading her to have botox in an attempt to rectify this. "A couple of weeks after that I noticed that I had bumps on my head and my threads were popping out."

Since then, Jessie has decided to have the threads removed and is taking anti-inflammatory medication to help with the swelling. "I’ve been through a lot with my fox eye threads and it’s definitely not worth it," she said. "Definitely don’t recommend it."

So, is Jessie's reaction to fox threads just an isolated case? And what exactly are fox threads?

In a nutshell: a fox eye lift involves threads being inserted under the skin to lift the brow area, to give what some have termed a more 'feline' look.

But are they safe? "My advice would be to avoid them," says Mr Khurram Khan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, FRCS (Plast), when we asked about the safety of fox threads. "There is a growing consensus that they should be banned. They are extremely painful, fraught with complications and do not last longer than a few weeks."

As well as this, Khan explained that in "thinner skin, the threads themselves can be visible as bands or dimples," adding that they also cause headaches, known as "threadaches", that can last for months.

"There is a weak argument that they can be used as a trial to see if a patient likes the look before considering a permanent surgical treatment," he continued. "However, they cause inflammation and scarring and could therefore make a surgical treatment more difficult and less predictable."

For those still considering having the procedure, Khan stresses the importance of doing your homework. "As with any aesthetic procedure I would always recommend seeing someone who is medically qualified," he told us. "In the UK, the gold standard for plastic surgeons is to be a member of BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons)."

He went on: "As I say to many patients, if you had a broken boiler you wouldn't call an electrician or a plasterer, you would call a plumber. In the same way if you are considering surgery to any part of your body, please take your time, do your research and see someone who has the right qualification."

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

1. Select the object or text you want to animate
2. Select Animations and choose an animation
3. Select Effect Options and choose an effect

Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas

Address: 3 Cinema Place, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

I have one too Not as good as my Specialised helmet in terms of cradle and adjuster Felt like a cheaper and less secure version

In certain emergency situations, like when an air brake system failure has occurred and you need to move your truck to a safe position,

When certain local restaurants (ahem, Antoine's) have invented some of the most prized oyster dishes in the world, you know we're doing it right

The North Carolina Zoo is a zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina , housing 1,800 animals of more than 250 species, primarily representing Africa and North America