LeAnn Hawks, 45, has drawn widespread attention on TikTok after openly sharing the dramatic aftermath of her recent cosmetic procedures. She says her goal was to show the unfiltered reality behind major facial surgery.
The Arizona resident underwent multiple procedures in July, including a deep plane face and neck lift, a tail brow lift, upper and lower eyelid surgery, and fat grafting to her face and lips. The operation was performed in Tijuana, Mexico, by Dr. Israel Espino and lasted six and a half hours.
Roughly a month later, Hawks posted a photo taken in the hospital shortly after surgery. The image revealed extensive swelling, bruising around her eyes, gray-toned skin and large sutures along her jaw and neck. The raw snapshot startled viewers, many of whom had never seen such a severe stage of healing.
Hawks admits she was equally shocked the first time she saw herself. She says she had researched facelifts online but rarely encountered content showing results as graphic as her own early recovery. She recalls thinking she had made a terrible mistake and emphasizes that facial surgery cannot simply be hidden during healing.
According to Hawks, this lack of realistic representation motivated her to share her experience. She explains that she wanted others to understand that her appearance was a normal part of the healing process for some patients and not a sign that something had gone wrong.
The first week of recovery was difficult, and she remembers moments of panic as she adjusted to her temporary appearance. However, about nine days in, she began to see encouraging signs of her final results emerging.
Hawks says she chose to undergo the procedures because she felt her face appeared older than her age, largely due to sagging skin that followed weight loss. Years of heavy sun exposure also contributed. While living in Hawaii as a travel nurse, she spent several days each week on the beach and rarely used sunscreen.
Now well into her healing process, Hawks continues to share updates with her followers. She notes that some numbness remains around parts of her face and scalp, but swelling has mostly subsided. She no longer needs to wear compression garments and is committed to maintaining diligent skincare and sun protection to preserve her results.
