Brandi Glanville Unveils Transformed Appearance Following Health Diagnosis
Brandi Glanville has proudly showcased her revitalised look over the weekend, marking a significant milestone after recently receiving an official diagnosis for her facial disfigurement. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, aged 53, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a fresh-faced photograph, expressing gratitude towards her plastic surgeon amidst a challenging two-year health battle that she previously attributed to a parasitic infection.
Gratitude and Glamour on Social Media
In the captivating snapshot, Glanville displayed a remarkably smooth complexion while sporting a baseball hat and a green tank top. Her caption read: 'Thank you Dr. Nicholas Nikolov the amazing CellSound and for preparing me for The Sundance Film festival & looking forward PBM Princess movie event at Kemo Sabe.' This collaboration follows her previous work with Dr. Nikolov in December 2024, where she disclosed to Entertainment Tonight that she had invested over $70,000 in treatments targeting the facial issue.
Fans enthusiastically celebrated her new appearance, flooding the comments with supportive messages. One admirer wrote: 'Oh gosh you look so good and healthy!' while another exclaimed: 'Queen looking gorgeous.' Additional compliments included: 'You look amazing' and 'Looking fantastic and fabulous.'
Evening Elegance at Documentary Screening
Later that same Sunday, Glanville was photographed attending the screening of the documentary Side Effects May Include: The Hidden Costs of Prescription Drugs at Kemo Sabe in Park City, Utah. Her ensemble featured a sophisticated black fur hat paired with a long white suede coat, elegantly draped with a black fur shawl around her neck. The reality television star complemented the look with her signature platinum blonde hair flowing in locks and accessorised with a Louis Vuitton clutch.
Diagnosis and Emotional Toll
Last month, Glanville revealed to TMZ that she had finally obtained a diagnosis for her mysterious facial condition, though she has yet to publicly disclose the specifics. She confirmed she 'will be sharing' the diagnosis soon, following an extensive journey that has cost her over $130,000 in attempts to resolve the issue. Glanville described having a 'long road' ahead to fully recover but expressed being 'thrilled' to 'finally have an answer.' She elaborated that there are 'multiple things happening' with her condition.
The health struggle has taken a profound emotional toll on Glanville, transforming her into an introvert and causing severe anxiety when leaving her home after two years of isolation. She shared: 'Sometimes I sit down, I can't get up. And it's so scary, and I was just like, I don't want to live this life.' Reflecting on darker moments, she admitted: 'So I had those thoughts, which were really frightening. I've never been like that.' The star noted that upon sharing the diagnosis news with her mother, her mother cried with relief.
Background of the Health Struggle
Glanville has consistently maintained that her facial features were deformed by parasites contracted during filming for The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club 2 in Morocco during 2023. Her efforts to address the issue included consulting numerous medical professionals, with over 20 doctors visited, leading to significant medical debt. At one point, she attempted a self-treatment using hair removal cream, which resulted in facial burns.
This summer brought a potential breakthrough when Glanville consulted infectious disease immunology physician Michael R Scoma in New York City. Although the diagnosis remains undisclosed, she posted photos showing dramatic improvement in her facial condition. Glanville expressed optimism, stating via Us Weekly: 'It’s been a slow process, but I’m finally getting back to my normal routine and feeling like myself again.' A recent house move has contributed to this positive outlook, with Glanville explaining: 'My new space has really helped me reset and focus on creating a calmer, more positive environment for myself.'
Medical Opinions and Financial Strain
Previously, Glanville sought advice from Botched host Dr. Terry Dubrow, who disagreed with the parasite theory but expressed concern about a potential 'infectious process' or 'foreign-body reaction to something she's had injected.' Despite her efforts, insurance providers dismissed her condition as mere inflammation or old filler, leaving her to shoulder the financial burden alone.
Glanville revealed the extent of her financial hardship: 'I’m paying the minimum on my credit cards. I’ve exhausted my savings.' As a mother to sons Mason, 22, and Jake, 18, from her marriage to ex-husband Eddie Cibrian, she admitted: 'At my age, I feel like such a loser in a way, because I was taking care of everything. I was together. I had great credit. Now I’m scared about every little thing.' This candid disclosure highlights the profound impact of her health journey beyond the physical symptoms.
