Juliana, a 32-year-old transgender woman, went to the clinic seeking facial feminization to boost her confidence.
For the first time in eight years, Brazilian influencer Juliana Oliveira, widely known as Juju do Pix, has taken a decisive step toward reclaiming her identity. In 2017, she visited an underground cosmetic clinic expecting silicone fillers, but instead, 21 syringes of a harmful mix of mineral oil and other substances were injected into her face. The unapproved material hardened under her skin, leaving her with severe disfigurement and chronic pain.
Juliana, a 32-year-old transgender woman, went to the clinic seeking facial feminization to boost her confidence. Instead, the illegal injections caused irreversible tissue damage. Her skin hardened, inflamed, and gradually distorted her facial structure. For years, she said she no longer recognized the person staring back at her in the mirror.
The disfigurement affected more than her appearance — it impacted her livelihood. Juliana struggled to find stable work and often faced discrimination. Several crowdfunding attempts were made to help her finance proper medical reconstruction, but the costs were overwhelming. She retreated from many public opportunities while trying to cope with the psychological and physical consequences.
Juliana has now undergone a significant reconstructive surgery at a hospital in São Paulo. The operation lasted more than four hours. Surgeons carefully removed portions of tissue that were heavily saturated with mineral oil. Because the hardened material was deeply embedded, doctors removed only what could be safely taken out without causing further damage or risking loss of blood supply to the skin.
According to the surgical team, this was only the first phase. The next steps will depend on how her face heals in the coming weeks. Removing too much damaged tissue at once could put her at risk of necrosis, so the reconstruction must be done gradually. Additional operations will be scheduled after the doctors review her recovery.
Juliana has been documenting her experience with honesty. She posted videos from the hospital, showing her bandaged face and detailing the pain, fear, and relief she felt. Once the bandages came off, she shared unfiltered photos of the stitched areas, explaining the healing process and thanking her supporters for their encouragement.
With more than 47,000 followers, her updates quickly gained traction, sparking conversations about unsafe cosmetic procedures and the pressures placed on transgender women seeking affirming treatments.
Her medical team performed the surgery free of charge, calling it a “procedure of dignity” for someone who had endured eight years of trauma. For Juliana, the operation represents hope — the possibility of working again, living without shame, and feeling like herself.
Health experts say Juliana’s case highlights a growing problem: people turning to unlicensed practitioners offering cheap, fast cosmetic enhancements. Mineral oil injections, once used in early plastic surgery, are now widely known to cause long-term harm — including inflammation, disfigurement, and chronic tissue damage. Doctors are urging the public to avoid clandestine clinics and seek only certified professionals.
Juliana has described this operation as “a surgery of dignity, of reconstruction of opportunities and of hope.” She hopes her story motivates others to prioritize safety over shortcuts and to speak out against harmful cosmetic practices.
For now, she continues to heal — physically and emotionally — sharing each step with her supporters as she rebuilds not just her face, but her future.
