Model Brandi Glanville says breast implants caused facial parasite

Model Brandi Glanville has finally learned the cause of her facial 'parasite' that made her life 'hell'.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star says a boob job she had 20 years ago caused her drastic facial transformation that saw her struggle for two years and max out her credit cards.

The model suffered from 'crazy lumps' on her face that cost her $130,000, five teeth and her mental health, describing the sensation of feeling 'tiny bubbles bursting' under her skin.

Nicknaming her 'parasite' Caroline after her Real Housewives arch enemy Caroline Manzo, Brandi struggled with anxiety over the facial changes that 'destroyed' her confidence.

The 53-year-old was initially told the illness was a side-effect of the aesthetic work she had done, and spent two years trying to solve what she thought was a parasite.

Fans speculated that the star may have developed delusional parasitosis - a condition where people believe their body is infested with parasites.

Brandi maxed out her credit cards trying to deal with her health issues (X/@BrandiGlanville)

However, after months of costly medical investigations and dental reconstruction, as well as claiming to have seen 21 doctors, a sonogram finally revealed the answer she had been looking for.

She has now revealed her health issues were caused by her breast implants that had ruptured, leaked silicone into her body and clogged her lymph nodes.

Experts recommend breast implants should be changed every 10 years, however Brandi paid the price when she left hers in for 20 years.

In response to not getting them changed, Brandi simply told TMZ: "If it's not broke, don't fix it."

She was shocked her implants had been the cause of her suffering as 'they looked fine' and 'felt fine'. Now, she urges her fans to always make sure they change their implants every 10 years.

"It sucks to age 20 years overnight," she said.

Last summer, she told US Weekly that she felt like something was 'just eating me from the inside'.

Brandi warned women to make sure they change their silicon breast implants after 10 years (Instagram/@brandiglanville)

Brandi turned to celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Terry Dubrow for help, who told TMZ in December 2024 her agony was from an 'infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something she's had injected' rather than a parasite.

By December 2025, the reality TV star revealed she had a diagnosis, but didn't reveal the specifics.

She told TMZ at the time: "I have a long road ahead of me to get fully better, but I finally have an answer, so I’m just thrilled.

"It’s been hell. I’ve turned into an introvert. Leaving my house, I get the worst anxiety because I’ve been in my house for two years."

Now she can finally start to get the help she needs, and has just undergone surgery to get the implants removed.