Brandi Glanville has finally found answers regarding what caused her facial disfigurement after searching for months.
In Touch Weekly first broke the news of Glanville’s diagnosis via the Daily Enquirer on February 3. The former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star, 53, then revealed to TMZ on Tuesday, February 17, that the parasite in her face was caused by ruptured breast implants that she received 20 years ago. When the implants ruptured, silicone leaked into her lymph nodes and clogged them, which eventually led to the infection in her face.
“I definitely had a parasite, I was shocked because I’ve had [my implants] for 20 years — almost,” Glanville told the outlet. “They looked fine, they felt fine, the mammogram said they were fine, it wasn’t until I had a sonogram. I was just feeling like you should check that too, why not?”
She continued, “I’ve checked everything else. I went to 21 doctors; I’ve spent so much money, and you know, there is such a thing as breast implant illness.”
The reality star added that people “really should change their breast implants out at ten years,” but she, unfortunately, didn’t do that.
What Is Breast Implant Illness?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, breast implant illness (commonly referred to as BII) “is a collection of symptoms that may be related to breast implants. Though the exact cause isn’t known, BII may be related to autoimmune or inflammatory responses.”
Symptoms vary and include brain fog, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, dry mouth and dry eyes. However, the U.S. Drug and Food Administration states that breast implant illness “is not recognized as a formal medical diagnosis and there are no specific tests or recognized criteria to define or characterize it.”
Brandi Glanville’s Years-Long Medical Mystery
Glanville’s health battle began in mid 2023 when she developed severe facial swelling. At the time, she said she was diagnosed with stress induced angioedema, a condition that causes deep tissue swelling, particularly in the face.
As months passed without improvement, she began to question whether something more serious was happening. She publicly speculated about a possible facial parasite. Glanville even alarmed fans when she used a hair removal product on her face in an attempt to “draw it out.”
The Bravo alum consulted numerous specialists over the next two years, including Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow. In December 2024, Dubrow told TMZ he didn’t believe her symptoms were caused by a parasite or something she ate. Instead, he suggested it could be “an infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something she’s had injected,” noting that certain microorganisms can be difficult to treat and may require months of antibiotics.
By December 2025, Glanville revealed she had finally received a definitive diagnosis.
“I do finally have a diagnosis,” 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.”
The ordeal, she previously admitted, dramatically altered her day to day life.
“It’s been hell,” she said. “I’ve turned into an introvert. Leaving the house I get the worst anxiety because I’ve been in my house for two years.”
