Former “Queer Eye” star Karamo Brown has been a public figure for over two decades. In more recent years, the media personality has been plagued by plastic surgery rumors. Now, months after the hit Netflix series ended, he’s opening up, revealing chronic pain and an array of other issues stemming from a buccal fat removal procedure.
Brown interviewed with PEOPLE in June 2026. During the discussion, the years-long rumors of extreme plastic surgery came up, with the former “Queer Eye” star not only confirming that he’d had work done, but also revealing the secret pain he faced from having buccal fat removed.
He began, “For years, people have been like, ‘Karamo’s had plastic surgery. He has so much filler in his face.’ I was like, ‘You know what? I can’t say anything because you can’t get into fights with the trolls.’ But I was suffering for years in pain, and no one knew.”
Regarding his motivation for the procedure, Brown stated that he’d gained around 70 pounds during the 2020 pandemic. He felt that he’d look better if his face could be slimmer. However, instead, “It turned into a year-and-a-half of pain.”
Brown Experienced Complications With The Procedure
After having the buccal fat removal done, Brown experienced complications with scar tissue as well as a buildup of saliva. According to the 45-year-old, “There’d be times you’d see me smile, and it was tight. My cheeks would be big because they were full of saliva, full of scar tissue. I was in the worst pain.”
After that, Brown landed a syndicated daytime talk show in 2022. Unfortunately, his procedure made filming the series more challenging. He shared, “I would shoot six episodes a day, and there’d be times when I was filming my show that my mouth would get so dry and it would be so swollen.”
In taking matters into his own hands, Brown lost 70 pounds during the show’s second season, stating, “the more weight I lost, the less scar tissue you could see.”
He added, “The scar tissue and the saliva were still there, but because I was skinnier, it looked kind of normal. I stopped eating because it helped the feeling of not having so much scar tissue.” Additionally, Brown revealed that his “Queer Eye” costars made snide remarks about his changing appearance.
According to him, “People around will look at you differently, and they don’t say anything, but you feel it. That was equally as hurtful as how I saw myself. I even remember one of my former [Queer Eye] castmates was watching an old clip during the final season, and he was like, ‘Oh, look how handsome he used to be.’”
Brown continued, “I was like, ‘Okay, girl, I caught your little dig, but whatever.’ Those types of things affect you. They hurt your feelings.”
The ‘Queer Eye’ Alum Has Since Had A Follow Up Procedure
Credit: ROMA / MEGA
Brown continued sharing emotional details of his health journey by confirming that he’s fixed the previous botched surgery. Regarding what led to the decision, he explained, “I felt embarrassed that I did this to myself. I would never do it now, but I couldn’t live with the chronic pain anymore. I couldn’t live with my mouth swelling up and not being able to talk.”
In discussing the experience with the more recent procedure, he stated, “This doctor did the most amazing work. I’m so thankful because I was in pain every night, every day. It was horrendous. Thanks to this doctor, I feel so much better. I’m smiling better, there’s not saliva collecting, the scar tissue’s gone. It’s good.”
Brown also shared that he underwent a blepharoplasty during the same session. He candidly shared, “To be really transparent with y’all, I was like, ‘While we under, can you get rid of my bags?’ I’m 45! He got rid of like 60% of my bags.”
Karamo Brown Went Through A Breakup In 2025
Brown began dating photographer Carlos Medel in 2021, following the end of his engagement to director Ian Jordan in September 2020. However, according to US Weekly, he and Medel broke up in February 2025, with the photographer confirming the split on social media.
Then, toward the end of the year, Brown appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” and confirmed that he was single before playfully flirting with host Andy Cohen.
Brown’s Talk Show Is Coming To An End
Brown launched his daytime talk show, “Karamo,” in 2022. However, according to Variety, NBCUniversal opted not to renew it and multiple other first-run syndication talk shows. Some of the others include “The Steve Wilkos Show” and “Access Hollywood.”
“Karamo” will continue airing new episodes through the summer.
