The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 53, revealed on her Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast on 22 October that surgeon Dr Carlo Honrado was planning to perform an exploratory procedure to investigate two suspected growths beneath her skin.

'Dr Carlo Honrado is taking my face off on Friday and going to do an exploratory surgery to kind of do a power wash under my skin,' she said.

Glanville said her doctor had identified two areas that might contain what she described as 'fungal balls or something alive'. Although she believes something is moving beneath her skin, the cause of the suspected growths has not been confirmed.

The reality star admitted feeling both excited and frightened about the procedure, which she said would be more intensive than a facelift. She also disclosed that the operation was expected to cost her $5,000 beyond what insurance would cover.

Years of Facial Symptoms and Unanswered Questions

Glanville has publicly documented her health problems since 2023, when she began experiencing facial swelling, lumps and other changes that affected her appearance.

She initially suspected she had contracted a parasite during a trip to Morocco. Her symptoms have reportedly extended beyond her face, affecting her cheek, jaw, head and neck.

In earlier accounts, Glanville said she had experienced facial paralysis and had initially received a diagnosis of stress-induced angioedema, a condition that causes swelling in the deeper layers of the skin and can also affect mucous membranes.

Her search for answers has involved numerous medical consultations and substantial personal expenditure.

In September, she disclosed several diagnoses, including an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) infection involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria, coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, Demodex dermatitis, and mononucleosis.

These conditions have different causes and require different approaches to treatment. Valley fever is a fungal infection usually acquired by inhaling airborne spores, while Demodex dermatitis involves inflammation associated with microscopic mites that commonly inhabit human skin.

However, the precise contribution of each diagnosis to Glanville's ongoing facial symptoms remains unclear from her public statements.

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What Could Exploratory Surgery Reveal?

Exploratory surgery allows doctors to examine an area directly when the underlying problem cannot be fully characterised through less invasive assessments. Depending on the findings, surgeons may be able to collect tissue samples, remove an abnormal growth, or guide further investigations.

In Glanville's case, the procedure is intended to investigate the areas her doctor has identified. The findings will be needed to establish what the suspected growths are and whether they explain her symptoms.

The Financial Toll of a Prolonged Health Battle

Glanville has also spoken about the financial consequences of seeking treatment. In September, she estimated that ongoing care was costing between $3,300 (approximately £2,500) and $6,000 (approximately £4,500) a month, despite having insurance.

She has previously said she spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on medical bills and exhausted savings while trying to identify the cause of her symptoms.

The financial pressure contributed to her decision to participate in the reality competition Special Forces, she told Fox News Digital.

For now, Glanville hopes the exploratory procedure will provide clearer answers and help her move towards recovery. However, its outcome and whether it will resolve her symptoms remain uncertain.

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