Reality television star Zara McDermott has made a candid and emotional revelation, sharing that she has recently had all the filler in her jaw dissolved. The 29-year-old former Love Island contestant opened up about her past insecurities and cosmetic journey in a heartfelt YouTube vlog posted on Friday.
A Journey of Regret and Reflection
McDermott admitted that looking back at her younger self now makes her feel 'sad'. She explained that she first sought cosmetic 'tweakments' at the age of 20 or 21, influenced by a feeling that she 'didn't quite fit in' with conventional beauty standards. "I started getting a little bit of jaw filler when I was 20 and I didn't know a lot about it," she confessed. "When you're younger, you can have these insecurities."
She described being advised on 'profile balancing' and continuing with treatments for several years, believing she needed annual top-ups. However, she revealed a critical lesson: filler does not dissolve from the face as quickly as many assume. "I feel like I ended up with a lot of filler in my face and a lot of volume," she stated.
The Liberation of Going 'Filler-Less'
The process of dissolution has been a revelation for McDermott. "I'm jaw filler-less now. I forgot what this part of my body felt like naturally," she shared, adding that her face had "completely changed" since her early twenties. She expressed regret over the continuous top-ups, noting the filler 'did not age well' with her as she grew older.
Her message turned to one of caution and self-acceptance. "It is so important to love yourself before you start finding ways to love yourself artificially," she urged her audience. She advised against undergoing cosmetic procedures before the face is fully mature, recommending that people "wait and think about it and really take your time."
A Warning Against the 'Snowball Effect'
Reflecting on her mindset in her early twenties, McDermott described herself as 'impulsive' and prone to not thinking things through. Now, nearly a decade older, she feels more measured, thoughtful, and empathetic towards herself. She issued a stark warning about the psychological impact of cosmetic interventions.
"It can become a bit of a snowball effect and a lifeline for people," she said. "People think that in order to love yourself and accept yourself, you need to change yourself physically." She argued that without genuine self-worth and unconditional self-acceptance, changing one's appearance will never feel like enough, leading to a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction.
While clarifying she does not judge others for their choices, McDermott shared her primary motivation for speaking out: "I really hope that I could help someone maybe reconsider going down that route if they're not doing it for the right reasons."
The revelation coincided with McDermott participating in the viral '2026 is the new 2016' trend, sharing throwback photos from ten years ago where she sported a choker and lace top, captioning it: "The chokers were a VIBE."
