A man has spent over £130,000 on cosmetic procedures to look like a real-life social media image filter.
Aneece Malik, 32, felt insecure about posting on social media prior to enhancing his lips, jawline, chin and cheeks.
The business owner from Whitefield, Bury, used to hide behind filters casting flattering special effects over his face in 'selfie' pictures he took.
Now he claims to look 'better' than the filters.
But his desired look came with a six-figure price tag, as he requires Botox and dermal filler top-ups throughout the year.
Aneece has so many procedures that he has to use 'different clinics', as doctors refuse him appointments.
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Aneece looks unrecognisable but could not be happier as he now has the confidence to post on his favourite social media platform, TikTok.
He said: "I have had TikTok and Instagram for a while but I hated posting photos of myself.
"I didn't like the way I looked so always used 'pillow face' and 'snatched' filters on Instagram.
"I am addicted to TikTok but needed the filter to post videos.
"So I'd use the filter on Instagram to record a video before posting to TikTok.
"Eventually, I decided to become a filter so then I can permanently look and feel good.
"I had fillers and Botox anyway but within the last year, I've really cranked it up a notch.
"I have had the soprano ice laser to remove my facial and body hair a few times.
"It costs £1,000 per session - it is the Mercedes-Benz of hair removal.
"I've also had fillers in my cheeks, chin and jawline to make it more defined."
Aneece, who now lives in Antalya, Turkey, has anti-wrinkle injections every other month to maintain a 'flawless' face.
He admits to spending four to five hours per day on social media.
Aneece adds: "I am completely obsessed with my look and it has to be perfect.
"Some practitioners refuse to top my face up as they say I've had enough so I go to different clinics monthly.
"I work out daily so the filler wears off quickly so I need a monthly top up of 1ml in my lips, cheeks and sometimes underneath my eyes.
"I also try out different facials monthly such as the HydraFacial which is about £200."
Over the course of five years, Aneece's cosmetic budget comes in at an eye-watering sum:
- Lip procedures - £8,440 per year
- Cheek fillers - £6,000 per year
- Botox in forehead, crow's feet, mask labial - £7,200 per year
These three items over five years cost £108,000.
Two rounds of veneers have added £12,000 to Aneece's bill, and further monthly procedures including facials, microblading, laser hair removal and tanning equal £900 per month.
In total, that's £130,800.
Prior to the procedures which include veneers, Aneece recalls never getting any 'attention'.
These days, his social media following has rocketed and he turns heads in the streets.
"I didn't like the way I looked before," continued Aneece.
"But now, I am so confident and love my appearance.
"When I am out in public, people always make eye contact with me and I know it's because they are admiring me.
"Some trolls say I have ruined my face and express anger towards me as they feel I am going against my Pakistani culture.
"But it's 2021, it's OK to go against the norm.
"My family are happy because I am and that's all that matters."
