By the time Molly-Mae Hague entered the Love Island villa in 2019, she had already spent thousands on facial filler. She was 20, a social media influencer with a signature look — pillowy lips, sculpted cheeks, and a contour that could slice glass. But behind the aesthetic was a teenager arguably swept up in an online beauty culture that rewarded the most dramatic transformations. She has since revealed she started injectables at just 16.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Molly-Mae isn’t just filler-free, she’s leading a quiet ‘clean girl’ revolution.
Reflecting on her past in the latest installment of her Prime Video docuseries Molly-Mae: Behind It All, she tells her hairstylist, Jack Luckhurst: “You'd think that all that make-up and filler — you'd think that doing all of that makes you look better. But actually, it makes you look ten times worse.”
The sentiment, which is delivered with the kind of raw candour Molly-Mae is known for, is just one of many incidences in which she reflects on the pressures that pushed her to over-enhance her face in the first place. In episode four of the docuseries, the 25-year-old admits that seeing other influencers online made her feel she “needed to do” the same to compete. It’s something she now describes as “really unhealthy and really not good.”
Her regret seems to be layered with a numb detachment which feels like self-preservation. “There's this viral picture of me, people say, I look like an Xbox controller,” she remarks in her confessional. “People say, [I] look like a Quagmire... To be fair, I get that,” she continues. “The Xbox controller I can really see. That is really, really scary and really, really bad.”
It’s a far cry from the days when Molly-Mae was seen as a poster girl for the ‘Instagram face’ aesthetic; exaggerated lips, inflated cheeks, and a filtered finish. But her decision to reverse her cosmetic procedures, and to do so publicly, is having a measurable impact.
“Realistic expectations and a balanced view on physical appearance may help reduce body-dissatisfaction amongst vulnerable young people,” Dr Tamara Griffiths, President of the British Association of Dermatologists. “Candid discussion of the potential risks and benefits of injectable procedures may act as a further deterrent and would be most impactful coming from influencers and peers.”
That impact is already visible since Molly-Mae began documenting her filler-reversal journey via social media back in October 2020.
“Having a figure like Molly-Mae leading the way and being open about her regrets has made a significant impact,” says Dr Christine Hall, an aesthetic specialist at London’s naturally-led Taktouk Clinic. “Molly has shown that it’s good and acceptable to embrace a more natural look. The positive response she’s received has definitely encouraged others to follow suit.”
Molly-Mae isn’t alone. Kylie Jenner, the original lip filler poster child, was the first notable Gen Z star to reveal she had dissolved her lip filler in 2018, and there has been a steady stream of other influencers and celebrities following suit including Ariana Grande and Lottie Tomlinson. Even Simon Cowell has done so. On TikTok, ‘filler dissolving diaries’ have become their own genre, with Gen Z users documenting not just the physical process, but unpack their emotions, too.
But it was Molly-Mae who arguably helped make the messaging mainstream in the UK. As her sister Zoe Rae, 28, recalls in the docuseries, a celebrity once openly and brutally mocked Molly’s appearance at her 2019 Beauty Works event. The 28-year-old recalls the moment and says it pushed her to intervene: “I agree she looked silly. I must have told her at some point that you need to sort this out.”
Looking back, Molly-Mae says: “Thank God for my sister. Because I could have genuinely completely destroyed my face. It was so bad.”
It’s a sobering thought, but also one that’s struck a chord with viewers, especially young women navigating the same pressures. Her mum and sister speak in the show about the feedback Molly receives from fans who have since reversed their own filler or chosen not to get it in the first place. For many, she was the first influencer in their algorithm to say: ‘I changed my mind.’
Dr Kaywaan Khan, a Harley Street aesthetic practitioner and GP at the Hannah London Clinic, confirms the importance of her actions: “Molly-Mae’s openness about dissolving her filler has undoubtably had a significant impact within the aesthetics industry and on public perception.”
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances, often containing hyaluronic acid, injected under the skin to restore volume, smooth lines, and enhance facial contours for a more youthful appearance.
They are a popular ‘non-surgical’ cosmetic treatment used to address various concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss in areas like the cheeks, lips, and under-eyes.
“When a high-profile influencer like her expresses her regret so openly, it sparks an important reflection which resonated with many patients around the safety, ethics and long-term implications around cosmetic procedures.
“The fact that Molly-Mae started filler at 16 as she states in the series, before her features had even fully developed, highlights a gap in regulation and responsibility. It raises serious concerns about how easily young people can access aesthetic treatments, without adequate safeguards in place.”
While a female face fully develops by 16 or 17, medical research has stated that facial features, including the jawline and nose, continue to develop and change throughout adolescence, typically stabilising around early to mid-twenties.
Though it’s been illegal to administer filler to under-18s in England since 2021, the law doesn’t extend to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland — and teens can still travel for treatment. Worse, there’s still no legal requirement to have medical qualifications to inject filler in the UK, anyone can technically do it.
You'd think that all that make-up and filler makes you look better. But actually, it makes you look ten times worse
That may be slowly starting to change. From June, new guidance from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will require prescribers — nurses and midwives — to conduct face-to-face consultations before administering Botox or filler. The move follows concerns that the public weren’t always aware they were receiving prescription medicine, or whether the person injecting them had proper training.
The NMC said this update was designed to “protect the public and maintain trust and confidence in the professions,” and stressed that the current lack of regulation made many procedures feel “overly accessible,” with too little clarity around qualifications or risks.
Organisations like Save Face, a government-approved national register for aesthetic practitioners, also continue to campaign for tighter regulations. And while the industry may look glamorous, the risks aren’t always visible.
Some doctors have warned of serious side-effects, like blocked blood vessels when filler is incorrectly injected. MRI research by Dr Gavin Chan and Dr Mobin Master also found that dermal filler can linger in the face far longer than the widely accepted six-to-12-month window and often migrates to unintended areas. That means patients getting top-ups may be unknowingly building layers of filler under the skin, fuelling the puffiness and distortion now associated with overdone looks.
What to know about dissolving filler
Filler dissolving is a treatment that uses an enzyme called hyaluronidase to break down dermal filler made from hyaluronic acid, most commonly used in lips, cheeks and tear troughs.
How does it work?
Hyaluronidase is injected into the area where filler was placed, breaking down the hyaluronic acid so the body can absorb it more quickly. While the enzyme occurs naturally in the body, this speeds up the process significantly.
What’s the procedure like?
A numbing cream or dental block is applied first to minimise discomfort. The enzyme is then injected directly into the filler site. Swelling and bruising are common and usually settle within three to seven days.
Is it safe?
When performed by a trained, qualified professional, dissolving is generally safe — but it still carries risks, including allergic reactions or over-dissolving. Always check your injector’s credentials.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary by clinic and area but typically range from £150 to £300 per session. Multiple sessions may be required depending on how much filler needs to be removed.
This may explain a shift in cosmetic trends more broadly. A 2023 BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) study found an increase in under-50s enquiring about facelifts while a 2024 audit by BAAPS found a 15 per cent rise in blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery); possibly driven by fears over long-term filler use.
“Many unethical practitioners can lure patients in by offering low prices or significant discounts, and rush the consultation to secure the treatment quickly,” Dr Khan says. “Unfortunately, this seems to be Molly-Mae’s experience as she’s spoken about repeatedly overfilling her lips and eventually not recognising herself by the age of 21.”
What makes her journey resonate is that it goes beyond the aesthetic. It taps into something deeper: the desire to reclaim control over your body, your image, and your self-worth. Gen Z, who grew up with filters and Facetune, are now pushing back the hardest.
“Gen Z’s focus has been towards a more minimalist and self-aware aesthetic,” says Dr Khan. “They’re more likely to ask about skin quality, prevention, and regenerative options like microneedling, skin boosters, and medical facials before jumping into volume-based treatments.
“These options are great because they focus on supporting the skin’s natural function rather than altering facial structure. If they do opt for filler, Gen Z tends to lean towards subtle enhancements that makes them feel fresher, not frozen.”
Dr Hall, who is also a NHS emergency medicine doctor, agrees: “We’re seeing a noticeable decline in demand for traditional fillers, with growing interest in bio-stimulants, injectables that stimulate the skin’s own collagen production to help maintain a youthful appearance over time. Younger clients are increasingly drawn to prevention and subtle enhancement rather than dramatic changes.
“That's not to say that filler doesn’t have its place,” she adds. “It is best used where there are signs of volume loss which is something that tends to start noticeably from the age of about 40 onwards.”
Ultimately, it appears as though the ‘glow-up’ has changed. It’s no longer about becoming someone else — and in Molly-Mae’s case it’s about undoing, returning to yourself. She’s become the face of a shift that values transparency over transformation, although the TV star recently returned to injectables in the form of baby Botox, two years after dissolving her cosmetic enhancements.
And that doesn’t mean the risks are gone. Even “non-invasive” treatments can have serious consequences.
“Much of that pressure comes from the media and, increasingly, social media,” says Dr Tamara Griffiths, president of the British Association of Dermatologists. “The way these procedures are marketed and discussed, with terms like ‘tweakment’ and ‘baby Botox’, trivialises them, downplaying the risks. Unfortunately, when they go wrong, they can have serious and life-ruining consequences.”
And while Gen Z might be more aware and better informed, the treatments themselves can be quietly addictive — subtle touch-ups that spiral into regular appointments, all in the pursuit of keeping up appearances. Even within reputable clinics, patients can end up chasing a version of their face that’s always slightly out of reach.
Dr Khan adds: “While aesthetic clinics do have a responsibility to educate and protect young clients, these treatments have become so widely accessible that it is no longer just a clinical issue but a broader public health concern. Reputable aesthetic practices will offer thorough consultations, set boundaries and refuse treatment where clinically appropriate. However, many patients have already made up their mind before they walk through the door. If one clinic says no, many young people will simply find another that will say yes.”
There’s still a long way to go. Regulation is patchy. Social media still rewards perfection. And vulnerable young people are still being sold the idea that beauty is something you can buy.
Though Mollie-May Hague’s journey from overfilled teen to filler-free mother and a beauty entrepreneur offers something rare in the influencer space: a visible roadmap of change. One that says it’s okay to grow up, to change your mind, and to dissolve what no longer serves you. Maybe the real glow-up isn’t about adding more. It’s about knowing when to stop.
