A decades-old cosmetic procedure gone wrong involving Mexican entertainer Lyn May is drawing renewed attention online after viral social media posts circulated dramatic “before and after” images of the former 1970s showgirl.
The posts — which have accumulated tens of thousands of likes and widespread engagement — highlight the stark transformation of the Mexican vedette, once celebrated as one of the most recognizable faces of Latin American cabaret and film during the 1970s and 1980s.
Born Lilia Guadalupe Mendiola Mayares in Guerrero, Mexico, May rose to fame during the era of Mexico’s cabaret-style entertainment scene. With her long dark hair, striking features and stage presence, she became one of the most prominent vedettes — glamorous dancers who headlined nightclub revues and appeared in popular comedy films.
She later transitioned to cinema, appearing in several films tied to the country’s so-called cine de ficheras genre, including the 1975 comedy Tívoli. At the height of her career, May was frequently billed as a sex symbol and appeared in dozens of movies and television variety shows.
But a cosmetic procedure in the late 1980s dramatically changed the trajectory of her career.
According to interviews the performer has given over the years — including reports cited by the UK tabloid Daily Mirror — May said she was persuaded by a colleague to undergo facial injections that were presented as collagen treatments designed to enhance her cheekbones and maintain a youthful appearance.
Instead of legitimate medical fillers, the substance reportedly injected into her face was a mixture of cooking oil, baby oil and water — materials sometimes used in illegal cosmetic procedures during that era.
The result was catastrophic.
May experienced severe swelling and inflammation as her body reacted to the foreign substances. Doctors later identified painful granulomas — hardened lumps formed when the immune system attempts to isolate injected materials that cannot be broken down by the body.
Over the following decades, the performer underwent more than 20 corrective procedures in attempts to remove the oils and repair the damage to her facial tissue. Surgeons were able to remove only limited amounts of the material, leaving lasting scarring and permanent changes to her appearance.
The case has since been cited in discussions about the dangers of unregulated cosmetic treatments that were more common in parts of Latin America in the late 20th century.
Interest in the story has surged again after a recent viral post showing images of May at the height of her career alongside more recent photos circulated widely on social media.
Many commenters referenced the broader risks associated with unlicensed practitioners and unregulated fillers — a topic that continues to generate discussion as cosmetic procedures become more common worldwide.
Now in her seventies, May has continued to speak publicly about the incident in interviews, often describing it as a painful lesson about trust and the pressures of maintaining youth in the entertainment industry.
Her story — once a symbol of glamour in Mexican pop culture — has since become one of the most widely cited warnings about the potential dangers of cosmetic injections performed outside licensed medical settings.
