Woman Shares Bleph Surgery Results in Viral TikToks. See Her Before-and-After Photos (Exclusive)

One woman’s transparency about her blepharoplasty caught the attention of millions.

Jucélia do Rocio Chiquim underwent the cosmetic surgery, a procedure that removes excess eyelid skin, in late 2023. Nearly two years — and two other, non-invasive procedures — later, she shared footage of her recovery process on TikTok, and several of the clips have since gone viral.

The Curitiba, Brazil-based educator and journalist, 36, tells PEOPLE that the decision to get the surgery was years in the making. “Since I was very young, I had an issue with eyelid sagging,” she says, adding that it was “something that always made me feel uncomfortable when looking in the mirror.”

“There wasn’t really a turning point” that led her to get the procedure, she adds — “it was more of a daily process.”

In November 2023, after consulting with two different medical professionals, do Rocio Chiquim headed to Barigui Ophthalmology Hospital in Curitiba, where an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) performed an upper and lower blepharoplasty for a total cost of around $1,300. She later followed up the surgery with two Plexr Plus sessions — a “non-surgical treatment method that helps lift eyelids and combat wrinkles,” per the official Plexr website — in July 2024 and July 2025.

“The surgery itself was smooth,” she recalls of the experience. “I was a little anxious at first, but the medical team was very attentive and made me feel safe. I didn’t have any major issues, just the usual swelling and some bruising during the recovery process.”

At the end of July, she shared the combined results of the surgeries and subsequent treatments in a compilation on TikTok — showing the bruising, swelling and everything in between in full force. The 1-minute video raked in 1.7 million views and over 120,000 likes.

Commenters shared mixed reactions to the surgery and video, including several people who called the results “beautiful” and “incredible.” Another wrote that do Rocio Chiquim looks “15 years younger” post-op.

Others expressed admiration for her dedication, stating that the recovery — and the drastic, though temporary, changes in appearance that come along with it — would be too much for them to handle.

But for the Curitiba-based journalist, it was all worth it, do Rocio Chiquim tells PEOPLE.

“The most uncomfortable part of the recovery was the itching during the healing process,” she says. “During the healing process I felt generally fine, but a bit anxious and bothered by the itching in the [affected] area. Other than that, I felt calm and relieved as I started to see the results gradually appearing.”

Besides the itching, however, “everything else went quite smoothly,” she says, adding that all in all, “it took about a month for me to feel fully healed.”

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Her fully healed snaps round out her transformation videos on TikTok, where the journalist is also vocal about how pleased she is with how her under-eye area looks after undergoing the procedures.

“I feel very satisfied with the results now,” do Rocio Chiquim tells PEOPLE. “It was worth the process because I feel more confident and comfortable with my appearance.”

And others — not just online — have also shared rave reviews, she adds. “My friends and family had very positive reactions,” she says. “They noticed the difference and complimented me, and some even asked for a recommendation, which made me even happier with my decision to have the surgery.”

“At no point did I regret choosing the blepharoplasty,” she adds. “There were minor discomforts during the recovery, but the results were completely worth it.”