A woman who developed an addiction to cosmetic procedures admits she has spent more than $100,000 transforming her look.
Ashleigh Candela, from Sydney, said she ‘never hated’ the way she looked but she wanted to tweak her appearance to be the ‘best version’ of herself.
At the age of 20, she went under the knife for the first time – undergoing a breast augmentation with 500CC implants to enhance her natural B bust to a size E cup.
For the next 14 years, she had multiple lip and cheek fillers, botox, rhinoplasty, upper eye lid reduction, face lift, eyebrow feathering, skin tightening, pigmentation removal, porcelain veneers, Brazilian butt lift, liposuction and more.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 37-year-old – who now looks unrecognisable – said she has ‘no regrets, I’m very happy with the way I look’.
Before and after: Ashleigh Candela pictured left at the age of 19 – and right now after undergoing an extensive list of cosmetic procedures over more than 10 years
The Sydney woman (pictured) said she has ‘no regrets, I’m very happy with the way I look’
‘To be honest, I never thought of myself as ugly but I knew I wanted to fix things and once I got started I couldn’t stop,’ she previously told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I sometimes get really horrible messages saying I must have hated myself or been very insecure but no… none of the above.
‘I don’t see any problem with making improvements and changes to your body or face. If you don’t like something, you can change it if you like.’
The retail worker – who openly documents her procedures @the_cosmetic_diary_ – said she became fixated with her look after she experienced a tough upbringing.
‘I was in and out of home from the age of 14. I was brought up in a family where I didn’t feel loved,’ Ms Candela said.
‘I always had doubts in my mind where I thought I was not good enough, so that’s where it all kind of started. I did little bits and pieces just to try and make myself feel better and it did.’
The 37-year-old said she had rhinoplasty (left) and upper eye lid reduction (right with stitches)
Ms Candela has been openly documenting her procedures online (pictured in February 2017)
Before and after: She underwent a liposuction and a Brazilian butt lift – a procedure in which she had excess fat transferred from her back and thighs to her bottom to make them fuller
During her transformation, she underwent a liposuction and a Brazilian butt lift – a procedure in which she had excess fat transferred from her back and thighs to her bottom to make them fuller.
‘I wanted a better shape and to have a more cinched in waist so I could get that womanly curvy body,’ she said.
‘The operation wasn’t painful – it was just uncomfortable for about a week but it was very bearable just like all my other surgeries.
‘I have had rhinoplasty, upper eye lid reduction, porcelain veneers, cheek fillers, under eye fillers, lip fillers and Botox under my eyes and forehead.’
After completely transforming her look, she admitted she hasn’t experienced any challenges except trying to find clothes to fit around her new bum.
‘I don’t really find anything that challenging especially after surgery,’ she said.
After completely transforming her look, she admitted she hasn’t experienced any challenges except trying to find clothes to fit around her new bum
What a transformation! Ashleigh underwent a Brazilian butt lift, fillers and Botox
Over the years, Ms Candela has been sharing a series of photographs on her Instagram account to document her remarkable 14-year transformation
‘I think life is just challenging in general. No matter what you look like, it’s just better to look better for yourself.
‘I guess I don’t struggle with challenges so I don’t think anything is challenging at all. But the only challenge for me is trying to find clothes to fit around my bum.’
Over the years, Ms Candela has been sharing a series of photographs on her Instagram account to document her remarkable 14-year transformation.
‘I’m very honest about all of my procedures and am totally fine sharing my experiences,’ she said.
‘I love my transformation and despite anyone’s criticism, I’m truly blessed with the love and support I receive daily.
‘I’m an open book, I have nothing to hide… Plastic on the outside, real on the inside – and that’s what matters.’
Since unveiling her look, she has been met with mixed responses from strangers, especially nasty trolls on the internet.
When she looks at an old picture of herself at the age of 19 (left), she said now (right): ‘I feel lost, it seems like a life time ago and so much has change. I don’t know that person anymore’
She urges everyone to accept other people’s appearances – as she adds if no one is getting hurt by her procedures, her choices should be respected (pictured in December, 2015)
But she urges everyone to accept other people’s appearances – as she adds that if no one is getting hurt by her cosmetic procedures, her choices should be respected.
‘Everyone has the right to live how they want to live,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I’m not here to judge anyone, I’m not hurting anyone and I also think if someone handed them the money, they would do it too. There is no reason to be judging.’
When she looks at an old picture of herself at the age of 19, she said: ‘I feel lost, it seems like a life time ago and so much has change.
‘I don’t know that person anymore,’ she said about her young teenage self.
Ms Candela – who currently has 500cc implants – said she’s hoping to get more cosmetic procedures, including another boob job, saying ‘I want to get 800cc breast implants next year’
Ms Candela said she’s hoping to get more cosmetic procedures, including another breast augmentation.
‘I have a vision of what I want to look like and I’m almost there… I want to get 800cc breast implants next year,’ she said.
For anyone who feels judged, Ms Candela said: ‘In life we are forever going to be judged by others – that’s how society makes people these days.
‘So just live your life with no regrets and be happy and grateful for everything you have to offer and what the world offers you.’
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk