Dale-Saint Cullen, a 31-year-old from England, has spent a staggering $46,335.30 on plastic surgeries in an attempt to achieve the “perfect” look—a look he believed he could only attain by mirroring the seemingly flawless images seen on social media. What began as a simple nose job in 2019 escalated to nearly 10 procedures, as Cullen became addicted to the idea of chasing a certain aesthetic that fueled his insecurities.
Cullen’s transformation story began when he weighed 315 pounds and struggled with a receding hairline, which he initially didn’t consider significant issues until the rise of social media. This shift in perception led him down a path where he constantly felt the need to “fix” himself to meet the beauty standards set by influencers online.
“I think we all can relate to feeling the need to ‘fix’ ourselves as if being and looking like a human isn’t enough,” Cullen reflected on his journey.
Over the course of his surgeries, Cullen has traveled more than 24,000 miles and taken 10 trips abroad to countries like Turkey and Poland to undergo procedures such as chin implants, liposuction, jaw reconstruction, a full hair transplant, teeth crowning, and full body contouring. He spent countless hours scouring filtered images on Instagram, which he used as references for his surgeries. “Every time I was on that flight abroad, I would show doctors and surgeons filtered pictures on Instagram,” Cullen explained. “That’s how I wanted to look. I was sucked into this vicious cycle of perfection.”
Cullen’s obsession with achieving a perfect appearance reflects a growing issue, particularly in the age of social media, where influencer culture has normalized costly surgeries as “maintenance work.” Despite undergoing multiple procedures, Cullen revealed that the reality of his appearance didn’t match the filtered images he had been chasing.
“Social media made me want fuller lips, fuller hair, and perfect teeth, and it wasn’t until I had it all done that I realized it wasn’t how they looked in real life,” he confessed.
Despite his extensive transformations, Cullen does not regret the surgeries themselves but instead regrets the reasons behind his desire to undergo them. “I don’t regret any of the surgeries I’ve had done, just the reasons behind it,” he shared. “I want to warn others about the reality of going under the knife.”
In many ways, Cullen described his experience as an addiction, stating he “went on a complete surgery purge.” He spent vast amounts of time, money, and energy, all in pursuit of an idealized appearance. “I spent so much time, money, and energy on chasing that perfect look, it’s crazy,” he said.
Now, after realizing the harmful cycle he was caught in, Cullen urges others considering similar procedures to approach cosmetic surgery with caution. “Make sure you do your research first and make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons,” he advises.
While plastic surgery can undoubtedly help people feel more confident in their bodies, Cullen’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling prey to unrealistic beauty standards fueled by social media filters and influencer culture.
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