Arizona Woman Finally Gets Correct Diagnosis After 30 Years—and Life-Changing Facial Surgery

A woman has finally undergone the life-changing surgery she long wished for after the growth on her face became so large that she would bite into her own skin while eating.

Appearing on *Botched By Nature* last night, Starrina from Arizona shared her hope that specialists could finally address her facial abnormality.

During her consultation with Drs. Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow, Starrina revealed that another doctor had previously diagnosed her with a hemangioma.

However, the surgeons made a startling discovery: she had been misdiagnosed for thirty years.

“After examining Starrina, we can safely say this was a misdiagnosis,” Dr. Nassif explained.

He added, “This is actually a vascular malformation—blood sits inside it in pools,” noting that a hemangioma should shrink with age, whereas Starrina’s growth continued to enlarge.

Once they had the correct diagnosis, the doctors outlined the two-step treatment plan to reduce the growth.

The first step was embolization, which involves injecting foam to shrink the blood vessels feeding the abnormal tissue.

The second step would be surgery to remove as much of the growth as safely possible.

After the embolization, Starrina was prepared for her operation. Dr. Nassif acknowledged that the procedure carried significant risks.

“This is extremely challenging,” he said. “There’s a chance of damaging nerves, causing bleeding, or creating additional scarring. Nothing we do is simple, but in Starrina’s case, it’s particularly risky and complex. We won’t fully understand what we’re dealing with until we go in.”

Despite the dangers, Starrina was determined to move forward. “I feel like I’ve waited for this opportunity my whole life, and I’m excited for what’s ahead,” she said.

To ensure the best outcome, Dr. Nassif brought in Dr. Greg Levitin, described as a “super expert” in vascular abnormalities.

“For Starrina’s operation, we’re going to start by removing a triangular section of tissue from her lower lip,” Dr. Nassif explained.

“Then we’ll carefully excise as much of the abnormal tumor as possible from inside her mouth.”

“By the end of it, Starrina’s face will appear smoother and more normal.”

Dr. Nassif reported that Starrina was “about 75 percent better” following the procedure.

About six weeks after the surgery, Starrina underwent a second embolization. Three months later, she returned for a follow-up appointment and told the doctors the progress was “amazing.”

“We’ve made great improvements for Starrina,” Dr. Nassif said. “But when you’re treating something that has been developing for more than 30 years, it’s not a process that resolves in just two months.”