Joni Hesselgren is open about her massive beauty operation: “I need therapy”

Joni Hesselgren, who has undergone several cosmetic operations, wonders if the number of surgeries would have been less if she had discussed her appearance-related insecurities with a professional. Matti Matikainen

Joni Hesselgren has been busy in the headlines during the spring. In February, the social media influencer traveled to South Korea for a large-scale beauty operation, the stages and recovery of which he has documented exceptionally openly on social media.

Hesselgren says that he recovered from the operation physically well, but there is still work to be done on the psychological side.

– It somehow feels like there is a bit of pressure when you do that in such a public way. People are always waiting for some massive change, he says.

The experience was exceptionally difficult for Hesselgren, because for the first two weeks after the operation he practically lost his ability to see, speak and eat normally.

– It was a really tough experience mentally. I’ve never been through anything like it.

Although over the years, Hesselgren has been tough on comments about his appearance, this time the feedback has hit a sensitive spot. Some of the followers have wondered aloud whether the end result of the large-scale operation can be seen on the outside at all, which has made the influencer think about it himself.

– The comments I’ve received recently have gotten a little under my skin. Normally, they don’t affect me at all, but now I feel somehow really vulnerable, because I have been so public about this issue, he reflects.

The comments made Hesselgren momentarily doubt whether a change had taken place at all. At the same time, he admits that he himself had perhaps unnecessarily high expectations regarding the operation, just like many commentators.

– I probably went into the surgery myself with pretty high expectations. I thought this would be the magic solution that would change my life. Then I realized that the things I hate about myself were still there the next morning. It has come true for me.

There is also one complication left from the operation, which can be seen on Hesselgren’s face. He shows the reporter the stubble sticking out of his cheek:

– You see, here is such a pimple on the cheek. It’s a screw.

In the operation, screws were placed in Hesselgren’s cheekbones, one of which has since started to loosen and cause aesthetic problems. However, he has been in contact with the clinic that performed the surgery, and there are plans to return to South Korea at the end of the summer for the corrective procedure.

When asked if he intends to perform other procedures during the upcoming clinic visit, he laughs:

– Don’t give me any ideas.

However, the tone of the conversation quickly becomes serious when Hesselgren starts to think about the matter from a deeper angle.

– I notice in which direction my own mind goes. I immediately start thinking that I still need this and that. What I really need is therapy.

– What I really need is the opportunity to talk with a professional about the feelings, inner demons and self-hate that have been raging inside me. Only then can I truly feel well, because it has become clear that surgeries are not the solution, he states.

Hesselgren, who has undergone several cosmetic operations, wonders if he would have ever ended up with so many surgeries if he had sought professional help.

At the same time, he emphasizes that he does not regret the decisions he made. He had been thinking about measures related to appearance for a long time. In Hesselgren’s opinion, there is nothing wrong with changing one’s own traits if they cause a person to feel bad.

– I hated my jaw, nose and teeth. I wanted to do something about it. It could be that I would have ended up with these measures anyway.

Hesselgren does not disclose the exact final price of the operation, as he received a discount from the clinic for acting as a kind of model. Without this cooperation, the entire beauty operation would have cost approximately 30,000 euros.