Social media influencer and model Mary Magdalene, known for her extensive body modifications and tattoo coverage, is recovering from a serious complication following a recent eyeball tattoo procedure.
The 30-year-old, who has amassed over 210,000 followers on Instagram, had previously tattooed her right eye black. However, a new attempt to dye her left eye yellow appears to have gone wrong, leaving her with her eye effectively sealed shut.
In a video shared online, Magdalene displays severe swelling and discoloration around the left eye. The tattoo ink appears to have leaked beneath the eyelid, where it dried and caused the eye to stick closed.
“Right now I still can’t fully open my eye. My eyeball is fully bruised, bloodshot, and swollen,” she told Need to Know. “There’s a big clump in the corner that isn’t spreading—it’s like it’s stuck there.”
She added that the yellow staining was a direct complication from the ink and said she may require surgery. “I’m probably going to have to see an ophthalmologist for surgery to drain some of the excess ink from the eye,” she said.
Eyeball tattooing, also known as scleral tattooing, is a controversial and high-risk procedure where ink is injected into the whites of the eyes. Medical professionals have consistently warned against the practice due to risks including infection, vision loss, and long-term damage to the eye.
Magdalene is no stranger to body modification. In addition to full-body tattoos, she has undergone multiple surgeries and enhancements as part of her personal aesthetic.
Her experience has reignited concerns about the dangers of extreme cosmetic procedures and the need for stricter regulations around high-risk body modifications.
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