Brandi Glanville has shared a startling update on her health after learning that a facial parasite was behind a condition that she says made part of her face ‘sink’.
The 53-year-old reality TV figure spoke about the diagnosis on a recent episode of her podcast, explaining that for a long time her concerns had been brushed aside as nothing more than ‘scar tissue’.
The TV personality said: “I didn’t understand. There’s a lot of dismissing that goes on in the medical field.”
After years of uncertainty, Glanville said doctors identified a lump that had been present in her face for a long time. She was then told it was ‘a benign tumor’ located in one of the lymph nodes in her face.
Medical specialists reportedly linked the issue to a facial parasite, which Glanville said led to a noticeable change in her appearance and caused her face to appear as though it was sinking.
Speaking on the Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast last week (June 18), the star said: “I have to give an update on my face, because we got a lot of comments last time.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, guys. I thought I was fixed, and then it happened again and now it’s sinking in again.”
She went on to say that wearing makeup has become difficult, claiming she can only keep it on for around 15 minutes before needing to take it off.
“It could be why the fluid is going around my face and why I’m having a hard time,” she added.
According to Glanville, she sought help from dozens of doctors and spent more than $100,000 while trying to understand what was happening before finally receiving the latest diagnosis.
In earlier comments in late 2025, Glanville said she had finally received an official diagnosis but did not publicly name the exact condition, while later updates suggested she was also dealing with a deep tissue infection that can mimic parasitic symptoms. In recent months, she has continued to describe her facial issues as part of a long-running and frustrating medical saga.
She also stressed that the tumor is ‘not cancerous’, adding that the discovery came after doctors examined a lump she says had been there for ‘years’.
“I haven’t had a face lift yet!” she exclaimed.
Health experts generally note that benign tumors are noncancerous growths that stay in one place, though they can still cause problems if they press on nearby structures. In the face, a lump may be linked to skin tissue, a salivary gland, a lymph node, or another structure, so doctors often need imaging or a biopsy to determine exactly what it is.
Symptoms linked to benign facial tumors can vary depending on the type, but they often include a slow-growing lump, changes in the skin, local pressure, facial weakness, twitching, or numbness if nearby nerves are affected.
Because some benign growths can resemble infections, cysts, or other inflammatory conditions, getting a clear diagnosis can take time, especially when symptoms come and go or appear to respond only briefly to treatment.
Glanville said she had previously suspected some of her health problems were connected to ruptured breast implants, claiming that leaking silicone had blocked her lymph nodes.
Her health battle has also played out publicly as she has continued to discuss treatment attempts, including cosmetic and medical procedures, and the emotional toll of dealing with a face she says has changed shape over time.
She appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for four full seasons after joining the series in 2011, before leaving as a full-time cast member in 2015.