Teddi Mellencamp defended her decision to undergo an upper blepharoplasty while receiving stage 4 cancer treatment.
The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum, 45, revealed the eyelid procedure Tuesday on Instagram Stories, posting a photo of herself with a bag of ice over her eyes during an immunotherapy session. Mellencamp, who has been battling melanoma since 2022, told followers the surgery had been cleared by her cancer doctors.
“Of course, it was fine with my cancer doctors, that’s why I agreed to do it,” she wrote on the platform. Mellencamp added that she remained awake during the local-anesthesia procedure and noted her timeline: “I get my stitches out Thursday. I have immunotherapy Wednesday.”
Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon Dr. Sarmela Sunder performed the operation and shared behind-the-scenes footage including before-and-after images on her own Instagram account. Sunder explained that Mellencamp had been considering the surgery for some time but delayed until receiving medical clearance.
“Teddi had noticed that the skin of her upper lids had been weighing heavily on her over the past couple of years,” the surgeon wrote. “For a lot of people, fluctuations in weight (due to natural causes, pregnancy, prolonged steroid use, medications) can lead to skin laxity.”
Sunder continued, “She got the ‘all-clear’ and we were able to perform the procedure under local anesthesia. Just like everything else in her life, Teddi handled it like a true champ!”
Mellencamp’s cancer journey began with a stage 2 melanoma diagnosis in 2022. The disease progressed to stage 4 around March 2025 when physicians discovered it had metastasized to her lungs and brain. She has since undergone multiple surgeries, including procedures to remove brain tumors.
In October 2025, Mellencamp delivered what she called “huge news”: scans showed the cancer was gone, though full remission remains a multi-year process. “The way the [doctors] said it works, it’s like one year, then two years, then at three years you’re allowed to be considered … in remission,” she said at the time.
The Bravo alum has been open about the psychological toll of her diagnosis and treatment. In February, she said she was prioritizing mental recovery through therapy, seeking peace, happiness and joy. A vulnerable Instagram video posted in June captured her grappling with anxiety after a medication change.
“They added in a new medication on Monday and I guess it’s just hitting me really weird,” she said in that clip.
Mellencamp separated from her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, though the two are not yet divorced. They share three children: Slate, 13, Cruz, 11, and Dove, 6. She has recently begun dating an older man, she has indicated.
The eyelid surgery marks another instance of Mellencamp’s candor about her appearance alongside her health battle. She previously defended undergoing a neck lift, responding to critics with a direct challenge: “Would you prefer I lie?”
Her willingness to share both cosmetic and medical procedures publicly has drawn both support and scrutiny throughout her cancer journey.
Mellencamp continues immunotherapy as part of her ongoing treatment protocol.