I feel like my friends treat me differently after having work done
I’ve dealt with a lot of insecurities from a young age because I had some slightly unconventional features paired with being autistic and adhd.
2 years ago I got a subtle septorhinoplasty- my nose was extremely deviated to the point where it slanted to one side and looked drastically different from different camera angles. at the start of this year, I got 0.5ml of lip filler because I wanted to naturally enhance them. I’m super happy with the results of everything- personally I was very afraid of looking overdone as I just wanted to tweak subtle things that causes some insecurities. I feel very confident now, and my nose job also fixed my terrible breathing.
however, I’ve noticed my closest friends will make subtle (sometimes not so subtle) comments about me having work done. I was super honest with all of them as we were friends before I got anything done. a lot of them have mentioned wanting to get a nose job or some lip filler many times in the past.
for example, we banter a lot with each other but I’ve noticed basically all of the jokes they will make are about me being “fake” and having work done. I told them beforehand that i’d prefer they didn’t tell other people I’m not close with, but they haven’t really respected that. it feels like the focus is constantly on my old insecurities that I literally got rid of in the first place.
I’m not the only friend they have who’s had work done. we have mutuals who’ve had fillers, boob jobs etc but they never seem to get targeted the same way I do. I never really mention my surgeries because that would be annoying, but every time I see these friends they’ll bring it up multiple times.
one of them has admitted she feels insecure around me sometimes because I look “perfect” (please do not take this as bragging, I’m quoting) and will joke “I hate you, you look so good” which is a normal ish joke for young women but recently she started reprimanding me for having work done, she said she’d stop being my friend if I did anything else (I have zero plans on that at all) and started listing off what I had done. I reminded her that I’m happy now, and that my nose job was functional as well as cosmetic because I can actually freaking breathe now. and that i’ve been transparent with her the entire time. honestly the whole night it was like every time I looked away a bit after saying something she’d give this disgusted/cringed out face at the rest of the table. it’s just weird because for years up until now, before I even decided on getting surgery she’d talk about wanting these things done and more.
it’s hard to get perspective or advice on this because I’m aware it sounds conceited and super annoying. I know exactly what it’s like to struggle with insecurities and I’m the last person to judge that. I’m just not sure how to respond moving forward.
Posted Aug 12, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC