Lyn May is a legend. If you grew up watching Mexican cinema or variety shows, you know exactly who she is. She was the queen of the Ficheras film era, a powerhouse of the 1970s and 80s whose acrobatic dancing and striking features made her a household name across Latin America. But today, when people search for Lyn May before after photos, they aren't usually looking for her dance clips. They are looking for the story of a woman whose face became a cautionary tale of medical malpractice. It’s a heavy topic. Honestly, it's a bit of a tragedy disguised as tabloid fodder.
Liliana Mendiola Mayanes, her real name, started out with a look that was genuinely captivating. She had this incredible blend of Chinese and Mexican heritage that gave her high cheekbones and a look that felt totally unique in the Mexican film industry at the time. She was sleek. She was athletic. She was a star.
Then, everything changed because of a single, terrible decision made in a moment of vanity.
What Happened to Lyn May's Face?
It wasn't a botched facelift. Not exactly. While people often group her in with celebrities who just "went too far" with elective surgery, Lyn May’s situation is much darker. In her 30s, she was approached by two women—supposed "professionals"—who convinced her that she needed some "vitamin treatments" to maintain her youthful glow.
They didn't inject vitamins. They didn't even inject medical-grade silicone.
They injected baby oil.
It sounds insane, right? But back then, unregulated "fillers" were a Wild West. The oil stayed under her skin for a while, but eventually, the body reacts. It’s a foreign substance. It causes inflammation, granulomas, and permanent scarring. The weight of the oil and the subsequent infections literally changed the shape of her skull and skin. When you see a Lyn May before after comparison, you aren't seeing the results of aging or a bad surgeon; you're seeing the physical aftermath of a chemical assault on her tissues.
The Painful Road to Recovery
She’s been very open about the psychological toll this took. Imagine being a woman whose entire career is built on her beauty and physical presence, and then waking up to a face that is becoming unrecognizable. She has admitted in multiple interviews, including emotional segments on Venga la Alegría, that she contemplated suicide during the darkest years. The transition from being the most desired woman in Mexico to being the subject of cruel memes is something most people couldn't survive.
But she did. She's tough as nails.
Over the last decade, she’s undergone dozens of surgeries to try and remove the oil. It’s almost impossible to get it all out because it migrates and weaves itself into the muscle. Dr. César Cruz is one of the specialists who famously worked on her, successfully reducing the volume of her face and helping her regain some of her original proportions.
Analyzing the Lyn May Before After Timeline
To really understand the impact, you have to look at the stages of her life.
In the 1970s, she was the "Goddess of the Night." Her face was slim, her features were sharp, and she had an aura of effortless glamour. This was the peak. Her performances in films like Tívoli showed a woman at the absolute height of her physical powers.
By the 1990s, the "after" started to become apparent. The puffiness wasn't just weight gain. It was the inflammatory response to the baby oil. Her cheekbones became overly prominent, and the skin began to lose its natural texture. This is when the media began to turn on her, transitioning from admiration to a sort of morbid curiosity.
The Recent "New Face" Reveals
In 2021 and 2022, Lyn May went viral again. She posted photos on Instagram showing a significantly smoother face, claiming she had found a new surgeon who "fixed" her. She looked different—younger, in a way, but still clearly shaped by the years of reconstructive work. Some fans loved it. Others were skeptical of the heavy filters used in the photos.
The reality of a Lyn May before after journey is that there is no "fixing" it completely. There is only management. She’s had to embrace a persona that is part camp, part survivor. She leans into the drama. She wears the bold wigs. She wears the incredibly tight outfits. She refuses to hide.
The Cultural Impact of Her Transformation
Why do we still care? Because Lyn May represents the intersection of fame, vanity, and the dangers of the beauty industry. Her story serves as a bridge between the old-school glamour of the Cine de Oro (though she was slightly after the Golden Age) and the modern era of "Botox parties" and back-alley injections.
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She’s also a survivor of a very specific type of gendered pressure in the entertainment world. Male actors of her generation were allowed to wrinkle and gray. The women? They felt they had to stay 25 forever. Lyn May’s face is a physical manifestation of that pressure.
Interestingly, she hasn't let it stop her. In her 70s, she’s still doing splits on live TV. She’s still releasing music. She’s even dabbled in urban music and reggaeton, proving that while her face might have changed, her spirit is basically indestructible.
Lessons from the Lyn May Story
If you’re looking at these photos and wondering what to take away from it, it’s not just "don't get surgery." It's more nuanced than that.
- Verify everything. Never let anyone inject anything into your face unless you see the vial, know the brand (FDA-approved fillers only), and have researched the doctor's board certification.
- The "Vitamin" Trap. Even today, people are lured in by "vitamin injections" or "mesotherapy" that turn out to be industrial-grade polymers. If it's cheap, it's dangerous.
- Reconstructive surgery limits. There is only so much a surgeon can do once the underlying tissue is compromised.
Moving Forward With Modern Standards
The medical community has learned a lot from cases like Lyn May’s and Alejandra Guzmán’s (another Mexican star who suffered from toxic injections). We now have specialized procedures to treat "biopolymer" injections, using ultrasound-guided removal and specific anti-inflammatory protocols.
Lyn May continues to be a fixture in Mexican pop culture. She’s a regular on reality shows and a constant source of headlines. Whether she’s claiming to be pregnant at 68 (which turned out to be a publicity stunt) or feuding with other starlets, she remains relevant. She has turned her "after" into a brand of resilience.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Beauty Journey
If you are considering any cosmetic procedure, learn from the history of those who paved the way.
- Check for Board Certification: In the US, look for the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In Mexico, ensure they are recognized by the CMCPER (Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva).
- Demand Transparency: Always ask for the "lot number" and the box of the product being used.
- Understand "Fillers": Hyaluronic acid is dissolvable. Biopolymers, oils, and "PMMA" are often permanent and extremely difficult to remove.
- Prioritize Skin Health: Often, what we perceive as a need for filler is actually a need for skin quality improvement through lasers or medical-grade skincare.
Lyn May’s journey is a reminder that beauty is fleeting, but the choices we make to preserve it can last a lifetime. She remains a fascinating figure—not because of the tragedy of her surgery, but because of her refusal to let it define the end of her story. She is still Lyn May. She is still the star. And she is still here, long after the movies stopped rolling.
To ensure safety and quality in any cosmetic journey, start by consulting with a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in corrective work. They can provide a baseline assessment of skin health before any invasive measures are taken. Researching patient advocacy groups for biopolymer victims can also provide a realistic look at the long-term maintenance required for these types of medical issues.