Kylie Darling responds to criticism over cosmetic procedures: 'confidence comes first'

Kylie Darling, the 21-year-old influencer, has spent $16,000 on cosmetic procedures, including breast augmentation and filler in her lips, cheeks, and chin, but insists she was “never insecure” about her appearance.

Darling told People that her journey into plastic surgery was never about fixing perceived flaws. “If you're insecure with something, fixing it probably isn't going to help what's within,” she said. 

“My main thing is being confident with yourself to begin with and then realizing these are options you can do.”

The influencer, who shares her life with over 130,000 TikTok followers, began thinking about cosmetic enhancements as a teenager. 

“As a kid, I always expected my breasts to grow to the size of my mom’s—until I learned that my mom had implants,” Darling recalls. “As soon as I found out they were fake, I was like, ‘Oh, I'm just gonna do that.’”

After turning 19, she spent more than $14,000 of her savings on a breast augmentation. Over the following two years, she invested an additional $2,000 on fillers and Botox.

Despite facing online criticism—being labeled “fake” and losing “respect” from some followers—Darling remains unapologetic. 

“I do think a lot of that comes from people that are insecure or that can't afford it,” she said, adding, “Obviously, if you're taking it too far, that's one thing, but if you're going to the right providers, they're not gonna do you dirty like that.”

Darling emphasizes that a key part of cosmetic procedures is knowing when to stop. At 21, she says she “doesn’t really plan” on getting more work done, partly because her specialists have advised against it. 

“A good injector will say no to you. A good plastic surgeon will say no to you,” she explains. “A lot of times you get dysmorphic with your body or your face, so it's important to go to someone who sees your anatomy for what it is and knows what you need.”

Darling recounts instances where her provider refused additional treatments: “She’s like, ‘First of all, you’re not a candidate. Second of all, I love your face shape. I don’t want to change that.’” That same guidance applied to her chin filler requests, which she ultimately followed.

For Darling, cosmetic procedures are a form of self-expression rather than a response to insecurity. 

“I was never insecure about my boobs or my lips or my chin,” she said, adding, “I think it’s just a fun thing, and it’s a thing that’s available.”