Former The Only Way Is Essex star Mario Falcone has revealed he is reversing a cosmetic procedure he once turned to in a bid to boost his confidence.
The reality TV personality, who rose to fame on the ITVBe series in 2011, told fans he has had his beard tattoo removed after years of feeling self-conscious about his appearance. Mario, now 37, shared photos on Instagram showing a noticeably different look following the treatment.
In a candid post, the father-of-two explained that he previously underwent scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP) to disguise patchy facial hair. The procedure involves injecting pigment into the skin to create the illusion of a fuller beard or hairline.
“Many years ago I had SMP to help fill in my patchy beard,” Mario told followers. “Last week I had it lasered off. Can’t believe how well it came off after one session. Looking forward to rocking a clean shave again.”
Mario has spoken openly in the past about his long-running struggles with self-esteem, revealing he was bullied over his appearance, particularly his nose. He previously said both school bullies and fellow reality stars mocked him, leaving a lasting impact on his confidence.
Beyond cosmetic concerns, the former TOWIE favourite has also been frank about his mental health battles. He has spoken about experiencing depression and a suicide attempt just one year after finding fame, during a turbulent period following his high-profile split from co-star Lucy Mecklenburgh.
Mario has credited his sister, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! winner Giovanna Fletcher, with helping him seek professional support during his darkest moments.
“She is super organised in a crisis and knew what to do,” he previously said. “She got me to counselling. As a man, you feel you have to put on bravado, but she told me I needed to open up. That saved my life without a doubt.”
After leaving TOWIE in 2015, with occasional appearances in later years, Mario stepped away from reality television entirely in 2021. He went on to launch his own luxury trainer brand, Belvotti Milano, though the business has since closed.
Today, Mario has settled into family life with partner Becky Miesner, a make-up artist and salon owner. The couple share two children and remain focused on life away from the spotlight.
His latest cosmetic reversal marks another chapter in his ongoing journey toward self-acceptance, one he continues to share candidly with fans.
