Dr. Pimple Popper Feared Career Was Over After Stroke Scare

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Sandra Lee is revealing just how close she came to stepping away from her career after suffering a stroke in November 2025. The longtime dermatologist and reality TV star, best known for her work on “Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out,” is now sharing new details about the frightening medical emergency and the emotional toll it took as she faced an uncertain future.

Dr. Pimple Popper Feared She’d ‘Never Do Surgery Again’ After Stroke

The “Dr. Pimple Popper” star revealed she suffered a stroke in November 2025, admitting the experience left her questioning whether she would ever return to surgery. “I had a stroke four months ago, I’m OK now,” Sandra Lee shared during a recent interview with Page Six.

In the immediate aftermath, Lee said fear and uncertainty quickly set in. “In the beginning, I was like, ‘What am I going to do? Like, am I going on disability? Is this going to be it? I’m never doing a surgery again,” the 55-year-old said, also admitting the traumatic experience has left a lasting mental impact. “You have a little PTSD cause it happened while I was actually taping the show.”

“It’s sort of associated in my mind with the show,” she added, referencing her TLC series, “Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out.”

Sandra Lee Says Recovery ‘Not Completely Smooth’ After Stroke

While Lee says she’s now “99 percent better,” recovery hasn’t been completely smooth. She explained that her condition can fluctuate, noting there’s “a range” where symptoms can get “a little worse” or “a little better.”

Despite the challenges, she has been able to continue working and interacting with patients. However, she revealed she still struggles with fully lifting her left arm.

Dr. Pimple Popper Star Admits She Ignored Warning Signs

When it comes to what may have caused the stroke, Lee pointed to underlying health risks. “My father had a little stroke when he was about 60, so older than I am, but I’m mid-50s, which is hard for me to say, but that’s part of it,” she said.

She also admitted she had neglected routine health checkups, convincing herself she didn’t need them. “For you to kind of say, ‘OK, maybe I should see a doctor for my blood pressure, my cholesterol, that sounds like a mold,’” she continued.

Lee previously described the terrifying moment the stroke happened while filming. “At first, she thought she was experiencing a hot flash, but things quickly escalated,” she said. “As a physician, I couldn’t deny that I had slurred speech, that I was having weakness on one side, but I was like, ‘Well, this is a dream, right?’ More like a living nightmare.”

Sandra Lee Built A Cult Following With Her Viral Extractions

Long before becoming a household name, Lee built her brand by doing what most people can’t stomach, bringing some of the most jaw-dropping skin procedures to the spotlight.

From pimples to lipomas and even melanoma cases, Lee has tackled it all on camera, earning a massive fanbase drawn to the oddly satisfying nature of her work. “It’s so fascinating to me that [watching the extractions] relaxes some people,” she previously told PEOPLE, reflecting on the viral appeal of her content.

The UCLA and Drexel University College of Medicine alum first gained traction by posting procedures on YouTube before her TLC show debuted in 2018. “People watch the videos over and over again because it helps them go to sleep at night,” she said. “Others watch it like it’s a scary movie or a roller coaster.”

While millions are hooked on the content, Lee admitted she doesn’t fall into that category herself. “I’m not a natural pop-aholic [someone who loves watching extractions],” she said. “But I feel really lucky that I get to actually see how what I do transforms somebody’s life.”

Dr. Pimple Popper Star Hopes Her Story Sparks Change

Now focused on recovery, Sandra Lee has been undergoing physical and occupational therapy and hopes her experience serves as a wake-up call for others.

She said she hopes sharing her story will “push others” to take better care of their health.

The Dr. Pimple Popper Feared Career Was Over After Stroke Scare first appeared on The Blast