Sandra Lee is revealing just how close she got here to stepping away from her profession 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 recent details in regards to 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 4 months ago, I’m OK now,” Sandra Lee shared during a recent interview with Page Six.
Within the immediate aftermath, Lee said fear and uncertainty quickly set in. “To start with, I used to be like, ‘What am I going to do? Like, am I happening disability? Is that this going to be it? I’m never doing a surgery again,” the 55-year-old said, also admitting the traumatic experience has left an enduring mental impact. “You’ve a bit of PTSD cause it happened while I used to be actually taping the show.”
“It’s kind 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 higher,” recovery hasn’t been completely smooth. She explained that her condition can fluctuate, noting there’s “a spread” where symptoms can get “a bit of worse” or “a bit of higher.”
Despite the challenges, she has been in a position to proceed working and interacting with patients. Nevertheless, she revealed she still struggles with fully lifting her left arm.
Dr. Pimple Popper Star Admits She Ignored Warning Signs
In the case of what can have caused the stroke, Lee pointed to underlying health risks. “My father had a bit of stroke when he was about 60, so older than I’m, but I’m mid-50s, which is tough for me to say, but that’s a part of it,” she said.
She also admitted she had neglected routine health checkups, convincing herself she didn’t need them. “So that you can sort of say, ‘OK, perhaps I should see a physician for my blood pressure, my cholesterol, that appears 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 used to be having weakness on one side, but I used to be like, ‘Well, this can be 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 individuals can’t stomach, bringing among the most jaw-dropping skin procedures to the highlight.
From pimples to lipomas and even melanoma cases, Lee has tackled all of it on camera, earning a large 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 yet again since it helps them fall asleep at night,” she said. “Others watch it prefer it’s a scary movie or a roller coaster.”
While hundreds of thousands 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 really see how what I do transforms anyone’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 higher care of their health.