‘Glam’ mortician reveals what happens to our bodies after death

A mortician, dubbed “funeral babe” thanks to her glam looks, has opened up about exactly what happens when we die.

A mortician has opened up about the reality of what exactly goes on with our bodies at the funeral home after we pass away.

Melissa Jo – otherwise known as “Funeral Babe” thanks to her glamorous looks – has amassed a large following on TikTok after she began posting videos detailing the truth about death and the dying process.

In a video that has gained over three million views, she likens the embalming process in preparation for a burial to a “spa treatment”.

She has been dubbed ‘funeral babe’ thanks to her glam looks. Picture: TikTok/funeralbabe

“If you get embalmed, it’s like a spa treatment for your dead body,” she said.

“You’ll get your hair shampooed and conditioned. Your nails cut, filed, cleaned. Ear and nose hairs trimmed.

“We pluck those eyebrows. Shave your unwanted moustache. We’re like your personal stylist.”

She goes on to detail how she washes the hair of a deceased person in preparation for a funeral.

“This is an embalming table, and this is a head block,” she said.

“The neck would be here, and I would be here. That gives us a 360 [degree] access to your hair and head, so we can give you a thorough shampoo.

“The table has wells in it. When we embalm, we place a cannula into your artery and we inject embalming fluid.

“We snip the vein. and that allows for the blood to drain out, so the embalming fluid can take it’s place.

“Blood runs down those wells, down the drain.

“End of life spa care? I’m down for it.”

Melissa Jo has amassed a large following with her candid videos. Picture: TikTok/funeralbabe

Jo went on to explain that her role as a funeral director is very much akin to being a wedding planner, as they are in charge of everything.

“The best way to explain this is to think about a wedding,” she said.

“The wedding day is the funeral day. Your wedding planner is your funeral director [or] the mortician, but the difference is morticians are post-mortem vascular surgeons.”

In response to questions about maggots, she went on to explain that a corpse can often be infested with maggots if they die outside.

Melissa added that maggots can actually help police solve crimes if the death was suspected to be a result of foul play.

She likened the pre-burial process to a ‘spa treatment’. Picture: TikTok/funeralbabe

She explained how maggots can present on a body after death. Picture: TikTok/funeralbabe

“Maggots come from blowflies. Blowflies lay eggs, that become maggots,” she began.

“They can smell something dead, animals and humans, within 10-15 minutes after death, from up to 10 miles (16km) away.

“Maggots can help solve crimes, and determine approximate time of death.

“They are actually really important, because they help break down what is dead.

“Think about all the animals that die in the woods.

“Maggots are not really a thing we usually have to deal with in the funeral home, but that’s not to say we don’t.

“Typically people die inside, where blowflies can’t get to you.”

Originally published as ‘Glam’ mortician reveals what happens to our bodies after death