In my junior year of high school, I was sitting in a spin class when I had an epiphany.
In the middle of the class, I looked to my left, and the girl next to me had smooth hair and a perfect nose, and I was so f*cking jealous. TBH, the frizzy hair was not that big of a deal to me because I had Keratin scheduled the next week—it was the nose that pissed me off because no matter what Kardashian-Jenner bullsh*t contour tip I tried, I was always going to have a f*cking beak on my face.
Usually, I’m really against workout instructors trying to be super inspirational, but I guess that day when the teacher tried to convince me that I truly was in charge of my own destiny, something changed inside of me. I realized that it wasn’t like there was nothing to do about my nose—helloooo plastic surgery.
That wasn’t the first time I’d thought about getting a nose job. From the boy who told me I looked like a toucan in my eighth-grade art class, to the one who didn’t slow dance with me at a bat mitzvah in seventh-grade because I was “kinda cute but had a weird nose,” I definitely had some pent-up insecurities.
It got to the point where I would spend hours watching makeup videos on YouTube trying to contour my nose and getting pissed off because it only made it look more obvious. At some point in ninth or tenth grade, I started covering my nose in pictures, opting for a pose that I thought looked cute or candid but was just there to mask (what I saw as) the enormous trumpet on my face.
So, my eventual nose job was always pretty much always an unspoken thing. When I came home and told my parents that it was time, they weren’t exactly surprised. It was not like they encouraged me to get one before I expressed interest, but a nose job was pretty much always on the table.
The fact that I had a nose job isn’t new or revolutionary information to my friends—it’s like my number one personality trait (having a nut allergy comes in as a close second). My relationship with my nose has always been a huge part of my life, more so before my surgery than now, and the insecurity it caused me was incredibly consuming.
While I literally regret nothing about the decision I made, there definitely are some things I wish I looked into and knew before I had the surgery. Some of these seem pretty intuitive, but trust me, when you’re on whatever pain med your doctor gives you, and you have a weird pad thing under your nose, you aren’t thinking rationally. Whatever, you live, and you learn… right? Here’s what I learned from getting my nose job that I wish I’d known beforehand.
It’s Not Going to Be What You Expect
It’s not like in that episode of Glee when Rachel Berry brought Quinn to the plastic surgeon to show him what she wanted to look like. My doctor actually didn’t really take my input and didn’t show me a picture of my future self that I could have made on FaceTune.
In so many words, my surgeon (WHOM I LOVE) said to me, “if you really have a vision that you’re committed to, you can show me, but I’m basically just going to balance out your features. You’re not going to look like a whole new person.” At the time, I might have wanted that, but he was totally right—I just needed to trust him. He also asked me if I wanted a chin surgery because I guess those normally go hand-in-hand, and to that, I said thanks, but no thanks.
There Is No ‘Right Reason’ To Get Plastic Surgery
TBH: I got a nose job because I was insecure. I was aware that my insecurity made me quite bitchy intolerable. I didn’t like how I looked, and I really didn’t like how I projected that onto other people.
Okay, even that wasn’t completely honest. While my insecurity was the rationale for me thinking about the potential of having a nose job, that isn’t why I pulled the trigger. As my surgery date grew closer, and I let more of my friends in the loop, I started becoming more aware that the people in my life didn’t think I would go through with it.
So, yeah, my rationale for actually getting on the operating table and actually going through with my surgery was the same rational frat guys use when they jump off a roof onto a folding table: “do it b*tch, you won’t.”
In all seriousness, I don’t regret getting my nose job. I wouldn’t change a thing about the way I approached it, but I do wish I treated this life-altering decision with a little more gravity. There really are no wrong answers or justifications for getting plastic surgery (but, like, maybe the “do it, you won’t” thing wasn’t my best call).
Okay, I lied. There is one wrong answer: your reason to get plastic surgery should not be that you think it will fix everything in your life. Not to be gross and cliche, but plastic surgery should never be the answer to finding happiness, but it can be something that helps you get there.
Recovery Might Not Be the Hardest Part
Everyone’s process is different, but the surgery itself and my recovery weren’t the hardest parts of my nose job experience. Recovery wasn’t like a trip to the spa, I had to go back to the ER having to go on my first night due to aggressive bleeding, and I went to my first ever OB-GYN appointment with my cast still on. That said, it wasn’t awful. It was comparable to, like, an especially bad hangover.
The hardest parts were making the decision to go through with it, and the day I got my cast off. As ridiculous as it may sound, I assumed that the minute I looked in the mirror with all the surgical tape and packing off of my face, I would look hot as sh*t and feel, like, complete. This was not the case.
I was swollen, there was blood caked on parts of my face I hadn’t seen in a week, and I couldn’t blow my nose. The most shocking thing about looking in the mirror was that I couldn’t smile. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but some people get minor temporary nerve damage. So, when you smile, you end up looking like someone who is being forced to smile in a ransom video to prove they are alive and well.
I started my senior year of high school a week after I got my cast off. Truthfully, I was mortified. I felt as though I went through all of my internal debate about the surgery, pain, and discomfort for nothing. It felt like everyone knew that I was getting a nose job, but I had nothing to show for it.
But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was my perfect side profile. It turns out that you have to wait for the swelling to go down and the nerves to heal before you really get a sense of what you’ll look like. While it felt like months before this happened, it was really only a few weeks, and I came out the other side looking and feeling really good.
There’s No Right Narrative
There’s no right and wrong reason to have your nose done, and there is no right or wrong thing to tell people about why you got it done. But, just a tip, you might want to keep it consistent.
Initially, there were plenty of people who realized I had surgery on their own, and, feeling a little uncomfortable with my decision to have it done, I lied to them. Most frequently, I told people I wasn’t close with that I had a deviated septum. If that’s what you want to do, there is nothing wrong with fudging the truth a little to create a narrative you are comfortable with, but lying just made me feel more insecure. Like, we all know how believable it is when celebs claim they “fixed a deviated septum”. Blaming my nose job on a fake problem just brought about more feelings of insecurity (can they tell I’m full of sh*t?) and shame (for not owning my decision).
Now, I’m more vocal about my experience. (I mean, obviously, I’m writing an article about it.) Partly because of my personality and partly because of the circumstances that contributed to my decision. I go to college close to 1,000 miles away from my high school, where I’m the only one from my graduating class. I got to have a fresh start and reinvent parts of myself—one of those being the way I talked about my surgery.
Going through with my nose job made me a more confident and better person, but as I said, those changes didn’t happen overnight. I’d like to think that the 21-year-old version of myself is above falling victim to stigmas against plastic surgery and hope that I would be more confident in owning my decision today.
At the end of the day, I would undoubtedly do it again, but I wish I handled it differently. I literally hate people who talk about their *journeys, * but that’s what this was for me. For some people, getting a nose job stops being important as soon as your black eyes and swelling are no longer visible. For me, it took a little longer, but I came out the other side just fine.
The most important lesson that my nose job taught me was that it didn’t make me superficial or stupid to want to like how I looked. We don’t call people who dye their hair or start working out those things. I think that it’s probably time to stop treating people who get plastic surgery like they aren’t deep or smart or confident.
In the meantime, there’s a lot of satisfaction to be gained from the guy who called me and my “big ass nose” ugly at camp one summer thinking that I’m hot now. 
Images: Max Andrey / Unsplash; Giphy (2)
When I scroll through my Instagram feed, there are five types of photos that I see. Influencers with filler for days, influencers who are preaching about their life-changing clean beauty routine, puppies, engagements, and babies. But leaving off the puppies, engagements, and babies for a sec, let’s focus in on the two types of faces you see on Instagram. In 2019, we’re witnessing a war between the filtered-in-real-life influencers, and the ones who preach about their chemical-free skin care routine that nobody actually asked for. We have two extremes, and it’s hard to decide which approach is better (or, tbh, if either are good for you). It’s a lot to sort through, when so many of us have only just started using an eye cream. Don’t worry, I’m here to help.
For those of you who don’t spend all your time on beauty blogs know, the mainstream term for clean beauty is still open for interpretation, and different brands have different definitions when it comes to “clean”, with no industry standard quite yet. However, if you read any of the following ingredients in your beauty products, know that they are not considered clean: Aluminum Compounds, Ethoxylated Agents, Formaldehyde, Fragrances, Hydroquinone, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Refined Petroleum, Silica, Talc, or Triclosan.
Translation: Clean beauty means natural, nontoxic ingredients. If a brand is not clean, it may contain harmful (toxic???) ingredients. Brb while I go intensely wash my face.
Clean beauty products and the “clean” trend as a whole have skyrocketed in 2019, and the concept does not seem to be slowing down. Larger clean brands, such as Drunk Elephant, have quadrupled their sales in the last two years (Shiseido just purchased Drunk Elephant for a casual $845 million), to give you an idea of just how big the shift toward clean products seems to be. But at the same time, fillers too seem to hold onto their reigns… especially if the faces you see on Instagram are an indication of trends.
RN and certified injector Danielle Repetti (@refresh_nurse) explained to us, “With the world of social media being so prevalent in our lives, facial enhancement isn’t going anywhere.”
This did not surprise me, as injections have become more and more normalized in society. With similar price tags, and similar audiences, it made me wonder, do injections go against all ideas clean and green?
I first looked to celebrities supporting clean beauty for some answers. The initial person that pops into my mind is Gwyneth Paltrow, who is miss au naturel. The founder of Goop Beauty (a clean beauty pioneer) has admitted to getting Botox in the past, and all I have to say is, if the queen of green will take a needle to the face, something tells me that we all will.
But will clean and natural beauty wipe away the “Instagram face” trend? There are only two ways to find out: input from a board-certified injector, and an Instagram poll.
I asked Repetti what the current trends are in the injection world, and her answers actually surprised me. “Currently I’m seeing more and more interest in under eye filler,” Repetti explained. “The reason it’s becoming so popular is because when done correctly, it’s near impossible for anyone to know you’ve had ‘work’ done.”
I assumed lip injections were consuming most of her time, but as the age-old saying goes, we know what happens when we ass-u-me things.
I also asked her opinion about the cross between clean beauty and injections, and if there was any correlation or discrepancies between the two.
Repetti explained that people appear to be more concerned with clean/green topical products, rather than injectables. She says that when it comes to clean beauty, “There are some things that people will make an exception for—injectables seem to be that thing. Technically, our fillers are made of hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite, all of which are found naturally in our bodies. Clients who prefer ‘natural’ approaches to life have nothing to worry about.”
This explains why Kourtney Kardashian preached that her unborn children must be clean and vegan, but she herself has (allegedly) dabbled in injections and gone under the knife.
Clean products and injections have their pros and cons, some overlapping. Both are created with the intention of a beautiful end result. Younger, healthier looking skin can be achieved both ways, depending on the route you choose. Clean beauty says goodbye to toxins and hello to face-friendly ingredients. Injections say goodbye to any wrinkle you thought you once knew, and can make you feel young and alive, regardless of what your skin’s truest form may be.
When you look at the price tag of injections, they vary by procedure and location. Botox typically retails from $10-15 per unit (the average patient requires minimum 30 units), while popular procedures such as lip injections and under eye filler retail on average between $450-700. Compare it to a four-step skin routine from Drunk Elephant, with products retailing from $60-90, the average spend is not far off.
The cons? First and foremost, *the unknown*. We’ve yet to see the long-term results of clean beauty products or injections, and while clean claims to only have benefits, do we really know? Injections, too, claim no harm, but at the end of the day, sticking a needle and foreign substance into your body does not exactly scream health. And… there’s always the option of bad injections or taking fillers too far. (Have you seen Brandi Glanville? Sorry, but it’s true.)
I took an Instagram poll and asked followers whether they felt clean beauty would prevail in 2020, or if injections were here to stay. 76% of these trusty souls chose clean beauty, and while I do believe they are right, I still think injections will rule the world as long as social media is thriving. As someone who overdraws their lips and (poorly) contours their face in hopes of some Bella Hadid cheekbone action, I’ll openly admit my temptations to try injections are there. I also think the shift toward clean is very real, from beauty to food, and we will see more and more integration of these products into our everyday lives.
So, I guess what I’m trying to say here is, in 2020, you’ll see more clean products on the skin, more injections under the skin, and the same amount of Facetune for final touches. In other words, even more pressure to look perfect at all times. Great.
Images: Giphy (5)
Kim Kardashian has now been in our lives for a very, very long time. We’ve seen her adapt from an Armenian princess who cleaned celebrity closets to the Illuminati cyborg clone we know and love. Kim’s changed her style a lot over the years, but somehow not as often as she’s changed her face. We literally could do a whole series on each of the Kardashian/Jenner clan and their ever-changing faces, but for now we’ll focus on Kim. (Although my favorite Kardashian is Khloé, because she’s sassy.) And remember, if it weren’t for Kim having sex on camera and Kris Jenner being a marketing genius, none of these people would have careers. Let’s take a look at how much has changed since Kim first came into the limelight.
2006
Ah, 2006 Kim. She looks so different here, it’s insane. This is actually even before KUWTK, when she was simply holding Paris’s handbags and cleaning her closet. The good old days, if you will. Who would have thought Kim would turn into who she is now?
2007
This is the year KUWTK started. Kim decided that the real essential to her look would be very dark glitter eyeshadow. But the nude MAC Lipglass stays. This is also when Kim discovered fillers.
2008
Kim figures out how to give herself a forehead! This is actually how I remember Kim in general: like, she’s cute, dating Reggie Bush I think, but very much still looks like a naturally pretty Armenian girl. This is before the white-washing begins.
2009
2008 Kim to 2009 Kim isn’t even the same person??? Like, what exactly has happened here? I want to say she had a nose job, but her nose looks the same. Her skin is way lighter, so I don’t know if this is like a skin-bleaching regimen or she just learned to use sunscreen like the rest of us. Her lips definitely have a bit more filler, but it’s nothing compared to what’s coming up.
2010
This is the year that every woman thought they could be Angelina Jolie with enough injections. It doesn’t work that way. I know this because this is exactly what my mom also looked like that year: puffy and her face doesn’t move correctly. Yikes.
2011
Ok, THIS is the year of the nose job (it looks way thinner) and when Kim really, really needed to lay off the fillers and botox. Look at those eyebrows! She’s an inch away from cartoon movie villain. Maybe it’s just the spidery bottom lashes, but she looks a bit scary.
2012
Oh good, this is the year that Kim learned to blend. These must be the Kanye years. It also seems like she laid off some of the fillers (except for her lips, for sure).
2013
Kim lightens her hair and gets a better makeup artist. I actually still really love this look. I don’t know if it’s just the softer eye makeup and the lighter hair, but she’s looking very, very different to me from the last pic. Is her nose the same? Her skin even looks way lighter to me too? How is this the same woman??
2014
LOL remember how I said Kim looked way lighter in the last photo? Kim has now eschewed her Armenian heritage completely. Her nose looks even thinner, but I’ll guess it’s a contour. Did we do contours in 2014? We must have, because her face looks way thinner and more chiseled too. Or I guess that could be fillers? She’s gotten very thick, Muppets-y eyelashes from 2007 on as well. IDK.
2015
Kim’s lashes and lips keep growing. She explores vampy looks. She lays off the cheek and brow filler (highly recommend) but adds more to the lips. I am rapidly losing interest in this. Is anyone still reading this?
2016
Kim decided that while Kylie was building her billion dollar empire on having huge lips, Kim would be the queen of zero lips. Not a great look, Kimmie. Also, her forehead is a different color than the rest of her face. She looks very, very pale. Also, her eyeshadow is from The Lion King. That is all.
2017
Kim gets a tan and is a blonde. I hate the roots on this wig. I don’t mind roots showing with intention, but at least blend a little. Her eyebrows are super thick for this look. Her nose and cheeks look super different as well? Like, the nose is way thinner? Is this another nose job or a contour? I can’t even tell with these people. The cheeks are so big and sharp they could cut glass.
2018
Kim’s lips are huuuuuge compared to 2017. Maybe she had just gotten them done. I do like when Kim decided to go more natural with less makeup and dark, casual waves. But is it considered more natural when it’s 100 pounds of foundation and lighter makeup? Or more natural when she’s walking around with a gigantic mane of fake hair? IDK?
2019
And here we are, our current Kim K. She looks a bit… puffy to me. It’s v similar to 2010 with all the fillers. But what’s really crazy is that this woman now has completely generic features compared to her 2006 counterpart. I mean:
Do these people even know each other? They don’t really even look related. And if you want to see a GIF of Kim’s faces over the years, here it is:
Which Kim is your favorite? Do you think her face has changed a lot? What do you think about celebrities that white wash themselves once they’re famous? LMK!
Images: Getty Images
While most people have been obsessing over Kylie Jenner’s breakup with Travis Scott, I personally have been focusing on Khloé Kardashian. That is mostly because Khloé has once again gone dark on IG and disabled all comments after posting a photo of herself where she looks virtually unrecognizable. In other news, the sky is blue! The photo in question is a sultry selfie that could be Khloé but also could be a random VSCO girl she found on the internet to pass off as herself and thought we wouldn’t notice. Well guess what, Khloé? WE F*CKING NOTICE. Fans are saying the photo is an egregious use of FaceTune, and while I’m inclined to agree (seriously, her photo editing skills are a crime against humanity), I’m starting to wonder if this selfie, along with countless others, isn’t just a terrible filter or Khloé projecting the fun-house mirror self-image she keeps in her mind unto the masses via a sh*t ton of FaceTune. Maybe Khloé Kardashian really did get an entirely new face.
I know what you’re thinking: florals for spring Kardashians getting plastic surgery? Groundbreaking. But the thing is, Khloé has adamantly denied having any work done over the years. Back in April, Khloé took to Instagram to be petty AF when responding to fans who commented that perhaps she had gone a bit overboard with recent plastic surgery. I mean, her exact response went something like: “lol, oh man… but sure whatever you want to believe,” which is actually the exact wording I use when my sister confronts me about stealing her shirt and I am definitely wearing said shirt as she puts me on blast over the phone.
Look, I’m of the mind that anyone living within a 50 mile radius of LA has probably had some plastic surgery done, the Kardashians included. And can we really blame them? If I lived in a city where the most skin you were allowed to cover in public was 12 cubic inches then I would also like to look permanently airbrushed at all times. But what do I know? I’m just a 27-year-old woman who spends her free time presenting elaborate powerpoint presentations to my dog on Kardashian conspiracy theories.
ME TO MY DOG AS I WRITE THIS ARTICLE:
But I guess I’m not the only one with this theory about the Kardashians because according to Dr. Manish Shah, a board certified plastic surgeon in Denver, Colorado, Khloé Kardashian has definitely had some work done. “Khloé Kardashian has certainly undergone some major physical changes over the years,” Dr. Shah said. And while some of these changes can be attributed to weight loss (she is killing it with her workout regimen and she does have the receipts Insta stories to prove it) and normal maturation (aka losing her “baby fat”) the rest definitely involves some cosmetic enhancements.
We asked him to look at a few of Khloé’s most recent Instagram posts and weigh in on if he thought these are just the result of a very warped understanding of photo editing or the work of a skilled plastic surgeon. Here’s what he had to say:
On Her Rumored Nose Job
Look, I love KoKo, I really do, but the nose that’s been showing up on her face in her most recent Insta posts look less like the one she was born with and more like the one He Who Must Not Be Named debuted after his resurrection. I’m sorry, but it’s true!! It’s been rumored for years that Khloé might have gotten a nose job, and just last year Khloé herself even admitted that she’s always wanted one, but that she was “too scared” to go through with it. Her stance has always been that she’s just really good at contouring but, like, I’ve never been able to contour my face so good that I could successfully enter myself into Witness Protection and not even have to change my name. Dr. Shah agrees. “It’s clear that she has had rhinoplasty to give her a much more contoured nose,” he said. “Her original nose had a much wider tip and bridge. This nose is sleek.” And it does look sleeker. So sleek that I have to believe there’s more being done to that face than just going to town with a bombass highlighter.
On If She Has Lip Fillers
“Although Khloé never had thin lips, it seems as though some filler has been used to sculpt them in such a way as to make her face as proportional as possible,” Dr. Shah said. He also thinks she’s had some fillers added to her cheeks to give them more shape and definition, which would make sense considering Khloé used to have a rounder face and now her face has more angles than an isosceles triangle. These seemingly new face angles can also be attributed to some work she might have had done on her jawline. “Before, her jawline was very heavy, and seemed to weigh her face down. Now, it is very balanced, delicate and feminine,” Dr. Shah said. “This could be the result of liposuction of the jawline, in tandem with weight loss, and perhaps some artful fillers to give the jaw the desired shape.”
On Her Other Enhancements
Like any good girl from Calabasas, Khloé has also probably dabbled with Botox. “Her forehead is completely smooth,” Dr. Shah said. “That would indicate Botox. Her eyebrows are also in a higher position which could also indicate that they have been elevated by strategically placed Botox.” Dr. Shah thinks she may have also undergone a skin tightening treatment like radiofrequency (a technique that uses radio frequency energy to heat tissue and stimulate collagen production in order to reduce the appearance of fine lines or loose skin). Either way, Khloé looks absolutely unreal these days (no, seriously, it’s absolutely not real) but if it’s making Khloé feel good as hell, then who am I to judge?
So there you have it! Definitive proof that Khloé Kardashian has had some plastic surgery. Sort of. For those of you who are shocked by this turn of events, I think you should also know that the Easter Bunny isn’t real either. It’s just your mom buying discounted CVS candy and whatever else was featured at the checkout aisle at 2am the night before. Kisses!!
Images: @khloekardashian /Instagram (3); Giphy (1)
Rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a “nose job,” is probably the most infamous form of plastic surgery. From rich teenagers getting them as a sweet sixteen gift to celebrities getting them done under the guise of a “deviated septum” (looking at you, Jax Taylor) it’s a relatively common practice. When it comes to nose jobs, you probably know someone who has had one, have had one yourself, have thought about getting one, or know someone who has thought about getting one. They’re pretty common—a recent statistic found 225,000 Americans are getting rhinoplasty each year. Since this procedure is so prevalent, we consulted with Dr. Yael Halaas—a double board certified plastic surgeon and expert in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, along with non-surgical procedures—to give us some more insight on the popular procedure.
1. It Might Not Be Ideal For Deviated Septums
This is often a rhinoplasty patient’s go-to excuse for getting a nose job. But nowadays, that excuse is so unbelievable that you’re honestly just better off admitting you’re getting a nose job solely for aesthetic reasons. And like, more power to you for doing so! It’s also way more #relatable. Not to mention that, according to Dr. Halaas, “Most deviated septums are inside the nose and can be corrected without changing the appearance of one’s nose.” However, Dr. Halaas adds, “If the deviation affects all the way to the bottom of your nose, or makes the outside appearance of your nose look crooked, then you need the full rhinoplasty as well.”
2. Your Doctor Will “Pack” Your Nose
Do you remember that scene from She’s The Man where Channing Tatum sticks a tampon up his nose? Yeah, well that’s pretty much the less clinical equivalent of “packing the nose” post-rhinoplasty. “Packing the nose” is when the doctor “packs” up your nose with tampon-like sterile cotton or gauze after the procedure. It can then be removed from the nose 24 hours later, although, according to Dr. Halaas, “not everyone needs them!” So fingers crossed you’re one of the lucky ones!
3. You Should Wear Your Cast
According to Dr. Halaas, “Most surgeons have you wear the cast for a week after surgery. Ask to keep your cast, and use it to wear under sunglasses or your regular eyeglasses for the whole month after surgery to keep your nasal bones in good position during the healing process.” Makes total sense and, if you already went through this whole process to have your new cute perfect nose, you might as well go the extra mile to ensure it heals seamlessly.
4. It Can Fix Sinus Conditions
If you are actually in the market for a rhinoplasty then, fun fact, you can actually correct your sinus issues simultaneously with the procedure! Dr. Halaas informed me, “Many top nasal surgeons are ENTs, board certified otolaryngologists, so they can evaluate and surgically correct sinus or breathing conditions at the same time as your rhinoplasty.” I mean, if you ask me, seems like might as well nix your Claritin addiction while getting your new perfect nose, like, why the hell not?
5. There Is A Botox Alternative
If you have a nose with a droopy tip, Dr. Halaas says that Botox can actually help stop a muscle that pulls down the tip of your nose when you smile. If you’ve read my previous article on Botox for my jaw issues, then you know I’m a personal testimony to the amazing powers of this popular beauty procedure. I’m not a doctor, but I love what it did for my jaw (and my forehead) so I don’t see why it couldn’t help your nose, too. I’m also personally fascinated by all the cool sh*t doctors can do to correct issues with non-surgical procedures. I follow like, all the LA doctors on Instagram, and they perform various non-surgical alternatives to rhinoplasty. What a world we live in. Bottom line is there are a number of ways to address issues you may be having with your nose, so be sure to discuss with your doctor all your options.
There are probably about a billion more things you should ask your doctor if you’re considering rhinoplasty, but these five are a good start. When it comes to your looks and/or breathing, do whatever is going to make you feel your best—it’s cliche, but true.
Images: @krivitskiy / Unsplash;
Guys, RHOC is finally back on August 6th! For those of you that do not have absolute trash taste in television, RHOC is Real Housewives of Orange County, aka the franchise that started it all. For what it’s worth, I am still absolutely beyond livid that OG of the OC, Vicki Gunvalson, was demoted to a friend, but I will still watch. It seems like the ladies of OC have been busy, with Gina getting a DUI (she is the worst, why is she still on the show?), and ex-Housewife child Alexa Curtin getting arrested for drug possession. A lot has gone on in the THIRTEEN YEARS the OC ladies have graced our televisions. Seriously, the early episodes somehow look like they were shot in the 80’s compared to now. I don’t get how that happens. I was in high school when this show came out and I don’t remember TV looking so bad? But anyway, nothing has changed more than the Housewives’ faces. It’s not really that surprising, considering that in Orange County, plastic surgery is a necessary chore, like going to the gym or the grocery store. Everyone uses the same two surgeons and it’s all very, very creepy. Vicki alone has had three full face swaps. Let’s take a look at the current cast’s face from their first episode until now.
Tamra Judge
Tamra Judge started out in season 3 as Tamra Barney, and she was a sad, pathetic woman that followed around her gross, controlling husband. Thankfully she’s definitely had a personality glow-up with the new face (seriously, that season 3 pic is UNRECOGNIZABLE) and is now super strong mentally and physically (since she owns a gym). She definitely had her face frozen via Botox, possibly her chin shaved down (OUCH), definitely got some veneers, but it seems like she kept her original nose! What a rarity in OC.
Shannon Beador
Shannon Beador entered our lives in season 9 as a super thin, insanely rich resident psycho who wouldn’t have Wifi in the house because she believed it causes cancer. Since then, she’s gained and lost some weight, most noticably 180 lbs of douchebag cheating husband. I live for Shannon Beador and her use of everyone’s first and last names. Face-wise, she looks completely different, but it looks like a standard frozen face/lip injections/Botox kind of deal, plus basic aging and weight change.
Kelly Dodd
Is there anyone messier than Kelly Dodd? Kelly looks like she had a lot of work done before the show, so her face hasn’t changed that much in the years since. She’s always had a kind of Michael Jackson nose, filler-lip sort of look to her. Plus, she was dating a plastic surgeon. I always had mixed feelings about Kelly. On the one hand, I hate her. But on the other hand, with Gina and Emily back on the show, I’m grateful for her presence because who else is going to fuel the drama for us to watch?
Gina Kirschenheiter
I dislike Gina so much, I can’t stand it. She is just such a bummer of a person. First of all, she belongs on RHONJ if anything, and let’s be real, she’s way too dull for that show. She spent the entire last season crying about her marriage. Stay with him, leave him, shoot him, dammit Gina, I do not care. We do know now that Matt is allegedly abusive and was arrested for domestic violence right after season 14 filming ended, which I do feel horrible about. But I still don’t think I should have to watch her on TV. Also, she recently got a DUI. Is she trying to audition for Celeste on Big Little Lies? Get. It. Together. She’s only been on the show a few seasons, but honestly, she doesn’t look like EITHER of these pictures IRL. She did kind of go from 30-something with a lot of makeup on to aging evil stepmother, though?
Emily Simpson
Emily is another one that I audibly groaned when she was announced back on the season 14 roster. She is just so boring. In sorority recruitment, we’d call her “vanilla”. Meaning, she’s nice but there is literally nothing else you can say about her. There was no room for vanilla in my sorority, and there should be no room for vanilla on my reality TV. Since she was only added last year, there isn’t a major difference to her face, except her cheeks look puffier this year, which could be from fillers. When people start getting cheeks that look like full circles, I get suspicious.
Honorable Mention: Vicki F*cking Gunvalson
Although Vicki was demoted this year, I refuse to accept it and I’m including her anyway. Also, she has had SO MANY FACES, which she openly admits to. Vicki started season 1 as this super religious parent and it took quite a few years before we discovered that Vicki really cheated on her husband a bunch (hey, he cheated too!), and lived a crazy, secret life. It was awesome TV. This woman has brought us so much insane drama, I can’t believe having her around is even questioned. I do have to say, even with three new faces, Vicki looks good this year. Remember that one season where her hair was a mess and she was sweaty literally every episode of the entire season? She said she thought she could do her own hair, and turns out, no she cannot (#relatable). She’s at least improved upon that. Let’s hope she’s invited back into her RIGHTFUL PLACE for next year!
Images: Giphy; Bravo (12)
If you were watching Big Little Lies this season, then you may have noticed that something looked well… different. And no, I’m not referring to Shailene Woodley’s wack-ass hair or Meryl’s terrible wig. Rather, I’m referring to Nicole Kidman’s face. Now, she’s always been beautiful, and that will never change, but I couldn’t help but notice that something looked a little off. At first, I really couldn’t pinpoint what exactly it was. I asked around, and one of my friends thought something was off with her jaw, commenting that it looked “uneven”. Another avid BLL fan noted that her face was “very sharp-looking”, specifically pointing out her nose and chin.
For reference, here’s a picture of Nicole at the 2018 Oscars. I know it seems like a million years ago, but it was objectively not that long ago.
And for contrast, here are some screenshots from Big Little Lies this past season.
And just to clarify, I by no means am throwing shade at Nicole, or anyone, for possibly getting something done. Look, I got Botox for my jaw, and I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I didn’t ask for an extra shot or two in my forehead as well since I was already there. (Just don’t tell my insurance that.) I’m trying to say is that I’m down for whatever makes anyone feel more beautiful, and I know from experience that Botox for my jaw and forehead have definitely made me feel more beautiful and confident.
So while I’m not shaming anyone for getting a little extra *ahem* enhancement, I’m pro being up front about it. Like, it’s not enough that celebrities are using Photoshop, Facetune, and contouring to (appear to) look the way they do—they’re also getting injections and surgery on top of it and acting like their faces are all natural. It doesn’t benefit any of us for celebrities (or anyone, really) to pretend their perfectly engineered faces are just due to a little puberty, and in fact, putting forth this false narrative is harmful to all of us, who didn’t magically gain pouty lips and a new nose during puberty (because that’s not at all how that works).
With that being said, a girl can wonder if the face she’s viewing every Sunday night has had a little extra help. To get to the actual truth of whether Nicole Kidman had something done or not, I consulted with Dr. Manish Shah, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Denver, Colarado.
Dr. Shah says, “I’m a firm believer in the idea that Nicole has probably had a facelift and brow lift.” Which gives me hope because it means Nicole Kidman isn’t just some mutant human who magically doesn’t age. According to Dr. Shah, as we age, we lose bone support in our faces. He says, “When you have a facelift, you are tightening the loose skin that develops with this bone loss.” He assures me that we all have natural asymmetries in our face that can be hidden by the loose skin. Therefore, when the skin tightens, the asymmetries are more easily seen. And, he points out, this is more likely in slim women, like Nicole, who doesn’t have extra fat to hide bone loss.
So like, are these asymmetries the sign of something gone wrong? Dr. Shah insists, “Not at all. It is entirely normal and expected in 100% of people getting facial plastic surgery.” I don’t know how comforting a response this is, though—like, if I’m trying to tighten my skin, it’s because I’m trying to look better. So tightening the skin just to look less even doesn’t necessarily sound like a win to me. Dare I say, I may just have to age naturally?
If you do decide to get a brow lift or facelift sometime far off in the future, how can you make sure that you won’t have asymmetries? Dr. Shah says, “When patients have large asymmetries, it is important for the plastic surgeon to try and reduce the amount of difference,” which often requires the use of filler, fat, or facial implants. Or, you could just not stress too much about it. In general, Dr. Shah says, “Our eyes can overlook minor asymmetries—large asymmetries are hard for our brains to ignore.” If it’s a minor asymmetry, chances are nobody will notice.
When it comes to facelifts, there are a few things to keep in mind. Number one, Dr. Shah says people should not have a facelift too prematurely. He says, “There is so much that can be done with fillers nowadays with what is known as a liquid facelift. There are times when a woman has a facelift too early (such as early 50s) and this can actually serve to age her if her face is pulled too taut and some of the natural fullness is taken away.” We’ve all seen a bad facelift, right? Good, so I don’t need to explain to you what it looks like. Somebody tell Kylie Jenner that getting plastic surgery too early in life can actually make you look older…
For brow lifts, Dr. Shah expresses that the same rules apply. “We’ve all seen women who have that perpetually surprised look because the brow has been raised to an unnaturally high position.” (See every Real Housewife, for example.) He urges those considering a brow lift to find a skilled plastic surgeon who knows just the right place to inject Botox in order to give the brows the right amount of natural lift. Also, according to Dr. Shah, there are techniques women can do with brow shaping to achieve youthful, nicely arched eyebrows without injections. So maybe I do need to find my way around a brow pencil after all…
All in all, it’s not shocking that celebrities are using things other than expensive face creams to slow down the aging process. We just wish they’d be more open about it.
What other celebs are you positive have had work done, but they won’t admit it? Let us know in the comments and we will get to the bottom of it.
Images: Shutterstock; HBO; thefacesurgeon / Instagram
It’s 2019, anxiety is a national pastime, and if you’re in your mid-to-late-twenties or beyond, it means you’re already worried about aging, which is probably not helping the situation. Now more than ever, there are options available to slow the formation of wrinkles, most intriguing among them being preventative Botox. In the procedure, smaller doses of Botox are used to relax fine lines so they will not become deeper and etched in over time. But injecting neurotoxins into your face also creates a stress of its own. Before you convince yourself everyone’s doing it and you should, too, read on for questions you should consider first.
Do I Have To Start Now?
My FBI agent has been working extra hard because every Ad on Hulu & social media is something to do w/ Botox or plastic surgery. I ain’t mad at em tho
— Cydney Kessler (@CydneyAg18) June 30, 2019
Preventative Botox has been shown to prevent signs of facial aging, but that doesn’t mean that it is a one size fits all treatment. “I have 22-year-old patients who could potentially benefit from it and 42-year-olds who may not,” says New York Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. “It’s more important to pay attention to your skin than your age.” Skin type, amount of sun exposure, and how expressive you are are a few contributing factors. Don’t inject anything into your face without first getting a clue as to where you need it. A good rule of thumb: see if your skin holds an expression line beyond when you’re making that expression. “Just because your friend or sister is doing it doesn’t mean you should,” says Engelman. She adds, “Even if it would be helpful, you may need it in a different part of your face than your friend for your best result.”
What Are The Risks?
Does botox help resting bitch face? Asking for a friend.
— Lady Disturbed ? PAX West (@lladydisturbed) June 30, 2019
The increased interest in Botox, especially among a younger clientele, has given rise to aesthetic bars, designed in the style of blowout bars. They make injections both accessible and nonthreatening, because you can order them off a menu in a less clinical-looking space. But be wary of being able to order your injections à la carte. “You may end up getting what you ordered, but that doesn’t mean you’ll like it,” warns Engelman. She notes patients often don’t understand the best method to get the look they want, which makes shopping around for an injector problematic for your face. But that’s nothing compared to the risk of nerve damage and (although extremely rare) blindness. So don’t lose sight of the fact that’s it’s still a procedure. Engelman expresses concern that injectors at aesthetic bars may be less skilled than doctors who are constantly trained in new techniques, have extensively studied facial anatomy, and can expertly guide you through all available treatment options.
Who Should I Go To?
one thing I love about the women in my generation is how transparent so many of us are about getting filler/Botox/plastic surgery – like yes go off get those smile lines filled honey get those new and improved titties and be proud of it
— it’s ya boy, uh… (@SierraMayhem) June 30, 2019
“Anything that makes you feel prettier can be addictive,” says Engelman. So, overdoing it is a possibility, especially if your injector is unlikely to tell you when enough is enough. If you start preventative Botox young, you should only need about two appointments a year, so be cautious of anyone who allows or suggests more. The best part about living in a time where people are open about their treatments? If you like someone’s look, you can probably just ask someone what they’re doing or who they’re seeing. Similarly, Instagram can be a great way to research a doctor’s particular aesthetic. But first, always check a doctor’s certifications: “Just because there’s an MD behind their name doesn’t mean they are necessarily an expert in the field,” advises Engelman. She recommends you go to a doctor who’s board certified in dermatology or plastic surgery (these specifications should be easy to find on their website). And ask to see their personal patient before-and-after images, not just theoretical results. They should have them. “You want to make sure you’re both on the same page,” says Engelman.
Is Botox What Even I Need?
Remember years ago when Nicole was getting a ton of shit for her Botox treatments and now she’s 52 looking 37 on Big Little Lies lmao pic.twitter.com/J2MQnXJjgZ
— Noah Cassiel (@NCassiel) July 1, 2019
Engelman says that young patients tend to come into her office asking about aggressive treatments when what they need is to focus on healthy skin care practices. She recommends getting into a prevention routine including antioxidants, a vitamin A derivative (aka a retinol or retin-A), and most importantly, SUNSCREEN. If you don’t protect your skin but you’re interested in Botox, “It’s a little like sitting in your pulmonologist’s office and smoking,” says Engelman. Studies show up to 90% of your skin’s aging is determined by UV radiation, which can come from the sun, infrared, or blue light. Translation: wear sunscreen 365 days a year, indoor and out, if you want to head off aging at the pass. See what an improvement it makes if you stick to a skin care routine for at least 8-12 weeks. It sounds simple, but you might be surprised at the results you get if you start taking care of your skin differently.
The amount of open discussion surrounding Botox and its widely increased availability makes it seem that the stigma surrounding injectables has all but disappeared. That is great. It was not healthy for us to believe that celebrities look the way they do year after year just because they drink a lot of water. It is great that, if you need intervention for something that you’re self-conscious about, you need not be insecure about the treatment as well. These “tweakments” are now an open beauty secret. But just like anything else, scrolling through your Instagram feed can make the lives and decisions of others feel more effortless than they actually are. Feeling like you have to change your look or freeze your face in time—because otherwise you will look out of place around the people you surround yourself with (on the internet or in real life)—is still a problem.
Images: NCassiel, SierraMayhem, lladydisturbed, CydneyAg18 / Twitter
