“Looked Better Before”: 14 Stars People Say Look Unrecognizable After Plastic Surgery

The Wicked actress recently shared that she’s “four years clean” from Botox and fillers.

 "I've had fillers in various places and Botox, but I stopped like, four years ago. And that is the extent,” she told Vanity Fair in September 2024. She also revealed that she was “open” to getting a facelift.

When asked about the constant scrutiny over her body, Ariana emotionally responded, “I’ve been doing this in front of the public, been a specimen in a petri dish, since I was 16 or 17. It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise. 

“That is something that is uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it’s happening, no matter the scale it’s happening on.”

The legendary musician addressed plastic surgery rumors in an Instagram post after her appearance at the 2023 Grammys.

“Look how cute I am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol,” she joked after fans said she looked “unrecognizable” while presenting an award at the ceremony.

Madonna confronted the criticism in a separate post, explaining that a closeup from a long lens camera distorted her face, making it appear rounder and puffier, as per The Daily Mail.

The Material Girl hitmaker clapped back at the critics, stating, “Once again, I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in.”

The 23-year-old daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin was spotted with bruised lips — which often occurs after lip filler injections—in 2021.

Amelia has also posted selfies with Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond, but hasn’t revealed which procedures she goes to him for.

“The man, the myth, the legend himself… @DrJasonDiamond My fave doctors apt,” she wrote on a photo with the surgeon, who has reportedly worked for the Kardashians. 

Some have speculated that her noticeably slimmer face could be the result of buccal fat removal. Netizens have also suggested the possibility of lip and cheek fillers, as well as a brow lift.

“I’ve been a makeup artist in the industry for over a decade and have never come across a lipstick or pencil that plumps the lips that much,” wrote one netizen after seeing Kate’s before-and-after photos.

The 51-year-old actress and model addressed the “vicious” commentary about her appearance in a lengthy message posted on Instagram last May.

“Every time I post anything — and by the way, this has been the case since I was about 30 -I am accused of having had unrecognizable surgery /using Botox using fillers /being obsessed with looking younger, and it’s really such a tiresome and subtly vicious way to bully a person,” Kate penned.

“I don’t actually do any of those things,” she stated.

“I’m always a bit flabbergasted when people who are already beautiful get so much work done,” commented one netizen after seeing a recent photo of Hunter.

When asked in 2006 how she felt about aging in Hollywood, the actress, who famously portrayed Taylor Hayes on The Bold and the Beautiful, responded, “It can be done with grace, and women shouldn’t be ashamed of getting older. I think you get better as you get older.

“The best thing to do is naturally take care of yourself by being healthy. That’s the most important thing you can do. I know people do [plastic surgery]; it’s part of our business and women have the right to do it if they want to.”

The Texas-born star declined to reveal whether she had undergone any cosmetic procedures.

The actress, best known for playing Starlight on The Boys, left Instagram in January 2024 after speculation about her appearance arose, most notably from Megyn Kelly, who used Erin’s photos as an example of young women’s obsession with plastic surgery, according to CNN.

Erin said the comments were “misinformed” and “inaccurate,” explaining that one of the photos was taken “over a decade ago” and the second one was from an event where she had “major contouring” done by a makeup artist.

“There is no excuse for these horrific allegations, the verbal abuse that I have had to delete, and genuinely false information that is being used to perpetuate a message that is exhibitionist feminism,” she wrote. Erin has since returned to the social media platform.

Megan revealed on the Call Her Daddy podcast that she underwent three breast augmentation surgeries and a rhinoplasty, and that she has had Botox and filler.

She further clarified that she didn’t get a face lift, brow lift, thread lift, buccal fat removal, liposuction, body-contouring, or a BBL.

“When it comes to lasers and stuff like that, I’ve done everything you could possibly think of doing, and I always will,” the Jennifer’s Body actress said. “I don’t understand the point of shaming people for getting stuff done.”

The youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan revealed that she got lip fillers, a decision that stemmed from an insecurity she had felt since her teens. 

“I was 15 and I was insecure about my lips. I have really small lips. And it was like one of my first kisses and a guy was like, ‘I didn’t think you would be a good kisser because you have such small lips.’ But I took that really hard.

“I just didn’t feel desirable or pretty. I really wanted bigger lips. I would overline my lips with lip liner just to create the illusion of bigger lips. And then finally I was like this lip liner isn’t doing it. [I] ended up getting my lips done.”

Kylie further revealed that she underwent breast augmentation surgery at 19, which she has since come to regret. “Obviously, I have a daughter too. I would be heartbroken if she wanted to get her body done at 19."

As part of her commitment to staying transparent with her fans, the 32-year-old singer revealed she gets anti-wrinkle injections.

"I’ve incorporated Xeomin into my routine every three months, and it gives me the results I want while still looking like myself,” Demi said.

"I’m always transparent with my fans, and this is something I wanted to share. It normalizes it and takes the taboo away from injectables.

“It’s all about what makes you feel like your best self. Don’t listen to naysayers. Do what makes you feel comfortable in your own skin.”

Kendall addressed plastic surgery rumors in an Instagram live in 2017, saying, “As a model, why would I have my face reconstructed? It doesn’t even make sense.”

Still, people continued to speculate about potential procedures, including a nose job and fillers.

In 2021, the reality star told Bravo that her family didn’t perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards. “We all really enjoy taking care of ourselves and being healthy. 

“So I think if anything, the only thing we’re really trying to represent is just being the most healthy version of yourself.”

While Zoë has never spoken about undergoing cosmetic surgery, people speculate about possible body-altering procedures, including eyelid surgery and buccal fat removal to chisel her cheeks.

“She is so naturally stunning and hit the genetic lottery thanks to her gorgeous parents. She didn’t need any filler!” one user commented on the Batman star’s contrasting before- and-after photos.

Rumors began circulating in 2021 that the Queen’s Gambit actress might have gone under the knife, though she has not publicly addressed the speculation, and there is no confirmation that she underwent any surgery.

“She has changed so much! I think she looked her best during the Split era,” one Redditor said, while another wrote, “She was the last person on the earth who needed a buccal fat removal.”

In a 2021 interview with Elle, Anya opened up about being bullied for her appearance when she was in school. “Much the same way as [Queen’s Gambit character] Beth needed chess, I needed acting. 

“I needed to believe in a place where I could be valued and appreciated, and actually have something to contribute rather than constantly feeling like, ‘What is wrong with me, and why do I not fit in?’”

“She has had work done, upper eyelid and lip for sure. But she's beautiful,” one fan commented on Olivia’s before-and-after pictures. “She looked better before. But Hollywood is brutal and I’m sure she felt the pressure,” another wrote.

The Newsroom actress has, however, refuted rumors that she underwent any body-altering procedures.

"We live in a time where there’s so many pictures that bring so much scrutiny," she said. "When your face changes because of makeup, it’s hard to let people know that you’re not actually doing surgery or fillers.”

"If you’re looking bad, you have to cover up," she continued. "If you’re looking good, you’ve done something or made a deal with the devil.”

Asked about celebrities who choose to go under the knife, the 51-year-old actress said, "We can't sit on a high horse and give any kind of advice like 'you don't need to do this.' Many people have the best bodies, but they are taking supplements.

"Just make informed choices. There are medical practitioners, take their advice. You should know the science before making any choices.”

It’s believed Aishwarya, who won Miss World in 1994, had Botox injections and a rhinoplasty. However, the star has never confirmed undergoing any cosmetic procedures, according to OneIndia.