Cosmetic or plastic surgery has gained popularity over the years, and with the continuous advancement of technology, more and more innovations and procedures are being introduced in the industry. From nose jobs to breast augmentations, plastic surgery gives people the option to surgically change or alter parts of their face or body (for a hefty price!)
While some undergo cosmetic surgery to correct physical defects, deformities, or traumatic injuries, some choose to have plastic surgery to enhance or change features they dislike. It’s not unusual for celebrities, Hollywood icons, or those in the entertainment industry to have cosmetic surgery. However, not every procedure ends with a happy ending.
Underneath the glam and sparkle of successful rhinoplasties and facelifts are the other side of the coin. Plastic surgery is a big decision not only financially, but also physically, mentally, and emotionally as a whole. These celebrity regret stories shine a new light on the after-effects of cosmetic procedures.
Heidi Montag
Heidi Montag is a singer, actress, and TV personality and has undergone 10 cosmetic surgeries. At 23, the reality star went in and had various procedures done, including a chin reduction, liposuction, brow lift, and more. In one of her TikTok videos, she revealed that she sometimes regrets all the plastic surgery she had.
She explains on Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast that it took a year for her surgeries to heal despite being told by her surgeon that it was a quick recovery, only needing a few months. She was also in a lot of pain, and at one point, her life was even in danger after an incorrect dose of an opioid for pain relief.
Jamie Lee Curtis
American actress and producer Jamie Lee Curtis, known for her roles in comedy and slasher genres, speaks on the harmful effects of plastic surgery, focusing on how going under the knife to fix her puffy eyes made her addicted to the pain relief medication, Vicodin, given that in her past she had a troubling addiction with opiates.
She says: “Once you mess with your face, you can’t get it back,” pointing at the unhealthy and unattainable beauty standards that encourage people to get cosmetic procedures in the first place.
Kylie Jenner
At 19 years old, reality star and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner underwent breast augmentation surgery, which she denied doing at the time. She admits to having regretted her decision, wishing she had never had it done in the first place.
Speaking from a mom’s perspective, she added that she would be heartbroken if her daughter Stormi felt she needed plastic surgery at 19. For those considering getting plastic surgery, Jenner recommends getting breast procedures after having children.
Bella Hadid
Fashion icon and supermodel Bella Hadid regrets getting a nose job at the young age of 14. “I wish I had kept the nose of my ancestors,” she expresses, further explaining that she felt she would have grown into it.
What urged the model of Dutch and Palestinian heritage to have a cosmetic procedure at such a young age? Pressure from the industry and the constant comparison to her older sister, Gigi Hadid, also a model.
Ariana Grande
Actress and singer-songwriter Ariana Grande shares her experience with Botox and lip fillers and why she stopped using them. While technically both less-invasive procedures, stopping these cosmetic practices has allowed her to break free from feeling like she is hiding.
Her choice to stop is related to her personal feelings toward beauty and self-expression. While she may be open to the idea of a facelift in the future, for now, she is embracing aging and her smile lines.
Is plastic surgery good or bad?
The list of celebrities who have regrets over their plastic surgery goes on. Meanwhile, some think it is one of the best decisions they’ve made. Cosmetic surgery is not necessarily good or bad, but what’s indisputable is that it is not the all-glamorous solution many people think.
In the age of social media, the pressure of beauty goals and perfection is emphasized, pushing younger people to get procedures done to fit what they see online. For people considering getting plastic surgery, it’s essential to consider the motivation behind it and have the maturity to understand the risks that cosmetic surgeries carry.
The decision to undergo plastic surgery is yours, and yours alone, being done as a personal decision and not something to follow trendy beauty standards or appease other people.
