Plastic surgeons explain Gwen Stefani’s ‘unrecognizable’ new face – and how much it cost
Gwen Stefani caused a stir after appearing on The Voice last night with an ‘unrecognizable’ new look.
The 55-year-old superstar ditched her signature icy platinum locks for new warm blonde, wavy locks with prominent bangs.
But fans were quick to suggest that there was something else about her look besides the hair and clothes, pointing to her plumper and smoother facial skin.
Some speculated that she may have had cosmetic procedures done, with one saying it had “gotten out of hand” and another comparing her new look to Sabrina Carpenter.
Dr. Corey Maas, a facial plastic surgeon in San Francisco, suggested that the plumper appearance of her face may be due to fillers, which fill wrinkles, smooth lines and restore volume to the face.
He also suggested that Gwen may have had a lower facelift, saying he didn’t see any loose skin on her lower jaw, which he would expect for someone her age.
Gwen Stefani is pictured above in 2006, left, and last night on The Voice. Plastic surgeons have suggested that she has had filler in her face and lips, and some have also suggested that she has had a mini facelift. In the left image she is 37 years old, and in the right image she is 55 years old
A lower facelift, or mini facelift, involves making incisions around the ear and then pulling on the skin in the lower third of the face to tighten it. The procedure is used to reduce sagging and wrinkles in the lower face.
Fillers, on the other hand, are substances that are injected into the face to restore volume and make a person look younger. As people age, the face begins to lose volume – often starting in the late twenties.
He also suggested that the lack of deep lines and wrinkles on her face, which often occur in her twenties, may be related to the use of Botox.
Gwen has been the subject of much speculation about her appearance over the years, with surgeons also suggesting she had a nose job in the 1990s.
In rhinoplasty or rhinoplasty, surgeons reshape the nose – sometimes to improve its appearance, especially in photographs. It is done by making an incision on the inside of the nose and then moving or removing the tissue.
Dr. Gary Linkov, a New York City plastic surgeon who evaluates celebrity plastic surgery for his YouTube channel, suggested that she had spent more than $428,000 on her face over the years on at least nine procedures, including two brow lifts.
Dr. Maas told DailyMail.com after watching footage of Gwen on The Voice: ‘It’s true that if you pull the bangs down, people start to concentrate more on the center of the face and under the eyes, which causes that [the cheeks and mid-face] looks a bit fuller.
‘But I didn’t expect it either [this area] to be that full with someone her age, so she probably had some filler.”
He added: ‘Her jawline is also really indicative of some work, a 55-year-old woman just doesn’t have that kind of jawline.
“I think she may have had a lower facelift because it tightens the jawline and chin really nicely, and hers are almost perfect.”
Dr. Michael Bassiri-Tehrani, a facial plastic surgeon in New York City, agreed with the suggestion that she had had filler, telling DailyMail.com: ‘As we get older, we tend to lose some facial fat.
“But we don’t see that in Gwen, so it’s possible she opted for tasteful fillers to maintain the plumpness of her cheeks.”
He added: ‘Her face seems a bit rounder and fuller in the cheeks than before [also] supports this idea. But of course bangs can play a role in her appearance.’
Gwen is pictured above in two images that plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Linkov said suggested she had had a nose job. The bridge of her nose, or central area, appeared thinner
He also shared these photos of Gwen to suggest she may have had a facelift. The surgery involves making incisions around the ears and pulling them tight, which can cause changes in the appearance of the earlobe and the tragus, the tongue-like protrusion on the outer ear (circled)
Dr. Joel Kopelman, a facial plastic surgeon also in New York City, also suggested that she may have had a lower facelift or a mini facelift.
He told DailyMail.com: ‘From my perspective as a facial plastic surgeon, it is possible that Gwen Stefani has had a mini facelift.
‘This is less invasive than a traditional facelift, which also places emphasis on the lower face and jawline, tightening sagging skin and restoring youthful contours.
‘Looking at Gwen’s recent appearance, particularly her smooth jawline and lack of sagging around the cheeks and neck, a mini facelift could have contributed to these results.
‘This type of procedure typically results in a subtle, natural lift, which complements her overall appearance – leaving her looking refreshed and youthful without dramatically altering her signature look.’
Gwen Stefani herself has not publicly responded to allegations that she has undergone cosmetic procedures.
But she is known for her love of makeup and has even founded her own brand – GXVE, pronounced ‘Give’ – which sells cruelty-free and vegan makeup, including lipstick, highlighters and eyeshadow.
Speaking about her love for makeup in a 2017 interview with In Styleshe said: ‘I would always get s*** for it [wearing make-up].
‘People would say, “You’re wearing a mask, what are you trying to hide?” No, I just like makeup. I just think I look better with it on.”
A spokesperson for Gwen did not return a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
After looking at photos of her on The Voice, one viewer said: ‘I think it’s more than the wig… look at her face, the plumpness and the smoothness. She did some work and the fillers got out of hand.”
A second person said: ‘I find it particularly disappointing to see some of the girls we’ve come to know as rebellious, unique and adventurous champions of personal style transform into cookie-cutter, bloated, lifted, rebuilt clones grasping for youth. ‘
And a third added: ‘I like Gwen and she has always been beautiful and very talented. I really hope she stops now or slows down.”
The No Doubt frontwoman had to cancel her concert in August this year due to an unknown injury.
She returned to The Voice at the end of September this year.