7 Famous Celebrities You Would Never Recognize in Photos before They Did Plastic Surgery

As Hollywood evolves, so do the appearances of its brightest stars. Several celebrities have changed so drastically over time, they’re almost unrecognizable compared to their past selves.

From Ariana Grande to Madonna, these women have transformed dramatically. Some admitted they had cosmetic surgeries to achieve their desired looks. Here are the seven stars whose looks have changed since bursting into the limelight.

Ariana Grande: From Broadway to Pop Sensation

Ariana Grande, 30, first captured hearts as a child performer in a Broadway play at the age of 15, which led to her role on TV’s “Victorious.” Her character, Cat Valentine, was a quirky and aspiring singer, laying the groundwork for Grande’s future music career. While she navigated her path from sitcoms to pop stardom, her appearance significantly evolved.

The Transformation of Grande

In September 2023, Grande shared beauty tips with Vogue. She revealed her struggle with breakouts and her extensive use of makeup to mask her natural features, which included bleaching her eyebrows for years.

“Over the years, I used makeup as a disguise or as something to hide behind, and more and more hair. More and more thicker the eyeliner, the whatever,” Grande explained.

However, as Grande grows older, she no longer uses makeup for that intention. “I think of it as self-expression now and accentuating what is here,” Grande noted, marking a shift in how she views beauty.

By 2018, she had stopped using lip fillers and Botox, finding them overwhelming. “For a long time, beauty was about hiding for me. And now I feel like maybe it’s not,” she stated, embracing natural aging signs like cry and smile lines.

The Grammy Award winner further stated, “I think aging can be such a beautiful thing.” Although Grande has accepted how she looks, her physical transformation has been a topic of discussion over the years.

Expert Opinions on Grande’s Appearance

In December 2020, a Holistic Plastic Surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn discussed Grande’s change in appearance over the years. He noted differences in her facial structure as she matured.

Initially, he observed a round baby face when Grande was 18 which later elongated with a more defined nose and fuller lips at 20. Fast forward to years later at age 22, the songwriter’s nose and lips still looked the same.

However, her lips did not have the “overdone plumpy pout” that fellow Hollywood female stars have,” said Youn. He added that at this stage, Grande did not have work done on her face.

A year later, at age 23, Youn noticed that Grande’s nose had gotten a little straighter. Her tip may have been lifted up a touch, but he noted it was difficult to tell.

Youn asked whether she may have had a nose job between 2015 and 2016, while adding it might not have been possible since she often appeared in public during that time.

According to him, Grande would have had to step away from the limelight for several weeks or months if she did have the surgery. That said, he doubted that she went under the knife.

He pointed out that her nose may have appeared different because of the angle of the photos and the makeup. As for her plumped lips, they still looked natural to him as well.

Another two years later in 2018, Grande’s nose still looked the same. Youn stated that it looked like she had not done a nose jo up until that point, contrary to what he believed before.

But he had a different observation regarding Grande’s lips, saying they looked plumper than before. “They look a bit more outlined. This is a very characteristic sign of lip injections,” Youn explained. Overall, he believed that she had not had plastic surgery up until then.

Two years after Youn observed Grande, another medical professional, Dr. Gary Linkov, assessed the actress’s physical features from when she was 16.

To determine whether or not she had had plastic surgery, Dr. Linkov explained that the tail and head of her eyebrows were on the same horizontal plane. According to him, this is crucial when deciding whether or not to have surgery.

“If you look at her nose, she has a very natural shape to it. There’s a slight bulbosity to the nose tip but it’s a very soft natural nose. There’s a heart-shaped aspect to her face. The lips have natural proportions where the lower lip is larger than the lower lip,” said Linkov.

From 17 to 19, Grande still looked pretty much the same according to him. But once she turned, he claimed that she may have had a rhinoplasty.

Judging by her nose, the bridge was narrower and the tip less bulbous and slightly raised. Another giveaway was the evident nostril exposure, meaning she had the procedure.

At 21, Linkov noticed that the angle of the mandible appeared more defined on Grande’s face. This may have been due to a filler or an implant in that area.

In addition, he claimed the superstar may have had a brow lift, as it appeared her left eyebrow had been lifted more than the one on the right. At 22, Linkov stated Grande may have had a canthoplasty because the tilt of her lateral canthus seemed more elevated.

By 23, it became apparent that Grande had had lip and cheek fillers. Between ages 24 and 25, she did not appear much different than the previous years.

However, at 26, Grande seemed to have gotten more lip filler. When she turned 27, her jawline implant became even more visible, convincing Linkov that she had undergone surgery for it.

He further claimed that Grande had a revision rhinoplasty at 28. Linkov explained the tip of her nose looked more refined than her first rhinoplasty. Moreover, the much-loved celebrity also had a revised brow lift as the brow height looked more symmetrical than before.

Lastly, Linkov believes Grande may have had a ponytail endo facelift. He explained that her nasolabial folds looked more effaced. Additionally, the tightness of her face and the way it looked stretched back, including the shape of the eye and the brow repositioning are clues that she had the procedure.

Madonna: The Queen of Pop’s Ever-Changing Face

Pop icon Madonna, 65, became a sensation in the 1980s with hits like “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Like a Prayer.” The megastar has since sold 70 million albums internationally.

The award-winning singer’s career spans decades with her look evolving as frequently as her music. She burst onto the music scene with a strikingly different look, characterized by her natural features and iconic beauty marks.

Back then, the Queen of Pop rocked a more natural appearance. However, recent years have seen more pronounced changes, sparking widespread fan speculation and concern.

Significant Changes and Speculations

Photos showing Madonna with a dramatically altered appearance caused alarm and speculation about extensive plastic surgery in October 2023. Fans expressed concern over her health after the images re-surfaced online.

Dr. Barry Weintraub reviewed before and after images, estimating Madonna might have undergone over a dozen procedures, including fillers, a brow lift, and possibly a facelift, to achieve her current look.

Dr. Weintraub pointed out that the obvious change in appearance was Madonna’s cheeks. He said they looked “inflated” and “much fuller,” adding it is likely due to several dermal filler injections.

As a result, Weintraub mentioned the songwriter lost her characteristic dimples due to the fillers. Additionally, she had a brow lift judging by her “unusually high” forehead and higher-than-normal eyebrows. According to Weintraub, Madonna also had work done on her eyelids. This procedure helps give them a youthful look to remove wrinkles.

In addition, Weintraub claimed that it is likely that the actress also had Botox on her face and around her eyes. She had no wrinkles when she moved her face. Moreover, her characteristic mole above her lip now appears more faint than before, adding Madonna has had at least one nose job.

Referring to a 1986 picture of the music star, Weintraub explained, “In the original picture, the tip of the nose is blunted and the nostrils are not arched. [But now] the nose is more pointy. And if you look closely, the left nostril is also slightly higher than the right.”

Public Reaction and Madonna’s Acknowledgement

Madonna’s appearance has been a hot topic among fans and critics. This has been particularly at high-profile events where she looked markedly different from her past self. Some people claimed that her facial features looked “painful,” and such comments affected her.

She eventually confirmed undergoing plastic surgery but did not specify which procedures she had. Madonna posted a photo and captioned it, “‘Look how cute I am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol.”

Her reaction to the public scrutiny highlighted themes of ageism and misogyny, which she addressed directly in her responses to critics. Fans have long suspected Madonna was experimenting with plastic surgery since the 1990s.

Megan Fox: Hollywood’s Transformer

Megan Fox, 37, is best known for her roles in the “Transformers” movie franchise. She has also had stints in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” films. The actress made her film debut as Brianna Wallace in “Holiday in the Sun,” (2001).

Amid her rise to fame, Fox has often been at the center of plastic surgery rumors. Despite her striking looks, she has been open about what she has and has not done to her appearance.

Fox Addresses Surgery Rumors

In a March 2024 interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Fox clarified her history with cosmetic surgery. She admitted to having breast augmentation and a rhinoplasty.

“I’ve never had a face lift of any kind. I’ve never done threads,” Fox revealed adding she has also never had Buckle fat done. However, she said she would never have fat removed from her body but would be willing to have it injected instead.

Moreover, Fox divulged she has never had lip suction, body contouring, or a butt transplant. But she shared she would have done it if she had extra body fat.

As for what she has done to her body the movie star admitted, “I had my boobs done when I was 21 or 22. I had them redone after I was done breastfeeding my kids. Then I had to have them redone very recently.”

Fox explained she went under the knife again this time because of the first set. She lacked enough body fat to disguise. When she was in her early 20s, the Hollywood star had a nose job but has since had a rhinoplasty at age 23.

However, the dark-haired beauty and mother of three, who hails from Tennessee, denied other rumored procedures like a facelift or body contouring.

Kelly Osbourne: Natural Changes and Public Perception

Kelly Osbourne, 39, first gained fame through her family’s reality show called “The Osbournes.” Ever since, she has been a versatile figure in entertainment, dabbling in music, fashion, and television. Osbourne even launched her rock-inspired fashion line, Stiletto Killers in 2004.

Known for her distinctive style, which often included vibrant hair colors and a bold fashion sense, Osbourne has also been the subject of speculation regarding her changing looks.

Addressing Cosmetic Surgery Rumors

In recent years, Osbourne has transformed significantly, partly due to a gastric sleeve procedure in 2018. “I’ve never had any procedure like plastic surgery,” Osbourne clarified, following comments about her jawline.

She attributed her refined jawline and altered facial contours to her weight loss. The TV personality further noted that there are some things that she would like to try regarding her appearance as she ages.

“I’ve done Botox, that’s it,” Kelly continued. “It’s weird, because now that I’ve lost weight, everybody is criticizing and trying to figure out what it is that I’ve done, and I really just lost weight. It’s just the shape of my face!”

Osbourne also reassured her social media followers that she did not have the procedure. She posted a video on Instagram, stating she has only done injections on her lips, jaw, and her forehead.

Kylie Jenner: The Evolution of a Beauty Mogul

Kylie Jenner, 26, a member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, has been famous since her childhood on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Jenner, who has had her spin-off show, “Life of Kylie,” (2017), is also part of the family’s new show, “The Kardashians.”

Besides her popularity as a real TV star, she established success as a beauty mogul with Kylie Cosmetics. That said, over the years, Jenner’s appearance has sparked numerous conversations about cosmetic procedures.

Jenner’s Admissions and Public Speculations

In January 2015, Jenner commented on plastic surgery rumors. “You guys have watched me grow up since I was 9. My face is going to get different. Now, I know how to do my makeup, contour, and everything. I’m not against surgery. I’d never say no, but I don’t desire it right now,” she said.

Since then, the businesswoman has been quite open about her cosmetic enhancements, particularly regarding her lips. In July 2023, she revealed on “The Kardashians” that she had undergone breast augmentation before the birth of her first child in 2018.

However, Jenner expressed regret. “I just wish, obviously, I never got them done to begin with. I would recommend anyone who is thinking about it to wait until after children,” she said.

Bella Hadid: High Fashion and High Speculation

Bella Hadid, 27, one of today’s most recognizable faces in fashion, began her modeling career in her teens and quickly rose to prominence. She is best known as the face of Dior.

Hadid had a breakthrough after walking for a Spanish fashion label, Desigual, in 2014. A year later, she graced several magazine covers including, Seventeen and Elle. Her striking features have led to widespread speculation regarding plastic surgery, particularly concerning her nose.

Hadid Confronts Cosmetic Surgery Rumors

At 14, the fashion model had a rhinoplasty but later regretted it, wishing she had kept “the nose of my ancestors.” People have also accused Hadid of getting her eyes lifted, her jaws shaved, and lip fillers.

However, the mother of one has denied further cosmetic enhancements on her face. She credits makeup techniques like face tape for any changes in her appearance.

Renée Zellweger: Graceful Aging or Subtle Enhancements?

Renée Zellweger, 54, is an acclaimed actress known for her roles in films like “Jerry Maguire” and “The Whole Wide World.” She has starred alongside Hollywood greats including Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep.

Through the course of her successful showbiz career, Zellweger has also faced public scrutiny over changes in her appearance. Speculation grew particularly after she appeared looking different from her well-known public image.

Zellweger and the Public’s Curiosity

Experts have since suggested that Zellweger may have had minor cosmetic enhancements, although she has never confirmed this. Changes in her facial appearance have been attributed to both aging and possible non-surgical treatments.

In 2013, plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Glatt it did not seem like Zellweger had a nose job. However, he mentioned that she may have had a chin implant. Meanwhile, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas said Zellweger was doing superficial procedures for her youthful-looking skin.

The transformations of these celebrities show a broad spectrum of choices and outcomes related to cosmetic surgeries and treatments. Their experiences reflect personal desires, the pressures of fame, and the evolving beauty standards within the entertainment industry.