Lisa Rinna’s face has been a topic of discussion for years because it keeps changing, and not exactly due to the natural process of aging. Some celebrities might deny having had plastic surgery, others would try to avoid questions about it, but Lisa is refreshingly honest about it. So let’s take a deep dive into Lisa Rinna’s plastic surgery journey.
When One Movie Changed Everything
It was 1987, Lisa was 23, naturally pretty, and working her way up in Hollywood. Then she saw the movie Beaches and became fixated on Barbara Hershey’s lips. Not just “oh, those are nice”—fixated. So, at 24, she made a decision that would define the next three decades: permanent silicone lip injections.
Not temporary fillers. Permanent. This is your face forever now.
Lisa herself has called her 24-year-old self “stupid” for that choice, but here’s the twist: those lips actually launched her career. She’s not exaggerating when she says her lips have had their own career path—they really have.
The Lips That Actually Worked
The crazy part was that it worked. Those lips became her signature. She got the role of Billie Reed on Days of Our Lives in 1992, then Melrose Place from 1996 to 1998. That pout became instantly recognizable—her calling card.
Around the ten-year mark, things began to go awry. The silicone that was injected into Lisa’s lips started migrating, she was developing scar tissue, and her top lip became all hard and lumpy. She described it as “yucky” and “gross.” Imagine your signature feature slowly turning into a medical problem. One day it’s working for you, the next it’s damaging your face.
The ’90s Aesthetic: More of Everything
The lips were just the start. In 1998, six months pregnant, she did a Playboy shoot (bold choice) and got her first breast augmentation. Very on-brand for the ’90s when the Baywatch aesthetic reigned supreme.
She got a second augmentation with implants in 2005, then removed them three years later. She underwent two surgeries to reverse the effects of her previous procedures. She also reportedly got a Brazilian butt lift in 2016 and a tummy tuck at some point. The woman was committed to the Hollywood ideal, even as that ideal kept shifting.
2010: The Reconstruction
By the year 2010, the condition of her lips became a significant problem. Lisa needed to have another surgery, but this time it was a reconstructive one. A well-known Beverly Hills surgeon took on this task. The surgical team removed as much silicone as possible, had to remove roughly 30% of damaged tissue, and the surgeon essentially had to fully rebuild Lisa’s top lip. But the result was amazing. Her lips still looked pouty, and Lisa felt relieved. She could finally see her teeth when she smiled. Think about that. A cosmetic procedure had prevented her from smiling naturally for years.
The Filler Phase and a Rare Moment of Self-Awareness
The early 2000s were a wild time for celebrities. Everyone was chasing youth, so things like fillers and Botox were all the rage. Lisa, of course, participated in those trends too. But in 2008, she actually looked back at herself and realized that she’d gone too far. Unlike many celebrities at the time, she talked about it openly and admitted that aging made her feel insecure and like she needed to do all these procedures when in reality they were not necessary. She said that she learned “less is more” eventually.
The 2024 TikTok Moment
Fast forward to 2024. Aesthetic physician assistant Nicole Smith uses Lisa’s face in a TikTok as an example of overfilling—specifically her overfilled cheeks and midface that threw off her facial balance. The video goes viral. Comments pour in: “I don’t even recognize her,” “Is that really Lisa Rinna?”
Most celebrities would spiral. Issue a statement through their publicist. Post defensive Instagram stories.
Lisa? She agreed with the criticism. She commented that the filler (Skinvive) wasn’t good for her, that it added unwanted volume, and that she’d already had it dissolved. No deflection. No excuses. Just, “Yeah, you’re right, I fixed it.”
Would She Do It All Again? Absolutely
Here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the complications, the reversals, the public scrutiny—Lisa says she’d get those original lip injections again. Why? They made her career possible.
She told Forbes in 2021 that her lips led to business opportunities, including launching Rinna Beauty in 2020 (lip kits and glosses, naturally). She even said, “Without my lips, I would’ve had a different career.” And she’s probably right. Would we know Lisa Rinna without those famous lips? Hard to say.
The Public Response: Complicated
Public opinion splits pretty sharply. One camp admires her transparency in an industry where celebrities claim they just drink water and use effective skincare. Finally, someone is being honest about the work they’ve had done.
The other camp thinks she’s gone too far, using words like “botched” and “unrecognizable.” Medical professionals have used her as a cautionary tale about finding injectors who’ll tell you when to stop, rather than just taking your money and filling indefinitely.
Where Things Stand Now
Now in her 60s, Lisa seems to have found some middle ground. She’s chosen to keep some procedures but reversed others, and in general she’s figuring it out as she goes along. But these days Lisa is no longer just chasing those youthful looks. She’s focused on her health too, she’s maintaining a healthy lifestyle and exercising regularly. Perhaps most importantly, Lisa is finally doing what feels right to her, not what the media thinks she should do.
The Bigger Picture
The most interesting thing about Lisa Rinna’s plastic surgery journey isn’t actually what she got done or how much her face has changed, but the fact that she’s been so open and transparent about it all. She’s not pretending her looks are due to genetics or extra green smoothies.
In Hollywood, where everyone’s getting work done but almost no one admits it, that honesty stands out. She’s not making anyone feel inadequate for not looking like her, because she’s showing exactly what it took to look like her—procedures, reversals, complications, and all.
Her lips may have had their own career (her actual words), but her willingness to talk honestly about cosmetic procedures for over 30 years might be the more significant legacy.
