Kris Jenner’s Facelift Isn’t the Problem. The Internet Is

The swelling honeymoon period and other thoughts

Virtually every news outlet on earth has been debating Kris Jenner’s “slipping” facelift and whether she’s upset with her surgeon. So last week, the most strategic woman in reality TV went on her daughter’s podcast, Khloe In Wonderland, to respond.

During the April 29 episode (my first time watching this podcast… and wow, tough viewing), in a very orchestrated interview, the mighty momager made it very clear she loves her $400,000 facelift and her surgeon.

I watched the whole episode so you don’t have to, because it will actively lower your IQ. And after having a facelift 12 weeks ago, I feel very qualified to weigh in. My group chats and DMs have been blowing up with “what do you think of this?” so this felt worth breaking down.

I believe a large part of this facelift media circus is the swelling honeymoon period (which I’ll break down day by day below after just going through it myself), but let’s not pretend Photoshop, Facetune, and ring lights aren’t doing a massive amount of heavy lifting here.

In my former life, I also had an intimate dinner with Kim Kardashian and saw firsthand the lighting, media, and Photoshop circus likely contributing to all of this.

I have thoughts. Many of them.

But Before We Start, Kris’ Facelift Is Great

Before I dive into the swelling honeymoon period, lighting, and everything else, I want to say this clearly: for anyone, and especially surgeons on Instagram claiming her facelift is “slipping” and publicly critiquing the technique, that is wildly unprofessional and should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

If you are following, consulting with, or considering surgery with someone posting videos breaking down why Kris Jenner’s facelift is “bad,” I would seriously reconsider. No reputable, high quality surgeon would do this. That is not expertise. That is marketing. And not the good kind.

Kris Jenner looks amazing. I wrote about it. It’s gorgeous. It’s a great facelift. And while I personally didn’t have a great consult with that doctor, there is no doubt his work is great.

Ok. Let’s keep going.

Photoshop, lighting, etc.

I’m honestly confused why more people aren’t talking about this and just discussing the facelift technique? Are we not all smarter than this by now?

So, if you watch Kris Jenner’s facelift defense episode, the podcast is almost unwatchably contrived. The commentary feels “creatively innocent” as she talks about “minding my own business” while attending Lauren Sánchez’s party. Poor Kris was dragged into a facelift media storm.

I am absolutely sure Lauren Sánchez’s parties are famously private among celebrity circles. Completely devoid of photographers, special lighting, and photo editors. That is obviously why Kris went. The first “viral” photos came out of that event, and those same images are now being treated as the final result.

Not only was Kris’s face still likely in the early healing stages, where even light swelling can make your face look unusually smooth and lineless, but are we also meant to believe her team did not edit those images within an inch of their lives? The idea that these photos are organic and untouched is about as believable as saying Bradley Cooper didn’t get an upper bleph or that Demi Moore never had a facelift.

If you do decide to watch this mind-numbing episode, fast forward to around the 21 minute mark. Kris very sweetly explains this sticky situation that brought unwanted attention to her facelift. It’s semi hilarious to watch these words come from the momager of a family whose entire existence is being photographed, filmed, edited, and distributed globally. Their literal business model is being seen, filmed, lit, posted, and analyzed. And now we are pretending post-facelift photos from a major event just… appeared? That she was somehow swept up in it all?

My take? Kris was likely in that post-facelift high, loved how she looked (I get it, it’s intoxicating), and wanted those photos—**which were also clearly edited—**out immediately. I actually briefly touch upon this dynamic in the Facelift Consult Guide when looking at before and after images.

I have sat at an intimate birthday dinner with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West about eight-ish years ago. This was not a press event. A real dinner with real friends. And even there, the photos went from phone to editor before they were ever posted. No raw image. Ever. I am always surprised how many people still think “candid” means unedited. It doesn’t.

I now live half the year in Australia, which I can confidently say is the influencer and fake lighting capital of the world. Until I lived here, I did not fully appreciate how manipulated images are. Now I see people in person all the time and think, this is not how you look in real life. Influencers carry ring lights around like their Rhode Lip Tint. It’s always in their purse. I am not kidding.

You know what I would actually love? If Kris Jenner posted real before and after medical photos the way Denise Richards did. That would be honesty. What we’re seeing now is not honesty. It’s presentation. And, quite honestly, a little bit of gaslighting powered by image manipulation and the internet happily eating it up.

Now, let’s move on to more highbrow topics: the swelling honeymoon period and how to actually align your aesthetic with your doctor.

The Honeymoon Swelling Period

What you are likely seeing is absolutely not a failed facelift. It is healing. It is settling. It is the slow exit from what I call, and what many doctors call, the swelling honeymoon period — aka what I fondly refer to as the “I look 19 again” phase.

Yes, there is a brutal phase right after surgery where you look completely insane.