There’s a new plastic surgeon in Hollywood, and Kris Jenner has been quick to go under his knife.

Cosmetic surgery is one of the most in-demand specialties today, as social media and the modern world has caused people to focus more than ever on their beauty. This, of course, affects celebrities in particular, as they are the ones with the most resources to undergo different treatments and the ones who are constantly trying to be captured by the media.

For them, taking care of their image is essential and they are always at the forefront of the latest developments in this field. The downside of this is that sometimes these drastic modifications don’t always leave you looking so ideal.

The latest well-known face to undergo such a process is 69-year-old Kris Jenner, matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, who recently was mistaken by fans for her supermodel daughter Kendall Jenner, 29. Many of her followers have applauded this radical change, but many others have been very critical of this trend.

Kris Jenner Has A New Face

Last week, Page Six reported that “Dr. Steven Levine did Kris Jenner’s recent work,” fueling speculation around her noticeably refreshed appearance. Dr. Levine, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City, is known among peers for avoiding the spotlight—though he’s unintentionally gained social media fame.

Dr. Levine has been rumored to have done some of the most famous faces in Hollywood.

According to Page Six, “a rep for Jenner” confirmed Dr. Levine’s involvement. Assuming the report is accurate, Jenner likely didn’t undergo a deep plane facelift, as speculated online. Instead, she probably had a more conventional SMAS facelift—Dr. Levine’s signature technique. 

The SMAS, or superficial musculoaponeurotic system, is a connective tissue layer that supports the facial muscles. While there are various approaches to lifting it, Dr. Levine is known for performing a lateral SMASectomy, where a strip of this tissue is removed and the edges are stitched together. 

This is typically combined with a deep neck lift, which targets the area beneath the platysma muscle to contour fat pads, salivary glands, and digastric muscles—small muscles involved in chewing and speaking.

The Obsession With Looking Young

Jenner’s latest surgery has sparked controversy. Celebrities undergoing surgery to try and appear ageless can set unrealistic expectations for the general public—especially women—regarding how they should look as they age.

Especially when many celebrities don’t fully disclose the extent of their cosmetic procedures, which creates the illusion that looking youthful at 60+ is natural or achievable with just skincare or diet. 

Plastic surgery is a luxury, and often out of reach for most people. When the wealthy use it to maintain or enhance their appearance, it underscores a divide: looking “perfect” becomes another marker of status, not just beauty.

The pursuit of eternal youth among celebrities is also a growing concern among psychologists and doctors, as it has a direct impact on the normalization of Botox, fillers, and surgery in people’s 20s and even teens.

Powerful figures shape norms, and it’s important to keep in mind the broader societal impacts and media influence surgically improved appearances have on the average human being.