Ricki Lake Says Her ‘Brave’ Face Lift Last Year Was ‘One of Best Decisions I Ever Made For Myself’

Ricki Lake Opens Up About Her ‘Life-Changing’ Facelift: ‘One of the Best Decisions I Ever Made’

Former talk show host and actress Ricki Lake is sharing an empowering update one year after undergoing a “brave” facelift, calling the procedure a transformative act of self-love—and sparking a broader conversation about aging, cosmetic surgery, and transparency in Hollywood.

💉 Why She Did It

In an emotional Instagram post, Lake, 55, revealed:

“I did this for ME.” After years of yo-yo weight fluctuations and feeling insecure about her jowls and sagging skin, she chose a deep-plane facelift (a less invasive technique with natural-looking results).
“No shame”: She pushed back against critics, saying cosmetic work should be as accepted as braces or hair dye.

“I didn’t want to look ‘done.’” Her goal was refreshed, not frozen—and she credits her surgeon for a subtle lift.

🩺 The Procedure & Recovery

Type of facelift: Deep-plane (repositions muscles, not just skin) with neck lift.
Downtime: 3 weeks of swelling/bruising (“It’s not for the faint of heart”).

Cost: Estimated $50K–$100K (Lake hasn’t disclosed exact figures).
Biggest surprise? The emotional rollercoaster post-op: “You question if you made a mistake… then the swelling goes down.”

🔥 Why Her Honesty Matters

Normalizing choice: Lake joins stars like Courteney Cox and Jane Fonda in rejecting the “natural aging” vs. “plastic surgery” false binary.

Pushing back on stigma: “Why is wanting to look your best considered vain?”
Aging in Hollywood: She admits the industry’s pressure to stay youthful played a role, but insists her joy is genuine.

💬 Fan Reactions

Supportive: Followers praise her vulnerability and say she looks “radiant, not fake.”

Critical: Some argue she “succumbed to patriarchy,” but Lake claps back: “My body, my rules.”
Middle ground: Many appreciate her nuance—admitting surgery isn’t the only path, but hers was right for her.

🎤 The Bigger Conversation

Lake’s confession comes amid debates about:

“Snapchat Dysmorphia” (patients bringing filters to surgeons).
Gender double standards (men’s aging = “distinguished”; women’s = “letting go”).

The rise of “prejuvenation” (preventative work in your 30s/40s).

Her final word? “If it makes YOU happy—own it.”

💡 Want to Learn More?

Lake recommends the book “A Little Work” (about cosmetic surgery journeys) and advises: “Research your surgeon like your life depends on it.”

Thoughts? Is cosmetic work empowering or pressured? Sound off! 👇 #AgingOutLoud