New Times artist conception/ Photos by Gage Skidmore/Flickr (Lara Trump) and Diana Polekhina/Unplash (gloved hand)
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Like pornography, you know it when you see it.
Frozen foreheads. Overfilled cheeks. Beestung lips. Known as “Mar-a-Lago face,” the bold cosmetic look is suddenly in high demand among conservative political figures and others in Washington, D.C., and South Florida. The aesthetic has been described in many ways: “ridiculously blunt,” a “must-have accessory” for President Donald Trump’s inner circle, and, as one Palm Beach plastic surgeon put it to New Times, more about achieving a “polished and camera-ready” look than subtlety.
“They want to look like they’ve invested in themselves, and they’re not shy about showing it,” surgeon Norman Rowe, who says patients often float names like Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, and Kristi Noem, told New Times last month.
Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr
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So, what exactly is Mar-a-Lago face? We’re here to explain.
What is Mar-a-Lago face?
Named after Trump’s 100-year-old Palm Beach resort, the look “refers to a recognisable combination of facial features and plastic surgery enhancements, often modelled after Ivanka Trump’s signature look,” California plastic surgeon Matthew J. Nykiel told HuffPost. The key features include high, firm, overfilled cheeks, full lips, well-defined eyebrows, a strong jawline, and a narrow-bridged nose.
What procedures make up Mar-a-Lago face?
Achieving it typically involves a combination of surgical procedures and injectables. One surgeon outlined a long list of procedures and other treatments that constitute the look, including a brow lift, a face and neck lift, an eyelid lift, a nose job, fat transfer to the face, Botox, injectable filler, neuromodulation, microneedling, facials, chemical peels, laser treatments, “medical-grade skin care products,” and dental veneers.
Screenshot via Virginia Facial Plastic Surgery
How much does Mar-a-Lago face cost?
While it might look tacky, the Mar-a-Lago makeover isn’t cheap. One surgeon, Virginia-based Dr. Shervin Naderi, says it can cost $200,000 to $300,000 over the course of a decade, between surgeries such as brow lifts, lip lifts, and hairline work, followed by “strategic touch-ups” with filler, Botox, and lasers.
Who has Mar-a-Lago face?
High-profile conservatives such as Kristi Noem, Lara Trump, Laura Loomer, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Matt Gaetz (see: “Plastic Surgeon Dr. Miami on What the Hell Happened to Matt Gaetz’s Face”) have all been accused of sporting and popularizing the aesthetic.
