Alyssa Milano leads celebrities in reversing plastic surgery as demand for natural looks grows

Alyssa Milano revealed on Instagram that she is removing her breast implants, saying the implants had sexualized her body and that she wanted to feel more comfortable in her own skin. The Charmed star told followers she was prioritizing a natural look and personal comfort over the dramatic silhouette that defined much of the recent past. The disclosure places Milano among a growing number of celebrities who have reversed or toned down cosmetic procedures as audiences and practitioners increasingly favor a subtler, more refreshed appearance.

Milano’s move follows a string of high-profile reversals in recent years. Chrissy Teigen announced in 2020 that she was removing her breast implants, explaining she had grown tired of them. Courteney Cox dissolved her fillers in 2017 after acknowledging that the cosmetic changes had spiraled beyond her initial intention. Simon Cowell, who once faced criticism for the effects of fillers, said by 2022 that there was no filler left in his face. Kylie Jenner has also dissolved lip fillers in stages, first in 2018 and again in 2023, with subsequent appearances showing noticeably thinner lips. The public confirmations have helped propel a broader conversation about aging, authenticity and how celebrities manage changing beauty standards.

Industry data published for 2024 underscore the broader shift in cosmetic practices in the United States. The number of Americans undergoing cosmetic procedures reached about 1.6 million in 2024, the highest total since 2019, when procedures surpassed 2.6 million. Botulinum toxin injections, commonly known as Botox, were the most popular noninvasive treatment with 9.8 million injections, while injectable fillers — which require periodic reapplication every six to 18 months — totaled about 5.3 million. Among surgical procedures, breast implants remained among the most common, with 306,000 performed in 2024 compared with 287,000 in 2019. Breast reductions rose to 76,000 in 2024, up from 46,000 in 2019. Implant-removal surgeries also rose, reaching about 41,000 in 2024, up from 33,000 in 2019. There are no official statistics on how many people dissolve fillers, a process typically achieved with the enzyme hyaluronidase, which turns the filler into a liquid the body can absorb. Surgeons say the figures align with a trend they have observed in clinics: more patients seek results that look real and feel comfortable, rather than pronounced transformations.

Dr. Paul Fortes, a plastic surgeon in Texas, said the field is evolving as patient goals change. 'Plastic surgery is changing and so are people’s goals. These days, more and more patients are asking for results that look real, not overdone or obvious. Looking refreshed is the new standard.'

The public narrative around these reversals reflects a broader transformation in beauty culture. While the specifics of each celebrity’s timeline vary, the underlying pattern is a growing emphasis on naturalism and comfort over dramatic alteration. Cox has described the initial injection regimen as a learning experience, noting that the process can create a domino effect where more procedures are pursued before assessing the overall look. Teigen has framed her decision in the context of personal comfort and fit with her evolving life stage, while Cowell’s experience underscores the desire to move away from a stage-of-life look that no longer feels like him. Jenner’s lip-filler journey — with multiple dissolutions and subsequent adjustments — illustrates how public scrutiny and personal preference can intersect in real time on a global stage.

As these public decisions accumulate, doctors emphasize patient education about risks and timelines. For implants, the expected lifespan is typically 10 to 15 years, after which replacement or removal may be advised to minimize rupture or leakage. For fillers, the effect is temporary by design and requires ongoing maintenance if the patient chooses to continue treatment; however, there are currently no standardized statistics on how often fillers are dissolved in the population. The overall message from clinicians is that the trend toward a more natural aesthetic is not about shying away from cosmetic care but about aligning results with a evolving sense of personal identity and comfort in aging publicly.

In culture and entertainment circles, Milano’s decision and the accompanying data highlight a moment when the conversation about beauty standards is increasingly anchored in authenticity and restraint. The shift does not negate ongoing interest in self-improvement or cosmetic options; instead, it frames them within a broader, more cautious ethos about what looks like real, healthy aging in a media-saturated era.