When Hillary Clinton announced her second presidential campaign on YouTube in April, the 67-year-old former Secretary of State appeared refreshed and well rested. Rumors and speculation quickly began to circulate that that former First Lady had some cosmetic work done during her time away from the White House.
Adding to the speculation is a recent New York Post article about Ed Klein’s upcoming book, Unlikeable, an unauthorized exposé about Clinton’s previous unsuccessful bid for president. Klein claims that Clinton had her cheeks lifted, Botox injections to treat lines and wrinkles and work done on her eyes, neck and forehead. Quoting a source, Klein states, “She had no intention of going to a clinic,” and had a well-known plastic surgeon set up a “mini operating room in her home with the latest medical equipment.”
In the past Clinton herself has laughed off questions about her appearance, but it isn’t surprising for a notable figure in the public eye to seek plastic surgery. If she did have a little work done, does Hillary Clinton have anything to be ashamed of? And is it safe to have procedures like this done at home?
According to New York facial plastic surgeon Dilip D. Madnani, MD, who did not treat Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner has nothing to hide. “There are many vibrant, intelligent, talented and dynamic women like Hillary Clinton that don’t see on the outside what they are on the inside. The decision to undergo any cosmetic procedure is very private and personal. She looks great and whether or not she’s had something done, she has nothing to feel ashamed about.”
As far as the safety of an at-home cosmetic surgery or procedure, it’s recommended that plastic surgery procedures requiring general anesthesia be performed in a hospital setting or an outpatient surgery center. Accredited facilities meet strict national standards for equipment, operating room safety, personnel and surgeon credentials. Dr. Madnani believes that for someone like Clinton, the appropriate measures were probably taken, but this isn’t an ideal scenario for the average patient. “One would assume that Clinton has the means to ensure that that the adequate medical safety measures and standards would be upheld, but for the average patient, no, this is definitely not recommended.”
Whatever cosmetic procedures Hillary Clinton may have had done, it appears she has attained natural-looking results without having a traditional full facelift. “Different parts of the face age over time. If your eyes age prematurely, you can progressively treat them to reduce the signs of aging. Techniques have improved and a combination of procedures can be used to help achieve a more natural aesthetic,” says Dr. Madnani. “The old way of pulling as much as possible, or filling as much as possible are gone. The new ways are to pull as little as you need and fill as little as you need to restore a fresh, more youthful appearance.”
