The Evolution of Meg Ryan’s Appearance: Insights from a Plastic Surgeon

While early-2000s Meg Ryan was still glowing, the signs of natural aging were already creeping in, and her lips were one of the first giveaways. By 2001, you can start to see her upper lip thinning, and even more so by 2006. But fast-forward to 2015, and things had clearly changed. Dr. Samuel Golpanian believes this could have been surgically fixed. “Sometimes it’s Juvéderm, sometimes it’s Restylane, Belotero — these are all types of synthetic fillers. And sometimes it’s fat grafting, which is a surgical procedure,” Dr. Golpanian exclusively tells Glam.

Beyond the lips, Ryan’s under-eye area also appears softer and more youthful, a change Dr. Golpanian suspects may be thanks to fat placed strategically during earlier surgical procedures. The biggest difference between the internet’s musings and Dr. Golpanian’s analysis, however, is that he fully supports the actor’s decision to get plastic surgery and chalks the internet’s roasting up to the lingering stigma that has endured for over 100 years of plastic surgery. “Plastic surgery used to be very taboo,” he says. “But it’s really just a way to help maintain your youth.”

That said, Dr. Golpanian doesn’t think Ryan needs more surgery at this point. “I think she looks really good. If you get a good facelift, it can last at least 10 years,” he says. Instead, he recommends maintenance through good skincare, laser treatments for skin tightening, and non-surgical options like Botox and fillers to keep things fresh.