If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you’ve seen the side-by-sides. One photo shows a wide-eyed, soft-featured girl in The Witch circa 2015. The other shows the razor-sharp, high-fashion alien queen who dominated the screen in Furiosa and The Queen’s Gambit. It’s a transformation that has launched a thousand Reddit threads and TikTok deep dives. People are obsessed with Anya Taylor Joy before and after plastic surgery, or at least the idea that she’s had it.
But here’s the thing: Hollywood isn’t just about scalpels anymore. It’s about lighting, buccal fat, and the brutal reality of aging in front of a 4K camera.
The Buccal Fat Removal Question
Let’s get the big one out of the way first. You know the look—the hollowed-out, "sucked-in" cheek effect that makes a person look like they’ve never seen a carb in their life. Experts and fans alike have pointed to this as the most obvious change. In her early roles, Anya had what most people would call "baby fat." Her face was heart-shaped and full. Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and her cheekbones could practically cut glass.
Dr. Chip Cole and other cosmetic analysts have noted that while weight loss and aging can naturally slim a face, the specific hollowing in the lower cheek area is often the calling card of buccal fat removal. It’s a permanent procedure where a small pad of fat is taken out from inside the mouth. No scars. No downtime. Just an instant "model" bone structure.
Did she do it? She’s never said a word. But in a world where this procedure became the "it" surgery of the early 2020s, the timing is definitely suspicious.
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That "Bambi Eye" Evolution
Anya Taylor-Joy has always had those signature, wide-set eyes. She was actually bullied for them as a kid, which is heart-breaking to think about now that they're her most famous asset. However, if you look at her early red carpet shots versus her 2023 Golden Globes appearance, there’s a difference in the lift.
Some surgeons, like Dr. Gary Linkov, have speculated about a subtle brow lift or canthoplasty (which basically tilts the eyes upward).
- The "Before": Her eyebrows sat slightly lower, closer to the orbital rim.
- The "After": Her brow tail seems more arched, and there is more visible "real estate" on her eyelids.
Honestly, it could be a "ponytail lift" or just really strategic Botox. Or maybe she’s just mastered the art of the smize. You've gotta remember that makeup artists at her level are basically magicians with tape and contour.
The Nose and the Smile
Then there’s the nose. This is where the debate gets really heated. In her breakout years, the bridge of her nose appeared slightly wider. Today, it’s a tiny, refined masterpiece. While some claim this is the result of a rhinoplasty, others argue it’s just the "A-list glow-up."
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We also have to talk about the teeth. This is one of the few things that seems almost "confirmed" by visual evidence. Her early smile was beautiful but had that natural, slightly uneven charm. Now? It’s a perfect, bright, uniform row of veneers. It’s basically the Hollywood starter pack. Almost everyone gets them the second their first big check clears.
Why the Internet is So Obsessed
Anya has been incredibly open about her past insecurities. She told W Magazine back in 2016 that she didn't think she was "pretty enough to be in movies." That kind of honesty makes the plastic surgery rumors feel more personal to fans.
There’s a weird tension here. We want our stars to be "natural," but we also demand they look like CGI creations. When a star who was bullied for her "weird" looks suddenly achieves the "perfect" Hollywood face, it sparks a conversation about whether she's finally succumbed to the pressure she once resisted.
It’s not just about vanity. It’s about the industry. Actors like Anya are under a microscope. If she looks too "young," she can’t play certain roles. If she looks too "hollow," people worry she’s stressed or overworking. It’s a no-win scenario.
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The Verdict?
Look, we’ll probably never get a "confession" because stars rarely give them unless they're promoting a specific clinic. But the Anya Taylor Joy before and after plastic surgery journey isn't just about one or two procedures. It’s the story of a girl becoming a woman, a star becoming an icon, and maybe a little bit of help from the best surgeons in Beverly Hills.
If you're looking at her photos and feeling bad about your own "baby fat," remember this:
- Lighting is everything. Professional sets use "beauty lights" that erase shadows.
- Weight fluctuations change faces. Anya has been open about the physical toll of her roles.
- Aging is real. The face you have at 19 is not the face you have at 29.
If you’re considering any of these procedures yourself, the best move is to consult with a board-certified surgeon who can explain how these "trends" like buccal fat removal actually age over 10 or 20 years. Trends fade, but your face is permanent.
Start by researching the long-term effects of volume loss in the face before jumping on the "snatched" jawline bandwagon.