You’ve seen the photos. One minute, she’s the wide-eyed, doll-faced girl from The Witch, and the next, she’s a high-fashion siren with cheekbones that could cut glass. The internet has been on a collective spiral about Anya Taylor-Joy plastic surgery for years now. People love a good mystery, and her face is currently Hollywood’s favorite puzzle.
But here's the thing: most of the "confirmed" theories floating around TikTok and Reddit are basically guesses dressed up as facts.
It’s easy to look at a 19-year-old and a 28-year-old and scream "surgery!" when they look different. Honestly, though? Human beings change. Faces thin out. Makeup artists get better at their jobs. That said, even the most skeptical fans have to admit the transformation is pretty striking. We’re talking about a shift from a soft, rounded "cherub" look to a chiseled, almost ethereal structure that feels very "New Hollywood."
The Buccal Fat Removal Debate
If there is one term that has become synonymous with her name, it’s buccal fat removal. It’s the trend that took over 2023 and 2024, and Anya is often the poster child for it.
The procedure is simple, or so it sounds. A surgeon snips a little bit of fat from the inside of your cheeks to give you that permanent "sucking in your face" look. When you look at Anya in The Queen’s Gambit versus her recent red carpet appearances for Furiosa, the lower half of her face looks significantly more hollowed out.
But does that mean she definitely went under the knife?
Not necessarily.
Expert facial plastic surgeons, like Dr. Gary Linkov, have analyzed her face and pointed out that while the change is dramatic, it’s not impossible to achieve through extreme weight loss and natural aging. Anya herself has mentioned the grueling schedules she keeps. During the filming of The Queen’s Gambit, she famously lived on coffee and cigarettes. That kind of lifestyle—combined with losing "baby fat" in your mid-20s—can make your cheeks sink in naturally.
"A 20-year-old lady shows up... and says, 'I want to take these out,' and there are some people who say, 'Yeah, sure.' But I think it's a good procedure for a limited number of people. Otherwise, you can make a 25-year-old look 45," says Dr. Howard Aston regarding the buccal fat trend.
💡 You might also like: Jeffrey Charles Tarpley Jr. Disability: What Most People Get Wrong
What about the eyes?
Another big talking point is her eyes. Anya is famous for her "Bambi" eyes—they’re wide-set and incredibly expressive. Some fans speculate she’s had a canthopexy or a brow lift to make them appear more "snatched" or cat-like.
If you look closely at her older photos, her lower lids had a slight downward slope. Now, they seem a bit more upturned. Some surgeons suggest this could be a "canthal tilt" adjustment. But let’s be real for a second: tape and clever eyeliner can do a lot of heavy lifting. When she’s on a red carpet, she’s wearing thousands of dollars worth of professional styling. It’s hard to tell where the doctor’s work ends and the makeup artist’s magic begins.
The "Everything Is Different" Theory
It’s not just the cheeks. People have pointed to her nose, her lips, and even her teeth.
- The Rhinoplasty Rumor: Some claim her nose looks slimmer and the tip more refined.
- The Veneers: Her smile is definitely brighter and more symmetrical than it was in her early British TV days.
- The Lip Fillers: Her Cupid’s bow has always been sharp, but some think she’s added a bit of volume to the top lip.
Is it possible she’s had a little "tweakment" here and there? Probably. Most actors do. It’s part of the job description in 2026. But the idea that she’s had a total facial reconstruction—an $80,000 overhaul as some YouTube doctors suggest—is likely a stretch.
The Role of Weight and Stress
We can't talk about Anya Taylor-Joy plastic surgery without talking about the physical demands of her roles. For Furiosa, she was reportedly pushed to the limit. High-intensity action movies lead to weight loss. When you’re already thin, that weight comes off your face first.
When your body fat percentage drops, your bone structure becomes the star of the show. Anya has incredible bone structure. Her jawline is naturally strong, and her cheekbones were always there, just hidden under a bit of youthful volume.
Why the Speculation Still Matters
The reason people are so obsessed with this isn’t just about being nosy. It’s about the "uncanny valley" effect. When we see someone we’ve watched grow up on screen suddenly look like a different version of themselves, it’s jarring.
There’s also a bit of a cautionary tale here. Buccal fat is structural. It holds up your face. Surgeons warn that while it looks great in your 20s, removing it can lead to a "gaunt" look in your 40s and 50s that is almost impossible to fix. If Anya did have the procedure, she’s betting on her naturally robust bone structure to keep things from sagging later on.
What’s the Truth?
Anya Taylor-Joy has never confirmed having any work done. She’s been open about her insecurities, though. She once admitted she didn't think she was "beautiful enough to be in films." That kind of pressure, combined with the extreme scrutiny of Hollywood, makes it easy to understand why someone might seek out cosmetic help.
Whether it’s surgery, aging, or just a really good contour kit, she remains one of the most talented actors of her generation. Her face is her tool, and she’s using it to build a massive career.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Skeptics
If you’re looking at these celebrity transformations and wondering if you should change your own look, keep these points in mind:
- Aging is the biggest "surgeon": Most people’s faces change drastically between ages 20 and 30. Don't rush into permanent changes before your face has fully matured.
- Buccal fat is permanent: Unlike fillers, you can't "melt" away a buccal fat removal if you don't like it. It’s a one-way street.
- Lighting is everything: Before you judge a celebrity "before and after," remember that professional photography uses specific lenses that can widen or narrow a face significantly.
- Consult the pros: If you are genuinely considering a procedure, look for board-certified surgeons who prioritize "preservation" over "transformation."
The conversation around Anya's look isn't going away anytime soon, but it's worth remembering that beneath the makeup and the rumors, there's a human being just trying to navigate a very public life. Check her out in her latest projects to see how her "new" look translates to the screen—sometimes the movement of the face tells a different story than a static photo.