If you look at a photo of Blake Lively from her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants days and compare it to her at the It Ends With Us premiere, something feels... different. It's not just the hair. Honestly, it’s like her face has undergone a slow, masterful evolution that most people can't quite put their finger on. You’ve probably seen the side-by-sides on TikTok or Reddit where fans swear she’s a totally different person now. But what’s actually going on?
She hasn't pulled a "full Hollywood" and emerged from a weekend away with a frozen forehead and alien cheeks. Instead, the Blake Lively before and after journey is a masterclass in subtlety. While she’s never sat down for a "What I've Done" tell-all interview, her face tells a story of strategic refinements that have helped her transition from a beachy California teen to a literal fashion deity.
The 2006 Nose Job Everyone Sorta Knows About
Back in 2005, Blake had a very different profile. Her nose was a bit wider at the bridge, and the tip was what surgeons call "bulbous"—meaning it was a little rounder and dipped slightly when she smiled. By the time Gossip Girl became a global phenomenon in 2008, that nose was gone.
Look at the bridge in her 2026 appearances. It’s significantly narrower. The tip is refined, rotated upward, and much more sculpted. Most experts, including Dr. Samuel Golpanian, point to a rhinoplasty occurring somewhere between 2006 and 2013. It wasn't a "cookie-cutter" nose job where the surgeon gives everyone the same tiny slope. It kept the character of her face but just... thinned it out. Basically, it made her eyes pop more because your gaze isn't settling on the center of her face as much.
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Did She Get an Eye Lift? The Hooded Eye Mystery
One of Blake’s most famous features used to be her heavily hooded eyes. They gave her that sleepy, sultry "Serena van der Woodsen" look. But if you look at her in 2024 and 2025, her lids look much more "open."
There’s a lot of chatter about an upper blepharoplasty. This is a procedure where a surgeon snips away a tiny bit of excess skin from the eyelid.
- Before: The skin almost touched her lash line.
- After: You can actually see her eyeshadow now.
Some people argue it’s just better makeup or "taping" techniques used by her glam squad. Maybe. But the way her brow sits slightly higher now suggests she might have opted for a subtle brow lift or some very strategic Botox to open up the eye area. It’s the kind of change that makes you look like you had a 12-hour sleep every night for a year.
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The "Ozempic Face" Rumors and Volume Shifts
Lately, the conversation has shifted. In 2024, during the It Ends With Us press tour, Blake looked leaner than ever. Because it’s the 2020s, everyone immediately jumped to Ozempic.
But here’s the thing: Blake has always been athletic. She’s also a mom of four. When you lose weight, especially in your late 30s, you lose fat in your face. This can lead to what people call "hollowing." We’re seeing more prominent cheekbones and a sharper jawline on her lately. While some speculate about buccal fat removal (the trendy surgery to hollow out cheeks), it’s more likely a combination of natural aging, fitness, and perhaps a tiny bit of filler to keep things from looking too sunken.
She’s 38 now. Your face naturally thins out. The "baby fat" she had in The Town is gone, replaced by a structure that’s much more high-fashion.
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Makeup, Style, and the Power of Self-Styling
You’ve gotta remember that Blake is one of the few A-listers who doesn't use a stylist. She picks her own clothes. She works directly with designers like Versace and Chanel. This DIY approach means her "after" isn't just about surgery; it's about her learning how to dress for her specific body type over two decades.
In 2005, she was wearing Forever 21 on the red carpet (literally, she admitted this). Today, she’s wearing archival pieces previously worn by Britney Spears or custom Met Gala gowns that change color. Her makeup has also shifted from the heavy bronzer and "crunchy" curls of the early 2000s to a more "clean girl" aesthetic—heavy on the skincare, light on the foundation.
What We Can Learn From Her Transformation
If you're looking at your own "before and after," here’s the reality of the Blake Lively effect:
- Subtlety is king. If she did get work done, she didn't try to change who she was. She just refined her existing features.
- Skincare over everything. She’s a known fan of facial steamers and high-end serums (she loves the brand La Mer, but also swears by sunscreen).
- Proportions matter. Her nose job worked because it still fits her face; it doesn't look like a "Barbie nose" on a human head.
- Confidence is the best filler. Part of why she looks so different is just the "star power" she's cultivated. She carries herself like a mogul now, not a starlet.
To get a similar "refinement" without the surgery, start with a solid retinoid routine to keep the skin tight and focus on "contouring" with blush rather than heavy brown powders, which can look muddy. Blake’s look in 2026 is all about light and lift. Focus on hydration and SPF to prevent that "sun-damaged" look that was so popular in the OC era.
Next Step: Take a look at your current skincare routine. Are you using a broad-spectrum SPF 30 every single day? If not, that’s the first thing to change if you want to age like a Hollywood star.