Let’s be honest. When Martha Stewart’s Sports Illustrated cover dropped, everyone—and I mean everyone—stopped scrolling. At 81, she wasn't just "looking good for her age." She looked radiant. Naturally, the internet did what the internet does. People started whispering about facelifts, eyelid surgeries, and secret trips to the best surgeons in the world.
The question is everywhere: did Martha Stewart have plastic surgery, or is she just the living embodiment of "eating your greens"?
If you're looking for a scandal involving a scalpel, you're going to be disappointed. Martha has been incredibly vocal, almost defiant, about her choice to skip the operating room. She’s famously stated, "I’ve had absolutely no plastic surgery whatsoever." No facelifts. No "work" in the traditional, surgical sense.
But that doesn't mean she’s just using soap and water. Martha’s "natural" look is actually the result of some very high-tech, expensive, and consistent maintenance.
The Reality Behind the Glow
It’s kinda fascinating how we define "natural" these days. For Martha, it means no knives, but she definitely isn't a stranger to a dermatologist's office. She’s actually quite transparent about this. On her own podcast in 2024, she even brought on her dermatologist, Dr. Daniel Belkin, to set the record straight.
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They basically confirmed that while she hasn't had a facelift, she uses a cocktail of "minimally invasive" treatments. Think of it like this: she’s not rebuilding the house; she’s just doing incredibly thorough renovations every single month.
What she actually does:
- Fillers (The Strategic Kind): She admits to using fillers like Juvederm occasionally. She famously got some after her dog accidentally "bashed" her lip, but she uses them elsewhere to fill in "a little line here or there."
- The Botox Dilemma: Martha isn't a fan. She’s tried it, but she hates the "quizzical" look it can give. Dr. Belkin mentioned they use neurotoxins (like Botox) mostly on her lower face and neck rather than her forehead to keep her expressions moving.
- Skin Tightening Tech: This is the big one. She swears by ultrasound treatments like Ultherapy and Sofwave. These devices use sound waves to heat the deep layers of the skin, which triggers your body to make more collagen. It’s basically a non-surgical way to keep the jawline sharp.
- Lasers and Lights: She uses Laser Genesis and other resurfacing tools to keep the texture of her skin looking like glass.
Why Some Experts Are Skeptical
Even with her denials, some plastic surgeons who haven't treated her look at those high-definition photos and raise an eyebrow. Dr. Frederick Weniger, for instance, has speculated in various interviews that her lack of "jowling" and her raised hairline could suggest a brow lift or a conservative facelift.
It’s a classic debate. When does "maintenance" become "surgery"? In Martha’s world, the line is drawn at the scalpel. If there’s no incision, she considers it natural. You've got to admit, her commitment to that distinction is pretty impressive, even if skeptics think she’s splitting hairs.
The "Martha Routine" Is a Full-Time Job
You can't talk about Martha's face without talking about her lifestyle. The woman is disciplined in a way that would make an Olympic athlete sweat. She wakes up at 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM every single day.
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She doesn't just put on a face mask; she puts on one of three different masks (hydrating, exfoliating, or collagen) for 30 minutes before she even gets in the shower. She drinks green juice daily—a blend of celery, cucumbers, spinach, and ginger. She’s been an avid Pilates fan for years, which keeps her posture perfect. Good posture does a lot of heavy lifting for your facial structure, believe it or not.
The 2026 Skincare Pivot
In late 2025 and into early 2026, Martha leaned even harder into the "skincare over surgery" narrative by launching her own line, Elm Biosciences, with Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali.
She’s basically betting that people would rather buy her $150 A3O Elemental Serum than book a consultation with a surgeon. She’s been using her own face as the ultimate "before and after" ad. It’s brilliant business, really. If people believe her glow comes from a bottle (and a few lasers), they’ll buy the bottle.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own Routine
Whether you believe she's had a secret procedure or not, Martha’s approach offers some real lessons for anyone trying to age well without looking "done."
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1. Sunscreen is the only non-negotiable. Martha wears SPF 50 every day, rain or shine. She even uses tinted sunscreens (like Alastin) as her primary "foundation" to keep her skin protected and even-toned.
2. Start the "pre-juvenation" early. She didn't start caring about her skin at 70. She’s been seeing a dermatologist since college. Consistency over decades is what prevents the need for drastic surgery later.
3. Focus on "tightness," not just "wrinkles." Most people obsess over lines, but sagging is what really ages a face. Martha’s focus on ultrasound tightening (Ultherapy) is why her jawline still looks so defined.
4. The "Inside-Out" Rule. You can't out-laser a bad diet. Her green juice and lack of alcohol before big shoots (like the SI cover) are crucial for reducing inflammation and puffiness.
Honestly, at the end of the day, whether Martha Stewart had plastic surgery or just the world's most expensive dermatological "maintenance" plan doesn't change the fact that she’s redefined what 80-plus looks like. She’s proven that with enough discipline, the right doctors, and a very good SPF, you can keep the "quizzical" Botox look at bay and just look like a very refreshed version of yourself.