The internet is basically a giant magnifying glass for Kendall Jenner's face. If she breathes differently, there’s a TikTok theory about it. But the "Fox Eye" thing? That’s the big one. Everyone points to the Kendall Jenner thread lift as the secret behind that snatched, upward-slanting gaze that launched a thousand "clean girl" aesthetics.
People are obsessed. They want the look. They want the sharp, almond-shaped eyes that seem to defy gravity. But honestly, the conversation is messy. It’s a mix of plastic surgery rumors, actual dermatological facts, and Kendall herself flat-out denying she's ever gone under the knife.
The "Fox Eye" Aesthetic: Did She or Didn't She?
Let's be real. If you look at photos of Kendall from 2013 versus today, the change is striking. Her brows used to be lower, more horizontal. Now? They’re lifted, the tails of her eyebrows are practically aiming for her temples, and her eyelids look "tighter."
This is the classic result of a thread lift.
In this procedure, a doctor inserts dissolvable sutures—usually PDO (polydioxanone) threads—under the skin. These threads have tiny barbs that grab onto the tissue. When the doctor pulls the thread, the skin zips upward. It’s like a temporary facelift without the scalpels.
What the Experts Think
While Kendall recently went on the In Your Dreams podcast with Owen Thiele and swore she's never had "facial reconstruction," surgeons like Dr. Ashley Amalfi have noted that the transformation seems to go beyond just "aging up."
🔗 Read more: Emma Thompson and Family: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Modern Tribe
Genetics? Sure. She’s a Jenner.
Makeup? Definitely. Overlining and strategic tape can do wonders.
But the structural change? That’s where the thread lift speculation lives.
How a Thread Lift Actually Works (Simply)
If you’re picturing a sewing machine for your face, stop. It’s not that intense. Basically, a practitioner uses a cannula (a thin tube) to slide the threads into the subcutaneous layer of your skin.
- The threads anchor into the fat and muscle.
- The practitioner pulls them to create that "cat eye" or "fox eye" tension.
- The ends are trimmed, and the threads disappear under the skin.
The cool part—and the reason it's so popular in Hollywood—is that as these threads dissolve over six months, they trigger a "healing response." Your body rushes to build collagen around the thread site. So even after the physical thread is gone, you’ve got a little extra "oomph" holding everything up.
The Kendall Jenner Denial: Baby Botox and PRP
Kendall is adamant. On that January 2026 podcast episode, she told the world she's only ever done Baby Botox and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma).
She mentioned that she’s only had Botox twice in her forehead and actually hated it because she likes having movement in her brows. She also credited her slimmer nose to her time on Accutane, which is a wild theory that TikTok actually might have been right about—Accutane can sometimes shrink the sebaceous glands in the nose, making it look more refined.
💡 You might also like: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
But for the eyes? She stays quiet on the threads.
The Problem With "Baby Botox"
"Baby Botox" is just a marketing term for smaller doses. It’s like ordering a small fries instead of a large—it’s still the same thing. It can lift the brow slightly, but it rarely creates the dramatic, pulled-back tension seen in the "fox eye" look.
Is the Look Worth the Risk?
Here is the thing no one tells you about the Kendall Jenner thread lift trend: it’s temporary. And sometimes, it’s a bit of a nightmare.
Threads only last about 6 to 12 months. If you want to keep that look, you’re going back to the clinic twice a year. And the complications aren't just "bruising."
- Puckering: If the thread is too shallow, your skin can look like it’s being pulled by a fishing line. Not cute.
- Migration: Sometimes the threads move. You might feel a sharp poke near your temple weeks later.
- Infection: It’s rare, but it happens. Some influencers, like Ryan Ruckledge, have shared horror stories about "fox eye" procedures gone wrong.
Breaking Down the Cost
If you’re trying to budget for a Jenner-style glow-up, it’s not cheap. A decent thread lift in a major city like Los Angeles or New York is going to run you anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.
📖 Related: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
If a clinic is offering it for $500? Run. Seriously. This is your face. Cheap threads are often poor-quality PDO or, worse, permanent threads that don't dissolve and can cause long-term scarring.
The Truth About the "Model Look"
We have to talk about the "Instagram Face." Kendall, Bella Hadid, and even Kylie have all been linked to this specific look: high cheekbones, snatched jawlines, and those lifted eyes.
The reality is that for most people, this isn't achievable with just one procedure. It’s a "cocktail" approach. You’re looking at:
- Cheek Filler: To create the anchor point for the lift.
- Botox: To relax the muscles that pull the brow down.
- Thread Lift: To physically hoist the skin.
- Blepharoplasty: Sometimes, it’s not threads at all, but a surgical "brow lift" or "upper bleph" which is permanent.
Kendall claims she’s just growing into her face. Maybe. But the timing of her "glow-up" perfectly aligned with the rise of the PDO thread trend in 2019 and 2020.
Actionable Next Steps for You
If you're looking at your own eyes in the mirror and wondering if you should book a consultation, take a breath. The "fox eye" look is a trend, and trends in plastic surgery are dangerous because they are hard to "undo."
Before you book anything:
- Try the "Ponytail Test": Pull your hair back tight at the temples. If you love that look, you might like a thread lift. If it looks "alien" to you, stay away.
- Research your provider: Only go to board-certified plastic surgeons or highly experienced dermatologists. Avoid "med-spas" that don't have a doctor on-site.
- Ask about "Vectoring": Ask the doctor how they plan to pull the threads. Horizontal pulls look more natural than vertical ones.
- Consider the "Chemical Brow Lift": Try a few units of Botox at the tail of your brow first. It’s cheaper ($200-$400) and much lower risk than threads.
- Check the expiration date: Remember that threads are a commitment to maintenance. If you aren't prepared to drop $3k every year, you're better off mastering the art of "fox eye" makeup with winged liner and half-lashes.
The Kendall Jenner thread lift saga is a reminder that what we see on screen is rarely just "water and sleep." Whether she's had them or not, the look is a calculated masterpiece of modern aesthetics. If you decide to go for it, do it for your own confidence, not because a supermodel's "baby Botox" story sounds convincing.