Lisa Rinna’s face is basically synonymous with one specific feature. You know the one. Long before the era of Instagram face and the Kardashian-Jenner lip kit empire, Rinna was the undisputed "pioneer" of the mega-pout. But if you look at lisa rinna lips before and after photos spanning the last four decades, you aren’t just looking at a trend. You’re looking at a cautionary tale of 80s impulsivity, a medical nightmare involving "peas," and a very public quest for a surgical redo.
She’s been surprisingly honest about it all. Refreshingly so, actually. While most of Hollywood was busy pretending their sudden volume was just "clever lip liner" or "drinking more water," Rinna was out here telling anyone who would listen that she made a massive mistake in her twenties.
The 1986 Decision That Changed Everything
In 1986, Lisa Rinna was 23 years old. She wasn't yet the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills firebrand or the Days of Our Lives star we know today. She was just a young actress watching the movie Beaches.
She saw Barbara Hershey’s full, bee-stung lips on screen and wanted them. Badly.
🔗 Read more: William McDowell and Gladys Knight: What Most People Get Wrong About Their 20-Year Marriage
So, she and her best friend went to a doctor and got permanent silicone injections. It’s wild to think about now, but back then, the long-term data on liquid silicone wasn't what it is today. She got four injections in her upper lip. Not the bottom—just the top.
"In the beginning, it was great," she later told People. For about a decade, it worked. It gave her a signature look that she credits with helping her jumpstart a career. She even joked that her lips "had their own career." But permanent filler isn't like the Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers we use in 2026. HA fillers like Juvederm or Restylane eventually dissolve. Silicone? That stays.
When Things Started Feeling "Yucky"
The problem with permanent silicone is how the body reacts to it over time. After about ten years, Rinna noticed the texture changing. The silicone didn't just sit there; it began to seep into the surrounding tissue. Her body responded by building up scar tissue around the foreign substance.
She described the sensation as feeling like "hard little peas" inside her lip. It wasn't just a physical sensation, either. It was visual. Her lip became bumpy, uneven, and increasingly swollen.
She tried to fix it with cortisone shots. Huge mistake. Instead of shrinking the swelling, the cortisone actually made the situation worse, leading to more distortion. By the mid-2000s, the "trout pout" labels from the tabloids were relentless. It’s hard to imagine the psychological toll of having your most famous feature become a punchline for late-night comedians.
The 2010 Reconstruction Surgery
By 47, Rinna had enough. She felt her lips were starting to define her as a person, and not in a good way. She sought out Dr. Garth Fisher, a renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, to see if anything could be done.
Most doctors told her it was impossible. You can't just "dissolve" silicone. You have to cut it out.
In August 2010, she underwent a lip reduction surgery. Dr. Fisher had to physically remove the hardened scar tissue and the migrated silicone, essentially re-contouring the lip from the inside out. It was a risky move. If you take out too much, you can end up with a "thin," unnatural look or permanent nerve damage.
The results? Pretty life-changing for her. She was thrilled because she could finally "see her teeth" when she smiled again. If you look at the lisa rinna lips before and after the 2010 procedure, the difference is subtle but significant. The upper lip looked smoother, less "heavy," and more in proportion with her bottom lip.
📖 Related: How old Bruce Lee when he died: The Tragedy of a Global Icon at 32
The Modern Era: Dissolving the New Fillers
Fast forward to more recent years, specifically 2024 and 2025. You’d think after the silicone saga, she’d stay away from needles forever. But Rinna is a self-proclaimed "disgraceful ager"—she’s going to fight the clock however she sees fit.
In early 2024, fans noticed her face looking significantly more "puffy" than usual. Social media, as it does, went into a frenzy. A TikTok by aesthetic physician assistant Nicole Smith went viral, pointing out that Rinna looked "overfilled" in the mid-face.
Instead of getting defensive, Rinna hopped into the comments. She admitted she had tried Skinvive, a newer injectable meant for skin hydration and glow. "Skinvive is not for everyone, and it was not good for me," she wrote. She followed it up with a relieved, "Luckily we could dissolve it today. Whew."
✨ Don't miss: Jack Nicholson Girlfriend Now: Why the Hollywood Legend is Flying Solo in 2026
This is where the 2026 perspective is so different from the 1986 one. Today’s fillers are reversible. That "whew" in her comment carries the weight of someone who spent twenty years trapped with a permanent mistake and is now grateful for the "undo" button.
What We Can Learn from Rinna’s Journey
If you’re looking at your own reflection and thinking about a little "tweakment," Rinna’s history offers some solid wisdom. Honestly, the biggest takeaway is to avoid anything labeled "permanent" when it comes to your face.
- Permanent is a long time: Your face changes as you age. What looks good at 23 might look like a "lumpy mess" at 43 because your skin thins and your bone structure shifts.
- The "Dissolvable" Rule: Stick to Hyaluronic Acid-based fillers. If you hate it, or if it migrates, a doctor can use hyaluronidase to melt it away in minutes.
- Find the right hands: Rinna’s 2010 surgery worked because she found a specialist who understood the complex anatomy of scar tissue. Don't bargain hunt for your face.
- The 2026 "Natural-ish" Trend: We’ve moved away from the "more is more" look. Even Rinna, the pioneer of the big lip, has leaned into a more balanced aesthetic lately.
If you are currently dealing with older, permanent fillers or "migration" (where your filler moves above the lip line), your first step should be a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or a high-level aesthetic injector. Ask specifically about "filler dissolving" or, if you have old silicone, "surgical lip revision." Don't just layer new filler on top of old problems—that’s how the "overfilled" look happens. Start with a clean slate.