Melania Trump, old and new. Credit / Getty Images

Melania Trump sparks plastic surgery rumors at Mar-a-Lago

Conspiracy theorists sparked bizarre speculations that Melania Trump used a body double on election day and now experts are putting the rumors to rest, suggesting her altered appearance is instead the result of Botox, fillers and a nose job.

In 2016, Melania Trump spoke with GC and, at the time, she insisted she was all natural.

“I didn’t make any changes,” said the Slovenian-born model. “A lot of people say I am using all the procedures for my face. I didn’t do anything. I live a healthy life, I take care of my skin and my body. I’m against Botox, I’m against injections; I think it’s damaging your face, damaging your nerves. It’s all me. I will age gracefully, as my mom does.”

But on election day, Melania, 54, was seen wearing oversized sunglasses indoors, a choice that piqued public curiosity.

Social media sleuths pointed out that the accessory she used to hide her eyes could indicate an attempt to hide recent cosmetic work or even to conceal her identity. This theory led to widespread discussions online, so much so that #FakeMelania became a trending topic with netizens suggesting that a body double might have replaced her at the polls.

“Why is Trump using a quite bad #FakeMelania stand-in with gigantic shades at the polling station? LOL Total madness!” tweets one user. A second user shares a photo of the first lady in waiting at the polls, standing alongside her husband: “They brought back #fakemelania for the series finale!” writes the user.

A third adds, “Absolutely walking around with a fake Melania. Refuses to take her sunglasses off indoors. Not her face, not her nose, not her hair and she actually smiled so definitely not her.”

Melania Trump and plastic surgery

Now plastic surgeons are attempting to debunk the election day body double theory by offering professional insights into Melania’s appearance.

Dr. Dennis Schimpf, a cosmetic plastic surgeon based in South Carolina, suggests that Melania “probably had additional filler work done anticipating” the intense media focus following the election. Fillers, often used for cheek plumping and jawline contouring, are popular among celebrities looking to achieve a youthful and well-defined look without invasive surgery.

Dr. Thomas Barnes, a surgeon from Newport, California, chimed in and said, “she just looked plain tired.” According to Dr. Barnes, high-stress periods can take a visible toll on one’s appearance, especially with the rigorous travel and public appearances leading up to the elections.

Previously speaking with the media, Dr. Gary Motykie – a West Hollywood plastic surgeon to the stars – said that he doesn’t see “much reason to be suspicious for a face-lift.” 

What he does see in Melania’s face is a nose job and fillers, amounting to almost $50,000.

“[But] I have noticed a change in her nose. Noses don’t typically get smaller as they get older, they get bigger – but hers is definitely smaller and more defined, so I am very suspicious for at least one rhinoplasty [nose job],” he said. “I do think she’s likely doing the maintenance work as well – fillers, particularly in the mid-face, cheeks, maybe a touch in the lips, and the standard Botox upkeep.”

Whatever she’s doing, one online user jokes that she gets a pass for being married to the president elect: “There’s no denying she’s always been a beautiful woman…but please who is she trying to kid by saying she’s not had any work done. Own it, we wouldn’t think any less of you. You get a pass for having put up with Trump all these years,” writes one netizen.

A second offers, “With her money and the pressure on women in the USA to look 25 at 75 of course she has! They all do it and they all deny it saying it’s down to good nutrition and Nivea cream!” A third writes, “I could still happily wake up next to her, whether she has or not.”

But not everyone is fond of her physical tweaks.

“She was once very attractive. But the work on her face is awful. She looks like every other plastic face in America, possibly worse,” writes one while a second adds, “Her skin is so lifted that soon we won’t be able to see her eyes. They already look like money slots.”

What do you think of these rumors? Please share your thoughts with us and then share this story so we can hear what others have to say about the president’s gorgeous wife!

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