Here’s How to Get a Lindsay Lohan Like Transformation—Without Going Under the Knife

We’ve officially entered what the internet is calling the “undetectable era” of plastic surgery. Technology has advanced so far that it’s almost impossible to tell what work has been done—unless you’re an expert, of course. And, possibly the craziest part is that you can make impactful change within a matter of minutes; you can kiss wrinkles and fine lines goodbye during your lunch break.

As we move into 2025, there are tons of non-invasive treatments to enhance features and reverse the signs of aging. These types of treatments typically are in-office and, compared to surgery, have a much lower price tag; think dermal filler, Botox, and laser. They can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars per session. True plastic surgeries remain the most effective, but they require significant downtime and can cost thousands of dollars.

With so many recent celebrity transformations, we’re itching for answers on how to turn heads like Lindsay Lohan did. Read on as we cover what work Lindsay Lohan likely had done, what non-invasive procedures to book for a major glow-up, and what you can realistically accomplish on a non-celebrity budget.

Here’s an Overview of Lindsay Lohan’s Transformation

When Lindsay Lohan stepped out onto the red carpet to promote her new holiday Netflix film “Our Little Secret,” the entire internet’s metaphorical jaw dropped. Lohan’s skin appeared more radiant and youthful and her face sculpted and refreshed. While she hasn’t confirmed what work she has done, experts like William Kennedy, MD, board-certified Head & Neck Surgeon and Facial Plastic Surgeon, and Founder of AEDIT MedSpa™, suggest that her results could be attributed to a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments:

Non-surgical:

• Injectables (e.g. Botox, brow lift, lip and cheek filler)
• Filler dissolution in the cheeks
• Skin smoothing treatments (e.g. nonablative lasers, chemical peels and micro-needling)
• Weight loss (most likely from a healthy diet and lifestyle choices vs. GLP-1s)
• Peptides and NAD+

Surgical:

• Rhinoplasty
• Lower blepharoplasty
• Face and neck lifts

Book These Non-Invasive Treatments For A Major Glow-Up

Thanks to advancements in cosmetic technology, a variety of non-invasive treatments can help achieve a similar transformation to Lohan. Here are some of the most effective options, recommended by Dr. Kennedy:

Ablative laser or chemical peel: resurfacing procedures can help smooth out the quality of the skin. These types of treatments are great for minimizing scarring, pigmentation issues, and sun damage.

• Laser resurfacing or microneedling: these treatments work to tighten and smooth skin. They can be great options for people suffering from poor skin elasticity, acne scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, or uneven pigmentation.
• Botox: this injectable helps temporarily smooth out fine lines and wrinkles or redefine the jawline when injected into the masseter muscles.
• Filler and filler dissolution: dermal filler can help reduce the signs of aging by restoring volume as well as enhance facial features. Filler dissolution has also been gaining popularity as a way to get rid of migration, puffiness, or simply restore a patient’s natural appearance. Dr. Kennedy recommends consulting with an experienced injector to see if any existing filler can or should be dissolved.
• HydraFacial: similar to microdermabrasion, HydraFacials remove dead skin from the face to make the skin more radiant and hydrated. --
• Peptide and NAD+ therapy: incorporating peptides and NAD+ therapy will boost overall skin vitality and energy, maintaining a youthful, glowing appearance. These treatments together offer a refreshed, rejuvenated look without surgery.
• EMFACE: for those not ready to commit to a face or neck lift, EMFACE can improve muscle tone and tighten the skin around the cheeks and submental area.

As always, it’s important to manage expectations. These treatments outlined above can be absolute miracle workers, but, as Dr. Kennedy speculated, Lohan most likely had a couple of plastic surgeries (a lower blepharoplasty and a face and neck lift). Dr. Kennedy guessed that Lohan’s glow-up could have cost anywhere from $60k to $300k.

Expert Recommendations

The key to a successful makeover? Working with a highly reviewed, board-certified provider who can provide a professional assessment of what is medically achievable for your specific concerns and then deliver those results. Dr. Kennedy explains that a comprehensive approach may involve combining multiple treatments strategically over a short period, making lifestyle adjustments, such as improved diet and exercise, and diligently following pre- and post-treatment instructions to maximize results and ensure a safe, effective transformation.

Patient Perspective

As a beauty writer, I’ve covered a lot of cosmetic treatments and surgeries over the years; I’ve spoken with dozens of expert plastic surgeons and dermatologists, and it wasn’t until recently that I comprehended just how big of a shift we’re seeing in cosmetic advancements.

If you read my 101 article on EMFACE (shameless plug: read it, if you haven’t already!), then you probably know that I met with Dr. Shafer and his team at the Shafer Clinic over the fall to get a first-hand perspective of this new treatment. Despite all of the research I had done, I was totally taken aback (in a good way!) by the results. EMFACE significantly tightened the skin around my jawline and chin, making my face appear more youthful and thinner. Friends and family would comment - and still comment - on how good I look. And, unless I tell them about the treatment, there is virtually no way for them to know what “work” I had done.

Possibly the most mind-boggling part of it all is how little effort it took. I would pop into the Shafer Clinic (which is conveniently just a few blocks from Grand Central) and be in and out within 45 minutes—but, it could easily be under 30 minutes had I not been so chatty.

I met with Lucia Miranda, LE, CCMA, licensed esthetician at Shafer Clinic, for all four of my sessions. After wiping the skin with an alcohol cleanser, she would place the back grounding pad, two facial pads on my cheeks, and a third facial pad under my chin. With EMFACE, you have the option to target the forehead of the submental area (the triangle under the chin). Lucia usually recommends targeting the submental area, which tightens any loose skin on the lower face.

“I often recommend EMFACE to patients who are concerned about jowls or noticing a 'turkey neck.' The submental pad allows us to target and lift the lower face, reducing sagging. While EMFACE does have a forehead pad, I rarely use it because I find that neuromodulators and fillers tend to provide more precise results for addressing forehead lines and wrinkles,” Miranda shares with us.

The actual procedure is 20 minutes and a little uncomfortable; your face twitches involuntarily and there’s a bit of a tickling sensation. But, as far as cosmetic treatments go, it really was not that bad. At the end of it, I was able to go back to my day as if nothing had happened; there was no swelling or bruising, just a little redness—and, only because my skin is on the fair side.

When researching EMFACE, the word ‘subtle’ kept popping up. It’s not an inexpensive treatment, so I kept thinking, why would someone spend thousands of dollars for “subtle” results? Now having experienced it first-hand, I get it; the results are meaningful but discreet. After EMFACE, my jawline is more sculpted and the skin is taut. The results are noticeable, but it’s totally natural-looking. Friends and family notice that I look better, but can’t quite put their finger on it. It just goes to show, we’re in the undetectable era.