The Filler Phase and a Rare Moment of Self-Awareness
The early 2000s were a wild time for celebrities. Everyone was chasing youth, so things like fillers and Botox were all the rage. Lisa, of course, participated in those trends too. But in 2008, she actually looked back at herself and realized that she’d gone too far. Unlike many celebrities at the time, she talked about it openly and admitted that aging made her feel insecure and like she needed to do all these procedures when in reality they were not necessary. She said that she learned “less is more” eventually.
The 2024 TikTok Moment
Fast forward to 2024. Aesthetic physician assistant Nicole Smith uses Lisa’s face in a TikTok as an example of overfilling—specifically her overfilled cheeks and midface that threw off her facial balance. The video goes viral. Comments pour in: “I don’t even recognize her,” “Is that really Lisa Rinna?”
Most celebrities would spiral. Issue a statement through their publicist. Post defensive Instagram stories.
Lisa? She agreed with the criticism. She commented that the filler (Skinvive) wasn’t good for her, that it added unwanted volume, and that she’d already had it dissolved. No deflection. No excuses. Just, “Yeah, you’re right, I fixed it.”
Would She Do It All Again? Absolutely
Here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the complications, the reversals, the public scrutiny—Lisa says she’d get those original lip injections again. Why? They made her career possible.
She told Forbes in 2021 that her lips led to business opportunities, including launching Rinna Beauty in 2020 (lip kits and glosses, naturally). She even said, “Without my lips, I would’ve had a different career.” And she’s probably right. Would we know Lisa Rinna without those famous lips? Hard to say.
The Public Response: Complicated
Public opinion splits pretty sharply. One camp admires her transparency in an industry where celebrities claim they just drink water and use effective skincare. Finally, someone is being honest about the work they’ve had done.
The other camp thinks she’s gone too far, using words like “botched” and “unrecognizable.” Medical professionals have used her as a cautionary tale about finding injectors who’ll tell you when to stop, rather than just taking your money and filling indefinitely.
