Denise Richards chooses honesty after facelift reveal amid divorce drama

Denise Richards has opened up about a major personal decision that she says has boosted her confidence during a challenging time.

The 55-year-old actress revealed she underwent a full facelift eight months ago, admitting she was initially “terrified” to go through with the procedure.

“I wanted to put things back up, where they were before,” Richards told Allure. “I was terrified. Being in the public eye since my 20s, people know what I look like — a facelift is not something that I could hide.”

The procedure, performed by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ben Talei, has had a significant impact on how she feels about herself.

“It is night and day,” she said. “It’s given me a new lease of life. It’s given me confidence.”

Richards added that her decision was influenced in part by her personal life, including her divorce from estranged husband Aaron Phypers.

She noted that the experience made her reassess how she wanted to feel moving forward.

Despite initially considering keeping the surgery private, Richards said the situation changed when details about the procedure were made public.

She claimed her ex disclosed the information and even alleged the surgery was “botched,” something she strongly denied.

“You know, I went back and forth about whether I was going to say anything,” she explained. “But he kind of let the cat out of the bag.”

Now, Richards says she’s choosing transparency, especially for women her age.

Reflecting on how cosmetic procedures were once kept quiet, she added, “Back when I had my breast implants done in the ’90s, we just weren't open about that stuff.”

While she still values privacy, the actress believes honesty can also be empowering. “In a way, I think it’s good to be open and honest, especially with other women that are my age,” she said.