Denise Richards Reveals Facelift Disclosure Triggered by Ex-Husband's Court Action
The actress explained her decision to go public with her $200,000 cosmetic surgery after her ex-husband, Aaron Phypers, brought it up during divorce proceedings.
Actress Denise Richards, 55, disclosed that she felt compelled to publicly address her $200,000 facelift only after her ex-husband, Aaron Phypers, raised the issue in court during their contentious divorce.
During an appearance on The Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg Show, Richards stated she chose to be upfront about the procedure to prevent Phypers from using it as leverage. "I figured, you know what? I just need to be honest," she told McCarthy.
Richards collaborated with her publicist to manage the narrative, securing an article in Allure magazine. "I'm so glad that I've been open about it. I didn't know how people would react, but I want to know what everyone's doing, what peptides, what this, what that, and I feel that [my surgeon] did such a great job on me that I wanted to share the information," she explained.
The facelift was performed by celebrity surgeon Dr. Ben Talei. The procedure included a deep-plane facelift, brow lift, upper eye lift, lip lift, and fat grafting from her thighs to her neck and face. Richards initially considered only addressing her neck but was advised by a well-known friend to undergo a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
"The only analogy I could give is like you remodel a house and do one room and the room looks great, but it doesn’t match the rest of the house," she said, comparing the extensive work to a full home renovation. She praised Dr. Talei's work as "impeccable."
Richards' daughter, Sami Sheen, also underwent cosmetic surgery in 2024, having a nose job performed by Dr. Deepak Dugar. This procedure was documented on Bravo's "Denise Richards & Her Wild Things."
Meanwhile, Richards and Phypers have been involved in a difficult legal battle since their separation in July 2024. The divorce proceedings have included disputes over finances and property, with allegations of domestic violence from both parties. Richards was granted a five-year restraining order against Phypers.
In a court ruling on February 26, Richards was ordered to pay Phypers' attorney fees, totaling $25,000, and an additional $5,000 to a forensic accountant. She was also instructed to pay temporary spousal support of $5,000 per month, commencing March 5, 2026, until further court order. A structured payment plan for the attorney fees was set, requiring $10,000 per month for March, April, and May 2026.