Rosie O'Donnell, 64, has disclosed the significant cost of her recent facelift and detailed the transformative effects of the weight loss medication Mounjaro. In an interview with People, O'Donnell described the drug as life-changing, attributing it to her 60-pound weight loss after a lifelong battle with food.
Mounjaro, a GLP-1 medication originally developed for type 2 diabetes, has gained widespread recognition as an effective tool for weight management. O'Donnell stated that she began taking the medication three years ago after her diabetes diagnosis, finding that it helped quiet her preoccupation with food.
"I’ve had trouble with my weight my whole life," O'Donnell shared, recalling instances of shame and humiliation associated with her weight, including her children hiding candy from her. She described struggles with midnight snacking, confessing, "I couldn’t help myself."
The weight loss has altered O'Donnell's self-perception, making everyday experiences like buying clothes more manageable. "It’s very strange to just buy a pair of jeans that fit," she said. She reflected on past experiences in the entertainment industry, such as director Penny Marshall's request for her to lose 20 pounds for "A League of Their Own," noting, "When I look back, I go, 'God, I wish I could have enjoyed the size I was.'"
Now at a similar weight to that period, O'Donnell feels healthier and more empowered. "I feel much healthier, more powerful in my own physicality," she stated.
O'Donnell also addressed her decision to be open about her facelift, which she underwent in January. She shared before-and-after photos on Instagram in May and explained her reasoning in the interview: "I didn’t want to be one of those people who says, 'Oh, nothing.' So why do I look like this? $90,000."
She admitted to wrestling with the decision, particularly as a feminist, concerned about succumbing to the "male gaze." Her son also questioned the legacy she wanted to create. Ultimately, O'Donnell decided that the "real power of feminism" lies in individual autonomy over one's body.
The facelift was prompted in part by excess skin on her chin following her weight loss, which she felt made her appear unhappy. "People in Ireland said, 'Rosie, are you all right, love?' I’m like, 'It’s my face. I actually feel happy here,'" she recalled.
This decision contrasts with her previous stance, as O'Donnell had stated in 2021 that she would not pursue plastic surgery, believing it would limit her acting roles. She had envisioned playing character roles typically held by actresses like Geraldine Page or Colleen Dewhurst in her later years, a path that she noted has indeed materialized as she approaches 60.