Everyone’s Going Under the Knife But You’d Never Know It. Here’s How to Get Plastic Surgery That Actually Looks Natural

It seems like every day brings a new celebrity revelation about cosmetic procedures. Kylie Jenner recently shared her precise boob job order to her plastic surgeon, while Kristin Cavallari opened up about her ruptured implant. Stassi Schroeder has posted about her “Barbietox” routine, and Caroline Stanbury documented her facelift on Instagram. Whether it’s a boob job, facelift, or something way less invasive, kudos to these stars for their transparency.

What’s striking is how difficult it’s becoming to detect these cosmetic surgeries. We’re in the undetectable surgery era, where people are getting procedures younger, more frequently, and with increasingly subtle results that enhance rather than dramatically alter their appearance. 

Breaking Beauty cohosts Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins spoke with board-certified plastic surgeon and NakedBeauty MD founder Dr. Catherine Chang about the undetectable surgery trend and this shift toward subtlety. Is it ever too early for plastic surgery? What are the best surgeries for a natural result? What else should you consider before going under the knife?

The rise of the ‘undetectable era’ 

Dr. Chang’s approach to plastic surgery centers on “naked beauty”— the idea that there’s inherent beauty in our own skin without makeup, fillers, or Photoshop. “Natural is always in,” Dr. Chang explains. “This era is great for me…people are not necessarily doing less injectables, but people are a lot more knowledgeable about what surgery can achieve and how it can look natural. A lot of people now understand that plastic surgery can be restorative.” This is the ethos behind her skincare line, NakedBeauty MD.

According to Dr. Chang, a growing trend in cosmetic procedure circles is scaling back—think less filler (or even dissolving it), fewer BBLs, and smaller breast implants. Take “ballerina breasts” for example, which involve a smaller, more natural-looking silhouette rather than maximum volume.

Another emerging trend is the “Jellyroll Botox,” which targets the small roll that appears under the eye when smiling. Dr. Chang has mixed opinions about this treatment. While it can be effective for muscle bunching around the eyelid, it’s not the right solution when the issue stems from excess skin or fat.

Cosmetic surgery: When is too soon and what is too much?

How early is too early for cosmetic surgery? The question of appropriate timing for cosmetic procedures depends, says Dr. Chang. She advocates against rigid age restrictions, noting that even 40-year-olds can be excellent facelift candidates depending on their individual needs.

She’s developed a signature mini-lift technique, what she calls the “Bijoux Lift” specifically for patients in their 20s and 30s who notice early signs of facial aging but don’t yet have enough excess skin to quality for a traditional facelift yet. This one-hour procedure lifts soft tissue for a mini deep place facelift, offering long-lasting results for those seeking preventative intervention.

However, this trend toward early intervention comes with important caveats. Dr. Chang warns about the consequences of overfilling with injectable treatments. When patients receive excessive amounts of filler, it can stretch out the skin. When you dissolve that filler (particularly after the age of 35 when skin elasticity naturally decreases), the skin won’t retract back to where it was originally, so you’ll be left with excess skin. 

The hallmarks of undetectable plastic surgery

People love these undetectable surgeries because they still look like themselves, but more refreshed, refined, and youthful. According to Dr. Chang, truly undetectable cosmetic surgery maintains a “natural aesthetic” (think: the rise of clean girl makeup versus Instagram filter).

“How I’ve always thought about undetectable work is you maintain someone’s essence. I may do a lot of surgery on somebody, but they don’t look surgical,” she adds.

Here are the three hallmarks of undetectable plastic surgery, according to Dr. Chang:

• It helps maintain their natural essence. The most important factor is whether the person still looks and feels like themselves. The brain shouldn’t register the person as fundamentally different or unfamiliar.
• The incisions are imperceptible. Successful procedures leave no visible evidence of surgical intervention. Scars should be strategically placed and heal to near-invisibility.
• It’s not about less skin, but about rejuvenation. The objective isn’t to achieve unnaturally tight or perfect-looking skin, but rather to restore a more youthful appearance while maintaining natural movement and expression.

Of course, it’s worth noting: If obvious enhancement is your goal, go for it! The beauty of this era is that there are options for everyone—whether you want to look like you’ve discovered the fountain of youth or a really good filter.