Cher’s remarkable openness regarding plastic surgery has set her apart in an industry that often shrouds cosmetic enhancements in secrecy. By admitting to procedures such as facelifts, nose jobs and breast augmentation, she has challenged the norm with refreshing honesty. Despite decades of rumors and speculation, the star has consistently been forthright, often sharing what she has and hasn’t done. And at 77, the narrative that she’s had surgery from head to toe hasn’t gone away. As Cher herself once said, “You admit to one thing and then everyone has you doing everything.”
1984
Early Admission About Surgery
In an interview with British broadcaster Terry Wogan, a 38-year-old Cher spoke about freely admitted to having plastic surgery. “You admit to one thing and then everyone has you doing everything. I mean, I’ve had one thing done. This is not to say I wouldn’t, if I needed to have something done, I would certainly be the first one in the line to the doctor.”
During that same interview Cher noted that her mother had just had a facelift at age 56, a decision she supported. “My mother is no 56 and she just had her face lifted. My girlfriend saw her and she couldn’t believe my mother is so beautiful now, not that she wasn’t really beautiful before but I think it’s worse in America. Women get older and men get dignified or character. But it’s hard to be older in this business.”
1988
The Rib Removal Rumor
In 1988, Paris Match magazine made headlines by announcing that Cher had undergone various cosmetic surgery procedures, including rib removal surgery. Despite the star’s legal action against the magazine, but the rumors persisted. To dispel the speculation, the star spoke out: “If that [rumor] were true,” she argued, “how could I do those health club commercials, in which I wear next to nothing? I’d be scarred all over. And how could I wear the kind of clothes I do if I’d had all those many operations? Wouldn’t there be visible scars everywhere?” She went on to say, “I’ve been upfront about saying that I had my nose done, my breasts done and had braces on my teeth. The rest is nonsense.”
1990s
Botched Breast Surgeries
On her breast surgery, Cher told People magazine, “I’ve had my breasts done, but my breast operations were a nightmare. They were really botched in every way. If anything, they were worse after than before.”
2002
Being Compared to Michael Jackson
In a Primetime interview, Cher drew a line in the sand about public perception with ABC News’ Cynthia McFadden. “If I had as much plastic surgery as they—you know, like I’ve got ass implants and calf implants and cheek implants—I mean, when I got my nose and my teeth done, I said it because it didn’t occur to me that that would be anything that anybody would even care about. No cheek implants, no—I mean, I’ve had the same cheeks my entire life.”
“No ribs removed?” inquired McFadden.
“I’ve never even thought about having any ribs taken out,” replied Cher. When McFadden made an comparison to Michael Jackson, asking the star if she thinks might have gone too far, Cher responded, “No, I don’t. If I want to put my tits on my back, it’s nobody’s business but my own.”
2018
Undergoing a Facelift
The music icon got candid again in a tell-all interview with The Mail on Sunday. The Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again star didn’t shy away from discussing her past romances and plastic surgery. “Yes, I’ve had a facelift, but who hasn’t?” she quipped.
2020
“Normalizing” Plastic Surgery
When asked if she thinks she has played a role in “normalizing” cosmetic procedures, the ‘Believe’ hitmaker firmly denied the suggestion. “These girls are having surgery at 18. So come on! I’ve never seen girls do so much to want to change everything they look like. I never wanted to do that. You’ve got big lips to start with and a big butt. I don’t understand it.”