Perhaps most encouraging of all, the mood among advocates and lawmakers seems to be shifting. In short, folks associated with former President Donald Trump’s administration are parading around with what people have been calling the “Mar-a-Lago face.” This term describes a very specific and growing aesthetic. It combines audacious aesthetic transformations with a sleek, content-prepared finish, distinguishing it from other beauty standards. Local plastic surgeons are now experiencing a wave of requests for exactly this kind of look. High-profile clients, in particular the Trump administration’s increasingly youthful officials, are fueling this trend.
Dr. Kelly Bolden, a plastic surgeon based in D.C., notes that the “Mar-a-Lago face” is not a look she typically promotes. She understands the increasingly popular appeal of this fresh aesthetic to her patients. Wouldn’t you know it, she continues, they walk in and actually say to me that they love the artificial look. This change reflects a larger trend toward the normalization of cosmetic procedures, especially among those who frequent spaces focused on cultivating a public-facing image.
Young professionals like the former Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt — and her deputy Anna Kelly — both 28, represent this new breed of America First insiders. The pair is representative of the beauty imperative that has led a generation to add aesthetic augmentation to their professional toolbelt. This appearance reflects a deep commitment to Trump’s policies. Beyond Yanqing’s specific story, her victory marks a cultural shift in how we perceive beauty and professionalism in politics.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Shervin Naderi deems the “Mar-a-Lago face” a “modern aristocratic mask,” noting its extremely far removed form of natural beauty. Surgeons, like Dr. Anita Kulkarni, are experiencing a surge in demand for this particular aesthetic. It’s individuals inside the Trump administration who are fueling this sudden demand for public-private partnerships. In particular, she has developed a focus on postpartum body contouring, but even she can’t ignore the growing trend of overtly enhanced features among her clientele.
Patients hoping to achieve the “Mar-a-Lago face” and more are reaching for injectables and fillers. Then they inject these fixes under skin to produce a sharp, even harshly defined and wholly unnatural look. Surgeons finally tuned in to the fact that patients really do desire dramatic/can’t miss me results from their cosmetic procedures. This demand has led to a more transparent and candid discussion about the alternatives.
Dr. Troy Pittman agrees, adding that people are more willing than ever to share their cosmetic experiences. In a bright, shiny town like D.C., the new administration is infusing a new flair to the capital city’s old-world glamor. This practice has reached a new level of absurdity. They’re OK with looking enhanced,” he explains. That acceptance is pushing patients further towards appearances that would have previously been deemed extreme.
Dr. Bolden warns that patients usually want big improvements. There’s a slippery slope between allowing them to be their most photogenic selves before venturing into very bad vampire pumpkin patch territory. From my experience, going beyond the above will take you past appearing like the best version of yourself. Otherwise you’ll find yourself turning into something like Maleficent. This goes to show the fine line that surgeons have to walk when they are addressing their clients’ wishes.
This latest occurrence of the “Mar-a-Lago face” demand taps into a larger cultural trend in West and the wider world where ideal beauty standards lean toward increasingly exaggerated features. Dr. Kulkarni prides herself on keeping her clients looking as natural as possible. Just because my aesthetic doesn’t match your aesthetic doesn’t mean I can’t deliver you exactly what you’re looking for,” she says. This declaration demonstrates her dedication to an ethical practice in cosmetic surgery.
Local plastic surgeons are complaining that too many patients have cut rate expectations. Or they look for certain “branded” styles that certainly aren’t going to happen. Dr. Pittman cautions that setting an aesthetic goal too high might result in forced, phony outcomes or even failure. He goes on to say that when clients ask for a “custom” appearance, it usually sets them up for failure right from the start. This new demand often leads to artificial outcomes.
Not only these challenges, though, many patients remain undeterred in their pursuit of the “Mar-a-Lago face.” Dr. Bolden finds herself in dangerous situations when her clients request more improvements than is wise or feasible. “Usually I’ll look at them and say: ‘Let’s balance you out, let’s make it more even.’ It’s almost like just as long as they get a little bit more, it will satisfy them,” she elaborates.
The field of cosmetic surgery is ever-changing. It embodies not only personal aspirations, but the societal forces created by political and social pressures. As any plastic surgeon will tell you, cosmetic trends are a mirror held up to broader cultural trends. The recent fascination with the “Mar-a-Lago face” quintessentially demonstrates this trend.
As more Trump insiders request this unique style, the future of plastic surgery in Washington D.C. stands to benefit greatly. Surgeons today often find themselves embroiled in an ugly tangle comprised of client expectations, personal ethics, and beauty ideals of the day.