Ricki Lake Says Rosie O'Donnell Was 'a Little Judgy' About Her Plastic Surgery Decision

Ricki Lake, 58, revealed that her close friend Rosie O'Donnell, 64, was "a little judgy" when she decided to undergo a face and neck lift in 2024. Lake made the decision to address sagging skin under her chin after she successfully lost 40 pounds and reached a weight of 130 pounds.

In an interview on ABC's The Weekend View on Saturday (31/10/26), the Hairspray star said O'Donnell initially did not agree with plastic surgery. "Rosie is a good friend of mine, and we talk a lot. She judged. She'll admit it. She was a little judgy of me and my friends going to this doctor and getting amazing results," Lake said.

However, after O'Donnell lost 50 pounds, she began doing research and eventually underwent a deep-plane facelift in January. "Of course, she lost a lot of weight... and she went and had the surgery. She looks amazing," Lake added.

Lake stressed that her goal was not to look 20 years old, but to feel like herself after significant weight loss. She also embraces the aging process with her natural gray hair. "I really own my age, and I love my age now," she said.

On the other hand, O'Donnell admitted in a Substack post in May that she once regarded plastic surgery as a "betrayal" of feminism and the aging process. "I was adamantly against a face lift. Not casually, but morally. I considered it a betrayal. Of feminism. Of aging. Of team woman worldwide," she wrote.

However, after losing 50 pounds, she began looking in the mirror and felt that it was not just wrinkles but gravity. "There comes a point where acceptance starts to feel like a lie," she said. O'Donnell also admitted that her daughter, Clay, had objected to the surgery plan, even saying she would not be able to respect her if she went through with it. That led O'Donnell to delay the surgery for months before ultimately going ahead with it.

"I want them to grow up in a world where they don't feel they have to change themselves. But also know that they can, if they want to, without losing the moral integrity of their own lives," O'Donnell wrote.

The stories of these two celebrities reflect the dilemma many women face regarding beauty standards and the pressure to look perfect. In Indonesia, a similar phenomenon is occurring, with growing interest in aesthetic procedures such as face lifts and anti-aging treatments. Data from the Indonesian Association of Plastic Surgeons shows a 15% increase in demand for plastic surgery over the past five years, especially among women aged 40-60.

Nevertheless, awareness of the risks and the importance of proper medical consultation continues to be promoted. The stories of Lake and O'Donnell show that the decision to undergo plastic surgery often involves complex personal, social, and emotional considerations. Going forward, open dialogue about aging and beauty is expected to help women make choices that align with their values and needs.