Conservatism is about preserving traditions and resisting sudden changes.
However, several prominent figures on the right sported radically different looks at this year’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée, has been the subject of plastic surgery accusations after looking unrecognizable from her days as a liberal when she was married to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz has also been accused of having Botox and other cosmetic procedures after sporting a radical facial transformation. One of Gaetz’s Republican rivals compared him to a “blow-up doll.”
Donald Trump himself is also rumored to have undergone procedures to improve his appearance, including multiple hair transplants.
Pictured above is Matt Gaetz, who drew attention when he appeared at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday because of his overly arched eyebrows. He is pictured on the left in 2018.
Other Republicans, such as George Santos and former Speaker Ronna McDaniel — who do not appear to be at this year’s convention — have also been the subject of surgery rumors.
Guilfoyle sparked speculation about her appearance this week when she appeared on stage at the convention to loudly declare her support for Trump.
Plastic surgeon to the stars Dr Gary Motykie told DailyMail.com he believed the 55-year-old had probably “tried” fillers because her cheeks appeared much fuller than in previous public appearances.
“He’s lost a lot of weight,” she said, “and when you lose weight when you’re older you tend to look more haggard.”
“But that’s not the case, which makes me suspicious of the filler that has been used to make her cheeks look much fuller.”
She also suggested that the former Fox News personality had received lip fillers because hers had remained the same size over time, rather than shrinking as normally happens when someone ages.
Reacting to her appearance online, one person said: ‘Guilfoyle really needs to stop (plastic surgery) for a while.’
A second added: “She’s definitely had the mandatory plastic surgery that being part of the Trump clan requires.”
Social media was filled with memes when Florida Congressman Gaetz took the stage, with many immediately struck by his arched eyebrows and ultra-smooth complexion.
Pictured above is Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2017 (left) and at the Republican Convention on Wednesday. A top surgeon suggested she have fillers applied to her midface and lips.
Dr Motykie said the 42-year-old had the “classic” shocked expression of someone who had had too much Botox, comparing his appearance to Star Trek’s Spock’s eyebrows.
“A common mistake some of these people make is they think, ‘Oh, I want to look great for the Republican National Convention,’ and then they go and get Botox or fillers a week or two before,” Dr. Motykie said.
‘The problem is that it doesn’t always set in time, meaning they can look bulky or overdone at the convention, but more natural two weeks later.’
Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, also known as Dr. Miami, agreed that Gaetz had likely received the injections a few days before the convention.
He also suggested to the New times in Miami that Gaetz’s strange eyebrows could be the result of a brow lift (where the eyebrows are raised to reduce wrinkles) and eyebrow threading (or a method of removing eyebrow hair).
Plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie said Gaetz’s arched eyebrows reminded him of Spock’s in Star Trek.
Evidence of Botox use included the lack of wrinkles on his forehead and the fact that if it is too heavy on some muscles but too light on others it can cause eyebrows to take on the strange “over-arched” and “feminine-looking” shape seen on Gaetz.
Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden added to the online uproar over Gaetz’s appearance, comparing the Floridian to a sex doll.
“RNC unveils first AI-powered inflatable sex doll to speak at national convention,” Van Orden chided in X alongside an unflattering photo of Gaetz (R-Fla.) from the speech.
Another viewer told X: “He looks like he’s wearing a mask on his own face – this will give the lizardman conspiracy theorists plenty to work with.”
A second said: “Matt Gaetz (Republican, Botox),” and a third added: “Wow. That Botox and filler is COOL.”
And a third suggested her eyebrows made her look like she was preparing for an appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Pictured above is former Republican Speaker Ronna McDaniel, who has faced allegations of receiving filler. She has not yet appeared at the Republican National Convention.
Pictured above is disgraced former Republican Congressman George Santos. He previously faced accusations of having received fillers and Botox.
Previously, disgraced Congressman George Santos was accused of applying Botox and fillers to his lips and cheeks.
Former Republican Speaker Ronna McDaniel was also previously accused of getting fillers in her cheeks and lips after losing weight.
And it’s not just Republicans. According to Dr. Motykie, plastic surgery has become increasingly popular among politicians of all parties in recent years.
The goal is to appear younger and stronger and convince voters that they are still up to the job.
Democratic leaders like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi appear to have undergone plastic surgery.
