Joan Rivers, known for her groundbreaking contributions to late-night television, was equally recognized for her extensive history with plastic surgery throughout her life.
Over a span of five decades, Rivers underwent a multitude of cosmetic procedures that included facelifts, a nose job, and numerous Botox treatments, leaving her almost unrecognizable in older photos.
Melissa Rivers, in her memoir, offered a different perspective, suggesting her mother had 348 surgeries, emphasizing the differing accounts
In a 2012 interview with Barbara Walters on “20/20,” she revealed her commitment to maintaining her appearance with dermal fillers every six months. Though it is widely acknowledged that Rivers had numerous cosmetic surgeries, the exact total before her passing in September 2014 varies based on different accounts.
In a conversation with Rivers, CNN’s Anderson Cooper once posed the question of whether she had indeed undergone 734 procedures, to which she confidently replied that the actual number was 739.
Conversely, her daughter, Melissa Rivers, offered a lower estimate in her memoir, “The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation,” stating that her mother had 348 surgeries throughout her life. While the truth may lie somewhere within these differing figures, it’s safe to conclude that Rivers underwent several hundred cosmetic procedures.
During an October 2010 interview with Tim Teeman from The Times, Rivers shared her motivation for pursuing plastic surgery, attributing it to feelings of unattractiveness and expressing no regrets about her choices.
“I’ve never regretted it,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of looking fresh and presentable on camera. She used the examples of Clint Eastwood and Julia Roberts to illustrate her point about the pressures of appearance in the industry. Additionally, she conveyed to Walters that undergoing these transformations had enhanced her self-esteem, describing the experience as “very happy.”
Despite the scrutiny surrounding her appearance, Rivers maintained a lighthearted attitude about her surgical transformations. She frequently made jokes regarding her looks, expressing a desire to have a twin to compare her natural appearance with. One of her more famous quips was, “I’ve had so much plastic surgery, when I die, they will donate my body to Tupperware,” highlighting her signature comedic style.
