Denise Richards probably had a mapped-out way of making her facelift public, but she never saw a divorce court mention coming.
What began as a personal decision soon became part of her and Aaron Phypers‘ public split. Richards explained why she chose to share the news herself rather than let her ex control the story.
Denise Richards married Aaron Phypers in 2018, but their relationship later unraveled into a contentious divorce. After undergoing a facelift in June 2025, Richards said Phypers revealed the procedure during their legal proceedings, turning a private choice into public discussion.
Denise Richards Reveals Why She Finally Went Public With Her Facelift
Richards is opening up about why she decided to share details of her facelift after keeping the procedure private at first. During an appearance on “The Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg Show,” the actress explained how attitudes toward cosmetic surgery have changed since she first underwent breast augmentation in the 1990s.
“In the ’90s, when I got my [breast] implants, we didn’t have social media, and I feel that a lot of us were much more private,” Richards told host Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg. “And so, I was actually surprised how open a lot of people were.” The actress said the openness surrounding cosmetic procedures helped shape her decision to share her own experience.
Richards previously said she got a facelift in July 2025 because she “wanted to put things back where they were before.” In an earlier interview with Allure, she said the results are “night and day,” and added, “It’s shocking, actually.”
The Private Procedure Became Part Of The Divorce Drama
Although Richards was initially private about her facelift, she revealed that her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, played a role in her decision to speak publicly. During her appearance on the show, she recalled how the procedure came up during their divorce proceedings and explained why she no longer wanted to keep quiet.
“He said something in court about it on purpose,” Richards said. “And I was so pleasantly surprised because there was media in there that didn’t print it, which was nice. But I figured, you know what, I think I need to be honest. And I didn’t want to give him that power and have to say it then.”
Her comments suggested that taking control of her own story mattered more than allowing the situation to dictate when she revealed the surgery. According to USA TODAY, Richards also alleged that Phypers had arranged for a photographer to appear outside an appointment where she received microneedling treatment for her scars.
She further claimed he told someone her cosmetic work was “botched.” Despite the circumstances surrounding the disclosure, Richards said, “I’m so glad that I’ve been open about it,” adding, “And, I feel [my plastic surgeon] did such a great job on me that I wanted to share the information.”
Denise Richards Revisits Old Family Tensions Over Cosmetic Procedures
Denise Richards’ facelift also brought an earlier disagreement with her daughter Sami Sheen back into the conversation. While Richards initially faced resistance from Sami and her sister Lola over her decision to undergo surgery, the actress revealed that Sami had once wanted a nose job of her own, creating a similar disagreement between them.
Speaking to “Allure”, Richards recalled Sami reminding her, “Mom, you did not want me to get a nose job.” Richards explained that her hesitation stemmed from Sami being only 20 at the time and her concern that the procedure would change her daughter’s appearance.
She contrasted that with her own facelift, explaining, “For me, he’s just putting things back where they were. I’m not trying to change the way I look; I’m just trying to put things back.” As reported by The Blast, the discussion highlighted how the actress viewed her surgery as restoring her appearance rather than changing it.
Although Richards and Sami had different perspectives on cosmetic procedures, Richards acknowledged her daughter’s concerns and tried to reassure her, even complimenting her looks and her resemblance to her father, Charlie Sheen.
The $200,000 Facelift Procedure Drew Fresh Attention
After Denise Richards’ earlier disagreement with Sami Sheen over cosmetic surgery, the actress’s transformation drew further attention when she appeared at the 2026 Daytime Beauty Awards with the surgeon behind her new look.
Richards stepped onto the red carpet alongside Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ben Talei, drawing fresh attention to the extensive procedure she underwent months earlier. The Blast reported that Talei performed a deep-plane facelift that reportedly cost around $200,000.
The procedure also included a brow lift, upper eyelid lift, lip lift, and fat grafting, making the transformation considerably more extensive than the neck-focused treatment Richards had initially considered. Richards’ choice to go through the protocols was an attempt to freshen up her image without altering her appearance too much.
“The Hollywood Reporter” has already named Talai one of Hollywood’s “experts in natural-looking results,” and Richards’ red carpet makeover was a public preview of the results. The six-figure price tag, however, added another striking detail to a beauty decision that had already become a source of family disagreement and public discussion.
Denise Richards’ Move To Save Her OF Earnings In Divorce Battle
Beyond the limelight Richards has been in because of her facelift, her marriage to Phypers has sparked new financial conflicts in court. Richards allegedly requested that a court block her estranged husband from receiving a cut of her OF income, as he had claimed she made between $200,000 and $300,000 per month on the platform.
The actress argued that Phypers failed to submit an updated income and expense declaration and missed the deadline. The dispute followed other contentious proceedings, including allegations of abuse that Richards made against Phypers, which he denied, and a separate financial ruling requiring her to pay temporary spousal support and contribute toward his legal fees.
Despite the ongoing legal and personal challenges, Richards reflected on 2025 as “one of the most painful years” of her life in a New Year’s Day Instagram post. She also said she was “grateful for the clarity” the experience had brought and was “finally starting to feel like me again, only better.”
