You’ve seen the photos. Christie Brinkley, now cruising through her 70s, looks like she’s discovered a literal fountain of youth tucked away in the Hamptons. It's almost annoying, right? But here's the thing: she isn't actually claiming it's all "just drinking water" and "good genes," though she definitely has the latter.
Honestly, the conversation around Christie Brinkley cosmetic procedures is usually a mess of clickbait and guesswork. People see a 71-year-old woman with the jawline of a 30-year-old and immediately scream "facelift!" Yet, if you actually listen to what she’s been saying in interviews for the last decade—and specifically in her 2025 updates—the reality is way more nuanced. It’s less about a single "big" surgery and more about a very strategic, high-tech maintenance plan.
The "No-Cut" Strategy
Christie is kind of the poster child for the "non-invasive" movement. She has been incredibly vocal about her fear of looking "done" or like a completely different person. In a world where every other celebrity ends up with that "cat-eye" look, she’s stayed remarkably like her 1980s self.
How? Well, she basically treats her face like a high-end vintage car. You don't replace the whole engine; you just keep the spark plugs clean and the paint polished.
Ultherapy and the Ultrasound Lift
This is her big one. She’s the official spokesperson for Ultherapy, and she doesn't just say that for the paycheck. She genuinely credits this for her neck and jawline. For the uninitiated, Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound energy to heat up the deep layers of the skin. This "injures" the tissue in a controlled way, which forces your body to produce new collagen.
It's not a facelift. It’s more like a deep-tissue workout for your face. She’s mentioned that she loves it because it’s "natural"—not because the ingredients are organic, but because the result is your own body doing the work. It takes about 2-3 months for the results to actually show up, which is probably why she never looks like she suddenly "got work done" overnight.
Xeomin and the Botox Regret
This is a funny one. Christie actually tried Botox years ago and hated it. She told People and NewBeauty that it made her feel "depressed" because her face lacked expression. As a model whose whole career was built on a "sunny" look, losing her ability to smile with her eyes was a disaster.
Instead, she switched to Xeomin. It’s a "naked" version of the toxin (no accessory proteins), and she uses it almost exclusively on those "elevens" between the eyebrows and occasionally on her neck bands. She’s all about the "sprinkling" method—tiny doses that let her still look surprised, angry, or happy.
The 2024-2025 Health Scare and Fraxel
Recently, things got a bit more serious. In early 2024, Christie shared that she had a basal cell carcinoma (a common type of skin cancer) removed from her face. This wasn't a "beauty" procedure, but it did influence her aesthetic choices.
She’s been using Fraxel laser treatments lately. While many use Fraxel to get rid of sunspots or fine lines, she’s been using it as a preventative measure. It helps resurface the skin and can actually get rid of pre-cancerous cells before they turn into something worse. It’s a "two birds, one stone" situation: her skin looks smoother, but she’s also literally saving her life.
Why the "Rainbow Diet" Isn't Just Marketing
We need to talk about the food. You can’t talk about Christie Brinkley cosmetic procedures without mentioning that she’s been a vegetarian since she was about 13. She calls it the "Rainbow Diet." Basically, she tries to eat as many different colors of fruits and veggies as possible every single day.
- Morning: Sheep’s milk yogurt with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and papayas.
- Lunch: A massive salad with beans and grains.
- Dinner: Usually brown rice and lentils with more colorful veggies.
Is this a "cosmetic procedure"? Sort of. If you don't have the internal nutrients to build collagen, all the Ultherapy in the world won't do much. She also swears by BioSil, a supplement that helps with hair, skin, and nails. She started taking it after she noticed her hair thinning due to stress, and she’s been a devotee ever since.
The Real Surgical History
Wait, so has she ever gone under the knife? Yes, but not for her face.
In late 2020, Christie finally got a total hip replacement. This was an injury that had been haunting her for over 25 years, stemming from a 1994 helicopter crash in Telluride. She delayed the surgery for over a decade because she was scared.
"I injured my hip in a back country skiing helicopter crash... the pain got a little bit worse each year."
She finally did it during the 2020 lockdown, and by New Year's Eve, she was dancing in her kitchen. This is a crucial part of her "look"—being able to move, dance, and stay active is what gives her that youthful energy that surgery can't fake.
The Maintenance Routine (The "Wand" and Beyond)
Christie is also the face of SBLA Beauty. If you follow her on Instagram, you've seen the "Neck Wand." It’s a topical serum delivered through a rollerball. Does it replace a surgeon? No. But she uses it daily to keep the skin on her neck—which is notoriously thin—hydrated and tight.
She also exfoliates. Every. Single. Day. She’s been doing it for 40 years, inspired by an old article that claimed men look younger because they shave (and thus exfoliate) daily.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own Routine
If you want to age like Christie, the "all-or-nothing" approach is your enemy. Here is what we can actually learn from her transparency:
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- Start with "Pre-juvenation": Don't wait for skin to sag. Treatments like Ultherapy or Clear + Brilliant lasers work better when your body still has a decent "collagen engine" to rev up.
- The "Naked" Toxin Move: If you're scared of the "frozen" look, ask your derm about Xeomin or "Baby Botox" (micro-dosing). It’s about softening lines, not erasing your personality.
- Sunscreen is Non-Negotiable: Christie’s biggest regret? Not wearing SPF sooner. She’s now a fanatic, wearing SPF 50 even when she’s just gardening.
- The "Inside-Out" Rule: High-quality supplements like BioSil and a high-antioxidant diet aren't optional if you want medical-grade skin treatments to actually "take."
- Don't Fear the Biopsy: Her 2024 skin cancer was caught because she asked a doctor to look at a "tiny dot" while she was at her daughter’s appointment. Check your skin. Monthly.
Christie Brinkley's approach proves that you don't have to choose between "aging naturally" and "getting work done." There’s a middle ground where technology meets a healthy lifestyle. She looks like herself—just the best possible version.