The changing face of Madonna: Star shocks fans with new look

by · Mail Online

Madonna stunned with her impeccably smooth complexion as she left the Dolce and Gabbana after party in Milan - showing she really is the queen of reinvention.

The superstar, 66, attended the Spring Summer 2025 show as part of Milan Fashion Week on Saturday.

She showed off her bold sense of style in a black lace veil and a gold crown as she took her seat front row alongside Naomi Campbell and Ashley Graham. 

But it was her radiant skin that really commanded attention, as she displayed her ageless looks.

Here, FEMAIL looks back at at Madonna's changing face over the years.

FRESH FACED: Pictured on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1987, popster Madonna showed off a youthful look
1979:Madonna burst onto the music scene in the Eighties, quickly becoming a household name with her hits such as Material Girl, Like a Virgin and Like a Prayer
1987: She helped push punk culture into the mainstream and became famed for her love of fishnet tights, heavy makeup and tutus

1980: Fresh faced pop starlet

In the eighties, a fresh faced Madonna burst onto the music scene.

With her hits, including Material Girl, Like a Virgin and Like a Prayer, she quickly became a household name.

And her unique look also had an influence on pop culture, helping to push punk culture into the mainstream and becaming famed for her love of fishnet tights, heavy makeup and tutus.

She pushed boundaries with her bleach blonde hair and provocative stage outfit, becoming the poster girl for sexual liberation and female empowerment.

1990s: The start of some subtle changes 

Fans began to suspect that Madonna was starting to experiment with subtle enhancements when she reached her 30s, and eagle-eyed celeb-watchers started to notice some minor changes.

While unconfirmed, rumours at the time suggested that the star was experimenting with Botox, as well as undergoing a nose job. 

Another rumour came around the time of her 1990 Justify My Love video, when it was alleged that Madonna had collagen injections to give her lips a fuller 'bee-stung' look.

Pictured in 1996, it was clear that Madonna's looks had naturally changed over the last decade. During the 90s, there were unconfirmed rumours that she had experimented with tweakments like Botox
1990: It was alleged Madonna had collagen injections to give her lips a fuller ‘bee-stung’ look for her Justify My Love video

2000s: Surgery rumours abound

Further surgery speculation followed in 2008, when Madonna appeared to display facial bruising in 2008, prompting some to think that she had undergone lower eyelid surgery.

There were also claims that her wrinkle-free skin was the result of a 'ribbon lift', which involves inserting bioabsorbable ribbon in the neck to hold the muscle back and tighten loose skin. 

While she didn't address the rumours, Madonna admitted she hardly recognised the face she sees in old pictures, saying: 'I don’t regret any of it, but I do sometimes think: “Oh God, what was I thinking...”’

In the 2000s, Madonna was subject to further surgery allegations, when some fans alleged she'd had lower eye lift surgery after she was seen with facial bruising
During that decade, there were also claims that her wrinkle-free skin was the result of a 'ribbon lift', which involves inserting bioabsorbable ribbon in the neck to hold the muscle back 

2010s: Botox rumours - and refusals to discuss surgery

In the 2012s, it was revealed that Madonna was a fan of dermatologist Dr Frederic Brandt, also known as the 'Botox Baron'.

While she made no secret about being a fan of the doctor, she also claimed she had not had Botox injections. 

Discussing how she had developed a new, fuller texture to her skin. the musician credited her famously strict macrobiotic diet regime — eating grains as a staple food, supplemented by vegetables, beans and nuts.

In 2012, Madonna famously said: 'I am certainly not against plastic surgery. However, I am absolutely against having to discuss it.'

2018: She credited her famously strict macrobiotic diet regime — eating grains as a staple food, supplemented by vegetables, beans and nuts — for the new, fuller texture to her skin
2015: While Madonna made no secret of the fact she was a fan of dermatologist Dr Frederic Brandt, also known as the ‘Botox Baron’, she didn't claim to have had Botox

2020s: A drastic change

In recent years, Madonna fans have noticed that the pop star has adopted a radically different look.

Notably, after a 2023 appearance at the Grammys, some noticed that she appeared to have a more swollen, tighter look to her face.

Speaking at the time, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Horn, from from Chicago, Illinois, gave DailyMail.com his expert opinion on the procedures she may have had.

Dr Horn believes Madonna not only had a 'facelift' - which he said was 'obvious because her skin' appeared 'tight and pulled back with no wrinkles' - but that she also received a nose job.

2024: The pop star was seen leaving a show at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday sporting an ultra smooth look
2023: Dr Horn believes Madonna not only had a 'facelift' - which he said was 'obvious because her skin' appeared 'tight and pulled back with no wrinkles'

He also claimed the singer had used excessive facial filler,  a brow lift and Botox. 

While at this time, Madonna has not yet commented on her appearance in Milan, last time there was widespread speculation about her changing look - in 2023 - she did respond.

Several days after the Grammys, she took to Instagram where she shared a photo of her face.

In the image, her visage appeared far more streamlined, and like her usual appearance.

A caption she shared alongside the photo said: 'Look how cute I am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol.'