John Wayne's facelift and other vintage celebs who got cosmetic surgery

While some parts of plastic surgery date back hundreds of years, its most significant advances were made during WWI and WWII. It was during this same period that Hollywood rose to prominence. Ever since the beginning of cosmetic surgery, stars have been going under the knife as a way to conform to beauty standards that were often unrealistic.

According to Greg Jenner in the book ‘Dead Famous,’ the silent film star got a facelift in 1920, which resulted in her losing expressiveness. Reports at the time talked about a “mummified” look.

Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino) underwent months of painful electrolysis to raise her hairline because the low hairline had been considered too “ethnic” at the time. To further align with Hollywood beauty standards of the era, she also dyed her naturally dark hair red.

Legendary crooner Dean Martin (born Dino Crocetti) underwent a nose job early in his career to appear less Italian. This decision was influenced by racial discrimination against Italians in the entertainment industry during the 1940s.

According to medical records that were recently made public, Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jean Baker) had an implant to make her chin appear more prominent. They also show she had some work done on her nose. In addition to these procedures, Monroe was said to have gotten hairline electrolysis and b r e a s t augmentation. Her friends said that the latter “got infected” shortly before her death.

The early comedian, born Fania Borach, who inspired ‘Funny Girl,’ got fed up with being seen as a “joke” and decided to have a nose job. At the time, Dorothy Parker quipped that Brice had “cut off her nose to spite her race.” While she denied that, being "ethnic" in the 1920s, was not fashionable in Hollywood, causing many to take drastic measures to fit in.

In the early 1930s, the 'King of Hollywood' reportedly underwent an otoplasty to pin back his protruding ears. His smile was also changed dramatically with dentures.

Several Crawford biographies say that she had a dental procedure called “the Buccal” that involved removing back molars to give the face more pronounced, hollow cheekbones. She was born Lucille Fay LeSueur.

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Fleming assured ABC News that Burt Lancaster had a facelift. Reportedly, the surgery helped him land more glamorous roles later in his career.

The iconic star got her eyelids done in the 1970s to tighten up loose skin. She kept the procedure hidden until her 2011 memoir ‘If You Ask Me.’

John Wayne (born Marion Morrison) the quintessential Hollywood cowboy, had a facelift and wore a wig in every movie after 1948. In addition, the biography by Scott Eyman claims that in later years, the actor wore 3-inch lifts in his shoes as he shrank with age.

The stunning actress and groundbreaking inventor known as the “world’s most beautiful woman” in the 1930s, began reaching for cosmetic surgeries in the 1960s to the point to which she looked like a different person, according to the documentary ‘Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.'

Joan Rivers (born Joan Alexandra Molinsky) was open about her numerous cosmetic surgeries, including facelifts, neck lifts, and eyelid surgeries. The comedian believed that maintaining her appearance was essential for staying relevant in show business.

The comedy legend underwent a procedure in he early 1980s to bring her chin forward. She later joked in an interview with Piers Morgan: “I’ve always wanted that, so if it rains, I can feel it.” She also said Marlon Brando called her to ask about her experience.

Calling herself the “poster girl for plastic surgery,” the iconic singer born Cherilyn Sarkisian has been quite open about her many procedures, including a nose job, facelifts and breast augmentations. “If I want to put my tits on my back, they’re mine to do so,” she once said.

Much like Cher, Parton has been very open about going under the knife, speaking publicly about multiple cosmetic surgeries, including breast augmentation, liposuction, and facelifts.