How Kristi Noem's Face Has Transformed Over The Years, According To Our Plastic Surgeon

As secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem is a politician with higher-than-high visibility. From visiting detention centers to delivering stump speeches, she's experienced in front of a camera. But these days, it's not all in the delivery, or even the issues — for many politicos, image is a key component of their strategy.

Enter Noem's profound transformation. Much like Usha Vance's fashion has changed since JD entered politics, Noem's style has taken her on quite a journey from her COVID-era days as the first female governor of South Dakota. Once a proponent of sartorially conservative looks to match her political views, Noem has now embraced more drama in her styling with long, wavy extensions, pronounced makeup, and even a few physical tweaks via cosmetic surgery.

Noem has been coy about the full extent of her surgical procedures, only confirming some dental work to perfect her smile. Still, there could be more variables at play in her beauty evolution. To find out what other procedures may have contributed to Noem's current aesthetic, Glam spoke exclusively to plastic surgeon Joel Kopelman of Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery. Specializing in facial procedures, Dr. Kopelman is uniquely positioned to analyze Noem's features. Here are his best guesses about the work she's had done so far, as well as what she could do next.

In just a few years, Kristi Noem's look has undergone quite the change, and, undoubtedly, some of this transformation owes itself to a major overhaul in the makeup department. In 2019, when she began serving as governor, Noem had a fairly demure look with peachy, natural foundation; slim, understated brows; and moderate mascara. Fast forward to 2025, and Noem has adopted a more in-your-face approach to cosmetics, beginning with a generous layer of fake tan, adding extra definition to her dark brows, and finishing with unmissable false lashes. But beauty products probably can't take all of the credit for her new look, and plastic surgeon Joel Kopelman thinks chances are high that she's had beauty procedures beyond her fixed teeth.

"Comparing photos from around 2019 to now, I'd say she's likely had Botox for smoother skin, particularly around the forehead and eyes, and dermal fillers in her cheeks and lips to restore volume," surmises Dr. Kopelman. "Her jawline and eye area also appear tighter, which could indicate a facelift or lower eyelid surgery. These changes align with what we typically see in patients aiming for a more youthful, refined look — especially those in the public eye."

Based on this evaluation, Dr. Kopelman also hazards a guess at further procedures Noem may tack on in the future. "If she hasn't had a neck lift, that could enhance the transition from her jawline to neck, especially in profile. Laser skin resurfacing could also boost radiance and smooth out minor imperfections. A subtle brow lift might open the eyes slightly more," he exclusively tells Glam. "But overall, she already has a very polished, well-maintained aesthetic." It's certainly a labor-intensive look, suggesting that Noem takes great pride in her appearance. Unfortunately, some constituents are less enthusiastic about her new vibe.

On one hand, fans think that Kristi Noem looks incredible, and many might not know from her appearance alone that she's a grandmother. Responding to a date-night picture that Noem shared on Instagram in February 2024, commenters wrote, "Holy smokes, you look gorgeous!" and "They raise them beautiful in the Dakotas!" But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and not everyone loves Noem's distinctive look. In fact, critics consider Noem one of the worst offenders of so-called "Mar-a-Lago face" — the heavily glam aesthetic favored by many women in Donald Trump's inner circle and the greater MAGA movement alike.

Party lines aside, plastic surgeon Joel Kopelman thinks the growing popularity of certain elective surgeries, such as those associated with "Mar-a-Lago face," are examples of a bigger shift in the beauty landscape. "Her transformation reflects a broader trend among public figures — using cosmetic procedures to project confidence and authority. Whether it's Botox, fillers, or possibly a facelift, the look is intentional and aligns with how women in high-profile roles are often expected to present," Dr. Kopelman exclusively tells Glam. Looking back over the last 100 years of plastic surgery, procedures like these have certainly become more mainstream, and we can't knock Noem for taking advantage of them.