“I definitely believe in plastic surgery. I don’t want to be an old hag. There’s no fun in that.”
That’s how Scarlett Johansson felt way back in 2004, according to an interview with B Magazine.
But only a few years later, she denied EVER having plastic surgery herself. After a 2007 Us Weekly article suggested otherwise, she issued a statement calling the claims “outrageous and defamatory,” and even threatened legal action (not that a lawsuit ever materialized).
Still, the Lost in Translation star, now 34, has been followed by plastic surgery rumours to this day.
With her green eyes, blonde hair and bee-stung lips, I’ve always considered Scarlett to be one of the most unique beauties in Hollywood. Is it really possible to win the genetic lottery and end up with her particular combination of features?!
Let’s take a look at her transformation over the years to see if we can find out!
Scarlett in 1997
Scarlett Johansson at a 1997 photoshoot.
First up is this pic from a late ’90s photoshoot, taken when Scarlett was only 12 years old. She’d already been acting for three years at this point! Not only can we see her natural nose, but also her natural hair colour (which was not blonde, but a light ash brown).
Scarlett in 1998
Scarlett Johansson at the 1998 Salute to American Heroes to Benefit the Fresh Air Fund.
At age 13, the only change was that her became a little darker, and she slicked on a very ’90s shade of lipstick (perhaps MAC Twig?). This was prior to having any cosmetic dentistry work, so she does not yet have that perfect “Hollywood” smile.
Scarlett in 1999
Scarlett Johansson at the 1999 premiere of ‘Blast from the Past.’
The late ’90s also saw Gwen Stefani turning bindis into a trend (which would definitely NOT be cool in 2019). Scarlett got on board, pairing hers with some pale lilac eyeshadow.
Scarlett in 2000
Scarlett Johansson at the 2000 premiere of ‘The Beach.’
So, here it is… the photo that Us Weekly used as evidence of Scarlett’s “nip and tuck.” The lighting is particularly harsh on the contours of her nose, I’ll give her that. But can lighting alone account for the differences compared to later photos? I don’t think so!
Scarlett Johansson at a 2000 Max Azria show.
Here’s another shot from the same month, but with much softer lighting. Nope, still doesn’t look like the same nose she has today! Her lips, on the other hand, do match. As you can see in these early photos, they were ALWAYS super plump—even when she was a teenager!
Scarlett in 2001
Scarlett Johansson at the 2001 Hollywood Film Festival.
By the time she debuted in Ghost World at 17, her appearance had really changed. Yes, she’s wearing a lot more makeup (including the dark “ring around the lips” lip liner that was an actual thing back then). But it might not be JUST makeup. I’m wondering if her nose isn’t a little bit less prominent here!
Scarlett in 2002
Scarlett Johansson at the 2002 premiere of ‘Eight Legged Freaks.’
This shot confirms my suspicions. All of a sudden, Scarlett’s career was taking off, and she emerged on the red carpet with a much more groomed, grown-up appearance. There’s the vibrant red hair, sophisticated makeup, and a nose ring to accentuate what looks like a newly reshaped nose.
Scarlett in 2003
Scarlett Johansson at the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards.
Oh yes, once upon a time, Scarlett had a mullet. (“There was a total party going on in the back of my head!” she recalled. “I had a ‘mullet pride’ shirt that I wore.”) My memory’s a little fuzzy, but I don’t think this wispy ‘do was ever hair goals, even back then!
Scarlett Johansson at a 2003 Cynthia Rowley show.
Speaking of weird hairstyles… the same year, she also stepped out in these blonde ringlets, paired with over-the-top false lashes and glossy hot pink lips. Again, I want to point out that her features seem a little more in balance compared to when she was younger. My guess is she underwent a rhinoplasty around 2001 or 2002, before Lost in Translation made her a box office sensation.
Scarlett in 2004
Scarlett Johansson at the 2004 premiere of ‘A Love Song for Bobby Long.’
At age 20, Scarlett took her hair even lighter, to a platinum blonde—a shade that really brings out her star quality. She also ditched the kooky makeup and hairstyles, likely securing a better styling team from here on out. Again, her nose has a different shape compared to before, but I would argue that this isn’t her “final” nose, either.
Scarlett in 2005
Scarlett Johansson at the 2005 premiere of ‘Match Point.’
Remember this phase, when Scarlett was all about the old Hollywood glamour? She always did some sort of retro curls with a red lip, barely-there eye makeup and a low-cut dress. By this point, she had upgraded her smile to make it straighter and more even. But take a look at her nose here, and then compare it to the next shot….
Scarlett in 2006
Scarlett Johansson at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards.
Are you seeing what I’m seeing? Her nose is suddenly much narrower, which makes her eyes and lips stand out even more. Not that anyone probably noticed, when she was wearing this dress!
Scarlett in 2007
Scarlett Johansson at the 2007 Louis Vuitton Love Party.
Next, she switched things up with an extreme bleached blonde, worn straight and pinned off her face. Keep in mind that this was the same year that the nose job allegations started, thanks to Us Weekly. (And that makes perfect sense, looking at these photos!)
Scarlett in 2008
Scarlett Johansson at the 2008 premiere of ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona.’
Then, it was back to a more low-key look in 2008, albeit with a slight vintage flair. The red lipstick shows off her naturally full lips and near-perfect smile, and the darker roots make her blonde colour look natural.
Scarlett in 2009
Scarlett Johansson at the 2009 premiere of ‘He’s Just Not That Into You.’
Before securing her role as Black Widow in Iron Man 2, Scarlett dyed her hair dark auburn, which she attributed to a “subconscious” hope that “they’d give me a call.” Since her skin tone is neutral, she pulls it off every bit as well as the blonde.
Scarlett in 2010
Scarlett Johansson at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
But it wasn’t long before Scarlett returned to her signature blonde, this time with a warm golden hue. She rocked it with frizzy, messy waves—texture was a big deal in the early ’10s—and lots of black liner.
Scarlett in 2011
Scarlett Johansson at the 2011 Academy Awards.
Who could forget Scarlett’s bob? She was way ahead of the current trend with this choppy, piecey ‘do (and probably inspired countless women’s haircuts over the years!). Her hair colour was a little darker here, and I appreciate that her teeth weren’t blindingly white… yet.
Scarlett Johansson at the 2011 Disney D23 Expo.
Later that year, as her bob was growing out, the dark hair resurfaced—this time, as more of a cherry red than an auburn. (Is there any hair colour this woman doesn’t look amazing in? The answer is no!)
Scarlett in 2012
Scarlett Johansson at the 2012 London premiere of ‘The Avengers.’
Within a year, Scarlett had ditched the red dye and grown out her bob enough to pull it up into this braided updo—all the better to show off her perfectly proportioned features. She was 28 at this time.
Scarlett in 2013
Scarlett Johansson at Comic-Con 2013.
Next, she showed off a full mane of golden blonde waves, I’m guessing with the help of a few extensions. Of all the hair colours she’s tried, this one is my favourite! Smoky, winged out eyeliner makes her eyes pop.
Scarlett in 2014
Scarlett Johansson at the 2014 London premiere of ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier.’
With her hair in smooth waves and a vampy colour on her lips, this look is reminiscent of Scarlett’s old Hollywood style era from the mid-’00s. She was also pregnant here, and it was her last hurrah with long hair for a while….
Scarlett Johansson at the 2014 Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser.
Talk about a radical change! Just like that, Scarlett chopped off her long locks. This was taken just two months after she gave birth to her daughter—but it’s far from the typical “Mom” cut. (She wouldn’t rock Mom hair until 2018!)
Scarlett in 2015
Scarlett Johansson at the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards.
In 2015, she took her short cut even shorter, shaving the sides and then bleaching the top a cool light blonde. Even if you’re not a fan of the pixie, there’s no denying that it puts even more focus on her uniquely beautiful features and flawless skin.
Scarlett in 2016
Scarlett Johansson at the 2016 Toronto premiere of ‘Sing.’
In 2016, it seemed like Scarlett was ready to grow out her pixie. Most people have to go through an awkward stage, but there’s no evidence of that here. The big waves, honey blonde colour and retro cat eyes look incredible on her.
Scarlett in 2017
Scarlett Johansson at the 2017 New York premiere of ‘Ghost in the Shell.’
But at age 33, she renewed her commitment to short hair by buzzing off the sides again and slicking it all back with copious amounts of hair gel. I can’t say I’m a fan of this new, “tough” look, but at least she pulls if off better than Katy Perry!
Scarlett in 2018
Scarlett Johansson at the 2018 Met Gala.
Finally, Scarlett began growing her hair out the following year, and at the same time, decided to dye it a rich, chocolatey brown. (And no, it wasn’t even for Avengers: Endgame.) Honestly, it looks like a helmet!
Scarlett in 2019
Scarlett Johansson at the 2019 premiere of ‘Jojo Rabbit.’
That brings us to 2019, and Scarlett’s hair is back on track! She traded the brown for her go-to blonde (this time, with dark roots), and most likely used extensions to add length and volume. Also, notice her teeth. Not only have they been brightened, but they are now completely even and uniform in size.
Scarlett Johansson Before and After
Scarlett Johansson in 1997 (left) and in 2019 (right).
Scarlett may insist she’s all-natural, but looking at her photos side by side, there’s no denying that a couple features have changed. Even in different lighting situations, with different hair colours and makeup applications, you can STILL see them.
For one thing, her teeth have been made over with whitening treatments and porcelain veneers. It’s now that dazzling, perfect smile that you only see on celebrities.
The main alteration, however, was to her nose—just like so many other Hollywood stars.
I’m going to venture a guess that she had not one, but TWO rhinoplasties. The first one would have been done before 2003, when she wasn’t on anybody’s radar. The second was an even more skillful refinement, done around 2005, right before she became a household name.
“Scarlett’s work is certainly minimal, but it should belong on a list of the best nose surgeries ever done on a celebrity,” says Dr. Jeffrey Rawnsley.
“The biggest difference is in the bridge. As you can see, her original bridge was thick, leading all the way up to her brow. The result made the nose look too large for her small and delicate face. The new bridge is distinctly thinner and definitely goes well with her other features. The tip of her nose was rather bulbous, giving it the unfortunately named ‘piggy look’ when combined with the thick bridge. Very little work was done on the tip, however. Just small changes to refine it were used and the shape itself wasn’t changed at all. That’s how she still has the same nose but with just more delicate details.”
Her lips, on the other hand, have had undergone zero cosmetic enhancements.
“A lot of patients ask me to make their lips look like Scarlett’s,” says Dr. Anthony Youn, “but it’s impossible for a plastic surgeon to create perfection like this.”
How do you feel about Scarlett’s beauty evolution?
Which of these looks is your favourite?
What “beauty work” do you think she’s had done?
Scarlett Johansson, Before and After syndicated from The Skincare Edit
October 28, 2019 at 06:27PM
Dawn Siler 