How Donatella got this face at 69: Experts reveal the procedures behind Versace designer's 'biggest upgrade ever'

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She may have made a name for herself in fashion - but Donatella Versace is equally famous for her ever-changing face, which has never been anything less than distinctive.

Over the years, fans have speculated that she's gone over the top with fillers, tweaks and Botox, thanks to a taut and shiny forehead and prominent lips, but one Sunday night the Italian designer, 69, wowed fans when she stepped out in London looking as fresh-faced as she did in the 90s.

For the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada musical on Sunday, Donatella's skin appeared smooth and lifted and most crucially natural, prompting Instagram followers to dub her new look 'the biggest upgrade in history'.

On X, others joked the designer has visited the same cosmetic surgeon as Lindsay Lohan, who has also recently debuted a more youthful appearance, and started a rumour that there must be some new treatment that's not yet available to mere mortals. 

'People, someone needs to find out who this doctor in Hollywood is who is performing these miracles,' one said. 

Donatella - who famously said she 'doesn't believe in a totally natural woman' - previously admitted to using Botox maintain her youthful appearance in the high-pressure role when she took over the role of Versace's Chief Creative Officer, following her brother Gianni's murder in 1997. 

And while her Instagram snap may have smoothed out a few extra lines, there is no doubt that her appearance at the premiere is the best she's looked in years. 

Here, cosmetic surgery experts give their take on what procedures Donatella may have had over the years - and what's behind her latest amazing transformation.  

Pictured: Donatella Versace at the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada musical in London last week

Donatella Versace arrives in San Paulo in Brazil in 2014 (left). At the time, she was suspected to have undergone a lower face lift, eyelid surgery, cheek implants and nose job. A decade on she looked more youthful than ever while attending the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada (right) in London 

1993 - Subtle use of fillers

Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr Ross Perry -  the founder and Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics - argued Donatella had turned to cosmetic treatments as early as 1993.

At the time, the designer was 38 years old and had already been working with her brother for 20 years. 

Analysing an image from the fashion house's Spring/Summer show, the expert explained: 'I do think perhaps [1993 was] her first foray into lip fillers as they look more full than they did in 1990.

Pictured: Donatella Versace at the fashion house's Spring/Summer 1993 show in Paris. Dr Perry alleges she was only using filler at this time

Fashion designer Gianni Versace, right, stands with musician Elton John, centre, and Versace's sister Donatella after they arrived at New York's Lincoln Center in February 1993

'But I suspect she’s only had a tiny amount of filler placed in them as they were naturally quite full to start with. 

'She’s got some fine lines appearing at the corners of the eyes here, as one would suspect, so I don’t think she’s gone down the Botox route yet.' 

Meanwhile, Dr Fadi Hamadani - a plastic surgeon for InMode - added: 'Her lips already seemed to be naturally quite full, but she may have opted for lip fillers around this time, contributing to the slightly fuller look that became more prominent in the 2000s.'

1998 - Subtle use of Botox

1998 appears to be the year Donatella - who was now heading up her brother's label - started trying to reverse the aging process.

Pictured: Donatella Versace at the VH-1 Divas Live concert in 1998. At this time, the designer was believed to be using Botox

Donatella Versace listens to questions during a press conference for the Fire and Ice Ball at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California in 1998

Pictured: Italian fashion designer and mother-of-two Donatella Versace attends the MTV Awards in January 1998

Less than a year into her role as Versace's Chief Creative Officer, the mother-of-two began sporting an increasingly smooth complexion - which Dr Perry believes was achieved with cosmetic tweakments.

He continued: 'Still sticking with Donatella’s signature look of platinum long hair extensions and very tanned skin, she looks more polished in terms of her overall look and her make-up which is better suited to her skin tone. 

'We can see here though Donatella’s forehead looks taut and smooth and I suggest at this point she’s been having regular Botox injections and still a small amount of filler in the lip area.'

Dr Hamadani added: 'Donatella’s appearance started to shift in the mid – late 90’s , but her changes still appeared to be relatively small. 

'She may have just started to have Botox, particularly around her forehead and eyes, as these areas were smooth and wrinkle-free. 

'Botox was becoming largely popular at the time, and Donatella’s ability to maintain a youthful, fresh look without deep lines suggests she was using it. 

'Dermalfillers may have been used to subtly enhance her cheekbones and smooth out the under-eye area. This gave her a more lifted appearance, but nothing that was too drastic.' 

2005 - Overfilling lips and relying on Botox

In the wake of her divorce, Donatella appeared to increase her cosmetic treatments - to the point where Dr Perry says her lips were 'overfilled' and 'out of proportion' with her other features.

Donatella Versace in 2005 at the Costume Institute Gala Celebrating Chanel at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

Italian designer Donatella Versace acknowledge the applause at the end of Gianni Versace's Fall/Winter 2005/06 in 2005

He continued: '2005 is the year where we can the most drastic change in Donatella’s appearance, particularly the mouth area.

'Her lips have almost tripled in size and just look overfilled and out of proportion with the rest of her facial features. 

'Skin is looking very taut her too, so I’d suggest frequent fillers to keep the cheek area looking full to regain youthfulness, and Botox in the forehead, crows feet and possibly chin area.'

'Her cheekbones were even more pronounced, likely due to the use of fillers , which restore volume to the face, especially in her cheeks and jaw,' Dr Hamadani said.

'I would also suggest she had a facelift during this time as the skin around her jawline and neck appears tighter and more lifted. The combination of these treatments gave her face a more contoured, sculpted look, with sharper angles.' 

That year, Donatella confessed in an interview with US Vogue that she had been addicted to cocaine for 'the last 18 years' - later receiving treatment in a rehab in Arizona. 

2008 - Suspected eyelid surgery and lower face lift

Donatella Versace arrives for the amfAR Gala during the 61st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes in 2008

Dr Perry said of her appearance in 2008: '[Donatella's] overly inflated lips are still very much the focus but the eyes look more youthful and less hooded.

In 2008, Donatella was pictured looking considerably younger than her 53 years at the Cannes Film Festival - leading to speculation she had gone under the knife in a bid to remain youthful.

Dr Perry said: '[Donatella's] overly inflated lips are still very much the focus but the eyes look more youthful and less hooded.

'This suggests Donatella had undergone a eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, which is procedure that removes excess skin, fat, or muscle from the upper or lower eyelids.

'I suspect Donatella may well have had a lower facelift too as the jaw line looks more defined and tight.'

Meanwhile, Dr Hamadani said: 'Her cheeks, jawline and lips were still well defined, which were likely maintained with regular fillers,. Botox would have been essential in keeping her forehead smooth and preventing wrinkles from forming.'  

Trudy Friedman, of the Aesthetic Skin Centre, said at the time: 'Numerous treatments mean her face shape has changed drastically.' 

2010 - Suspected cheek implants and nose job

Donatella Versace arrives before the Fashion Fringe 2010 Spring/Summer collection show during London Fashion Week

Pictured: Donatella Versace on the runway of her 2010 show. Dr Perry said: 'She may well have had cheek implants as they look more rounded'

Although Donatella's appearance remained fairly consistent for the next two years, Dr Perry noted that she may have undergone another two more subtle surgical procedures.

He continued: 'There's not a huge difference between Donatella's appearance in 2008 and 2010

'However, she may well have had cheek implants as they look more rounded.

'There’s also a significant change in her nose shape from earlier years so I suspect there’s possibly been rhinoplasty done at some stage as it gives quite a thin look at the bridge but flattens towards the bottom.'

2013 - Lip augmentation and possible neck lift

Pictured: Designer Donatella Versace attends the 2013 Costume Institute Gala, where the theme was 'punk'

Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace and fashion model Naomi Campbell backstage at Versace show as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute-Couture Fall/Winter 2013-2014 in Paris

By 2013, Donatella's lip shape was completely unrecognisable while her face had become increasingly taut, according to Dr Perry.

The expert said: 'Lip augmentation is very obvious here and there is no sign of her original lip shape whatsoever giving a very unnatural appearance.'

On top of this, Dr Perry suspected she was having skin resurfacing treatments and a possible neck lift - as the skin in this area looked especially taut for a woman of 58.

He continued: 'Frequent use of fillers and Botox is also very apparent. 

'She could also had had a possible brow lift as they look very arched and not what one would expect to see at Donatella’s age.'

2017 - New veneers and potential breast enlargement

Pictured: Designer Donatella Versace attends the amfAR New York Gala 2017, where she sported a blonde fringe

Analysing the designer's 2017 look, Dr Perry added: 'It looks as though she’s showing off a new set of veneers to widen the smile and more suited to her overly filled lips'

Four years on from this, Donatella put on a glamorous display at the amfAR Gala in New York - where she showed off her toned figure in a shimmering rose gold gown.

Years before, Donatella had stressed that her physique was the 'result of hard work' and not any surgical intervention. 

Analysing the designer's 2017 look, Dr Perry added: 'It looks as though she’s showing off a new set of veneers to widen the smile and more suited to her overly filled lips. 

'There’s possibly been a breast enlargement here due to the shape and fullness at the top of the dress.'

2019 - Dissolved filler

Pictured: Italian designer Donatella Versace attends Pride Live's 2019 Stonewall Day on June 28, 2019

Donatella Versace and Rihanna during The Fashion Awards 2019 held at Royal Albert Hall on December 02, 2019 in London

After over 25 years of suspected cosmetic work, Dr Perry believes Donatella toned down her look in 2019.   

He said: 'Donatella is starting to settle into her looks and doesn’t look overly worked on here. 

'She may have had some filler in the lips dissolved as they do look more natural. 

'The face is still round but again the face doesn’t look overly taut.' 

2023 - Fox-eye lift

Donatella Versace attends the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023 during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show

Dr Perry said of Donatella's appearance in 2023: 'Her eyes look different and I would suspect she’s had a fox eye lift'

However, Donatella's approach seemed to ramp up again in 2023 - when she is suspected to have undergone a fox-eye lift.

Dr Perry said: 'I think Donatella looks far softer with a paler skin tone and ashy colours throughout the hair. 

'However, her eyes look different and I would suspect she’s had a fox eye lift.

'This is a purely an aesthetic procedure designed to tighten and elongate the outer corner of the eye.' 

Meanwhile, Dr Ed Robinson added: 'Donatella seems to defy the ageing process and she’s likely had a helping hand in the form of tweakments or surgery. 

'Her face appears more volumised than in 2019, and as facial volume loss is part and parcel of the aging process, she almost definitely had dermal fillers in her cheeks, chin and jawline or possibly injectable biostimulators hybrids like sculptra which stimulate collagen while providing volume.'

2024 - Corrective work 

The Chief Creative Officer of Versace shared photos from the opening night of The Devil Wears Prada on her Instagram - prompting followers to dub her new look 'the biggest upgrade in history'

Vanessa Williams, Donatella Versace, Sir Elton John and Dame Anna Wintour attend "The Devil Wears Prada Musical" charity gala night

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Donatella Versace, 69, stuns fans with unbelievable beauty transformation

On Sunday night, Donatella wowed onlookers at The Devil Wears Prada London premiere when she sported a much more youthful appearance.

However, Dr Perry says this was the result of general upkeep and some corrective work Donatella may have had.

He explained: 'This is the best I’ve seen Donatella looking- the hair, make-up and styling really work and suit Donatella. 

'She doesn’t look like she’s been having a lot of recent work done, but is maintaining and possibly correcting previous work.

'This could be having more non-invasive skin treatments, filler removed and opting for less surgical procedures that she’s had done in the past.' 

What's more, Dr Hamadani agreed with this analysis and added: 'Donatella’s neck and jawline look very smooth and defined, suggesting that she likely continues to maintain her neck and face lifts or uses non-invasive skin-tightening procedures. 

'These treatments such as Morpheus8 or other radio-frequency devices, can help prevent sagging and maintain a sculpted, youthful neckline without the need for invasive surgery. 

'Overall, through these last few years she doesn’t appear to have had an extra major work done and has just maintained the work she has had done over the years.' 

For the occasion, the designer stunned on the red carpet in a sheer, heavily-embellished bronze mini dress with a black sweetheart neckline bodysuit underneath.

Donatella paired her sheer dress with knee-high brown leather platform boots.

On Instagram, one fan commented: 'Donatella has a new face.'

Another added: 'This is shocking not gonna lie.'