has shared for the first time that she has undergone a full .
In an exclusive interview with Allure's Elizabeth Siegel, the former Playboy model candidly discusses her plastic surgery journey.
The 55-year-old ex-wife of said she had the complete process eight months ago as she shared photos from the surgery.
And she said she was sad when her ex leaked the news to the press before she could talk about it.
'I wanted to put things back up, where they were before,' said Richards.
'I was terrified. Being in the public eye since my 20s, people know what I look like—a facelift is not something that I could hide.'
Denise Richards has shared for the first time that she has undergone a full facelift. In an exclusive interview with Allure's Elizabeth Siegel , the former Playboy model candidly discusses her plastic surgery journey; seen on March 8
The 55-year-old ex-wife of Charlie Sheen said she had the complete process eight months ago as she shared photos from the surgery
It's not the first time she has had plastic surgery.
Richards had her breasts done at 19, and has had revision surgery for her implants since then.
But, she said, it is the first time she's had cosmetic surgery on her face.
'It is night and day,' Richards said of her before and after look. 'It's shocking, actually.'
After she had the facelift, she said other stars 'were more comfortable telling me about theirs, but I'm not gonna name names.'
Still, she says, it can be great to know that 'it's not just serums and working out and lasers' that make people like her look younger.
'Going through my divorce, my ex [Aaron Phypers] disclosed that I'd had a facelift. He had a photographer show up outside an appointment where I had some microneedling on my scars,' she claimed.
'So [my ex] told someone that I had a facelift, and said it was botched, which is really ridiculous.
'You know, I went back and forth about whether I was going to say anything about my facelift—um, he kind of let the cat out of the bag.
Seen a year ago in March 2025 when on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Richards at Day Four of the 6th Canneseries International Festival in 2023
'I think I could have gotten away with, 'Oh, she looks so much better after her divorce.' I think I probably would've been able to get away with it—or not, I don't know.'
This comes after Richards was ordered to pay her estranged husband Phypers $5,000 a month in temporary spousal support.
The Wild Things star actress and her ex, 53, are in the midst of divorce proceedings after separating last summer and during the latest court hearing related to the split, Judge Nicole Bershon ruled the movie star must pay Phypers the monthly amount and contribute $30,000 towards his legal fees.
The judge clarified the attorney's fees apply only to the divorce case and not to Aaron's criminal defense.
He is currently facing four felony counts – two felony counts of injuring a spouse and two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat – allegations he has denied.
The $30,000 in legal fees will be paid in three instalments, with the first $10,000 due at the end of March.
Judge Bershon itemized the monthly $5,000 support payment as $2,000 for rent, $1,000 for a car, $1,000 for food and the remaining sum for miscellaneous expenses.
Phypers told the court on February 26 he had only $200 to his name and said the ruling would 'certainly help' but that he was taking matters 'one day at a time.'
This comes after Richards was ordered to pay her estranged husband Phypers $5,000 a month in temporary spousal support. Seen in 2023
Richards' lawyer, Mark Gross, argued the financial burden of caring for her 14-year-old daughter Eloise, who has a rare chromosomal disorder resulting in developmental delays, was 'pretty extraordinary.'
He said: 'Victims of abuse shouldn't be required to support their abuser' – referencing Denise being granted a permanent restraining order against Phypers in November 2025.
His lawyer responded the Quantum 360 founder has not been convicted of the charges.
In January, Richards reflected on what she described on Instagram as a hard year of 'letting go (and) truths being exposed'. She wrote: 'As painful as it is, I'm so grateful for the clarity.'
Denise was previously married to Charlie Sheen, with whom she shares daughters Sami and Lola.
Phypers was previously married to actress Nicollette Sheridan before their divorce in 2018.
