Fans of Real Housewives of Orange County were left stunned when Tamra Judge, 57, shared an unrecognizable post-surgery look after undergoing a series of cosmetic procedures. The reality star had a brow lift, a carbon-dioxide laser treatment on her face, neck, and chest, as well as a blue chemical peel, revealing the dramatic effects on Instagram just two days after the procedures.
“Day three and the swelling’s making a statement. Progress isn’t always pretty, but it’s happening,” Tamra wrote in the caption of her September 1 post. She appeared extremely puffy, with her skin beginning to crack and ooze, prompting fans to react with both concern and support.
In a video shared with her followers, Tamra explained the swelling: “The swelling is from the CO2 laser. You can see it’s all the way down my chest. But you can imagine what it feels like.” She went on to reassure her audience that the appearance was normal, saying, “Overall, looking like it’s supposed to look. Nice and crispy.”
However, she admitted that the swelling was at its peak: “Swelling is supposed to be at its worst right now. I don’t know how it can get any worse. I feel like my skin is going to burst. You can see it’s getting oozy. I can barely open my eyes.” Despite her discomfort, Tamra expressed hope of improvement soon, saying she was eager “to turn a corner” the next day.
While some fans showed support, others were concerned about the frequency of her surgeries. One follower urged her, “Grow old gracefully. I was gorgeous and beautiful at a certain time in my lifetime. It’s time to embrace wisdom and wrinkles. And to be proud of them!!” Another questioned, “Tamra why! You didn’t need anything, love yourself.”
Still, others defended her transparency. “WTF!! The only reason she is doing this is because we’re gonna see her next year and go ‘oh did she get a facelift?????’ Come on Tamra. You did not need to do anything to your face. You are beautiful,” one fan reassured her. Another praised her honesty: “I love your honesty with all the cosmetic things that you do to yourself that most lie about.”
Tamra first shared her latest surgery journey on August 31, posting a video of herself in a surgical gown, explaining, “Seven years ago, I had a lower facelift but skipped the upper — like painting the house but forgetting the trim. Stay tuned for updates!” Her procedures were performed by Dr. Donald Mowlds in Newport Beach, California, who also shared her video on social media.
Three hours post-op, Tamra was back home, explaining that her doctor “took a little bit of skin out of the corner of my eye” during the brow lift, adding that the pain wasn’t too severe. This isn’t the first time the TV personality has been open about her cosmetic work. In 2017, she had a lower facelift and eyelid tuck, which she also documented on Instagram, saying, “I’m open and honest about it because I want women to know that everyone gets old … It’s just not for me.”