Kris Jenner’s surgeon spills the tea on what the ‘Kardashian effect’ has really done to people
It's wild that this is an actual thing
It’s no secret the Kardashian-Jenner clan has basically rebranded what it means to age, contour, and enhance, but what’s the real fallout of all that influence?
According to Dr Steven Levine, one of the top plastic surgeons in New York (and yes, the same doc Kris Jenner trusted with her facelift), the Kardashian effect isn’t just a pop culture moment, it’s a whole thing in the surgery world.
And he’s finally spilling the behind-the-scenes tea on how it’s truly shaped the faces of a generation. Let’s just say… It’s not all lip kits and glow-ups.
The ‘Kardashian effect’ is a real thing
In a candid interview with V featured on his website, Dr Levine explained that thanks to the Kardashian influence, people are walking into plastic surgery consultations much earlier than they used to, we’re talking late 20s and early 30s, when previously it was a 40s-and-up kind of crowd.
Why? Because people are no longer waiting for the full-blown signs of ageing to kick in. Instead, they want to ‘fix’ things before they even happen, a little pre-emptive tweak here, a subtle lift there. Dr Levine calls this a shift toward preventative aesthetics, and yes, that includes procedures Kris herself has undergone.
But while it might sound like a proactive beauty plan, Levine warns that this rush to ‘fix’ can sometimes spiral into the world of overfilling, overfreezing, and overdoing it. He says one of the biggest issues he sees isn’t bad surgery, it’s too much filler, leading people to lose their natural features.
And don’t think surgeons are just saying ‘yes’ to everything. Levine estimates he turns down up to 50 per cent of prospective patients because what they want is either unrealistic or unnecessary.
The good, the bad, and the IG-filtered
So what’s the actual impact of the Kardashian effect? According to Dr Levine, it’s not all doom and duck lips. There are definite upsides to this cultural shift.
For starters, cosmetic work is no longer seen as a dirty little secret. Thanks to the Kardashians’ relative openness, at least to some extent, more people feel comfortable owning their tweaks without shame.
He also points out that the popularity of aesthetic procedures has raised the bar in terms of quality. Because celebrities are constantly showcasing flawless post-procedure results online, patients now expect more natural-looking, high-quality outcomes. This has encouraged surgeons to become even more refined and artistic in their approach.
Dr Levine also notes that today’s patients tend to be much more informed. They walk into consultations with reference photos, detailed questions, and a clear idea of what they want. In many ways, they’ve done their homework, sometimes a little too thoroughly.
That said, the Kardashian effect has its fair share of downsides, too. One of the biggest issues is the rise in unrealistic expectations. With so many heavily filtered and retouched faces dominating social media, people start to believe that perfection is not only possible but expected, which can lead to serious disappointment.
There’s also the growing problem of comparison culture. As more and more people aim for the same aesthetic, think high cheekbones, plump lips, and a razor-sharp jawline, individuality can start to fade into the background. Everyone ends up looking a little… samey.
Finally, Dr Levine warns about the psychological pressure that often comes with chasing these ultra-curated beauty ideals. Cosmetic procedures are still medical treatments, and they should be approached with clarity and confidence, not panic over a trending TikTok face shape.
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