Few places are primed for the trend more than South Florida.

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Former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle is one of the most prominent examples of "Mar-a-Lago face."

Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr

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If you look closely at many of the people in President Donald Trump’s orbit, you might notice something familiar.

Puffy lips. Overfilled cheekbones. Pixie noses. Known as “Mar-a-Lago face,” the bold cosmetic look has swept through Trump’s inner circle — and not just among women like Laura Loomer and Kimberly Guilfoyle (may we gently remind you of Rep. Matt Gaetz?).

While many people who get plastic surgery typically seek subtlety, Mar-a-Lago face is “ridiculously blunt,” as Inae Oh described in her Mother Jones piece, “In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA.” As recently reported by Axios, D.C. plastic surgeons have reported a surge of Trump insiders requesting these over-the-top procedures since the president retook office in the White House in January. One surgeon said they’ve had to turn down many newly arrived political insiders seeking “a more done look, like that Mar-a-Lago face.”

But while Washington, D.C. surgeons might be juggling their own influx of requests, few places are more primed for the trend than South Florida — MAGA’s Mecca and home of Trump’s very own Mar-a-Lago resort.

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Known as “Mar-a-Lago face,” the bold cosmetic look has swept through Trump’s inner circle — and not just among women like Kristi Noem.

Dr. Norman Rowe, a plastic surgeon with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Palm Beach (where Mar-a-Lago is located), says he’s noticed a shift toward what he calls a “hyper-aesthetic look” among his South Florida patients over the past two to three years.

Rowe says that many of his patients in the Sunshine State see “visible work” as “aspirational, almost like a status symbol.”

“They want to look like they’ve invested in themselves, and they’re not shy about showing it,” Rowe tells New Times. “You could call it the ‘Mar-a-Lago look,’ but really it’s part of a broader culture where bold aesthetics are celebrated.”

He says that while people in places like New York and Los Angeles often seek more understated looks, people in South Florida typically equate looking “done” with “looking successful.”

Rowe says patients float names like Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, and Kristi Noem and bring in photos of celebrities who represent that “sculpted, high-gloss style.”

“They’re usually asking for sharper cheekbones, lifted eyes, fuller lips, and a smoother, tighter jawline,” Rowe says. “It’s not about being subtle. It’s about always looking polished and camera-ready.”

Named after Trump’s Palm Beach resort, the look “refers to a recognisable combination of facial features and plastic surgery enhancements, often modelled after Ivanka Trump’s signature look,” plastic surgeon Matthew J. Nykiel told HuffPost. The key features include high, firm, overfilled cheeks, full lips, well-defined eyebrows, a strong jawline, and a narrow-bridged nose. Achieving the look typically involves a combination of surgical procedures and injectables, including Botox, a facelift, eyelid surgery, and fillers.

Rowe says that while South Florida has embraced the trend “most openly,” elements of the so-called “Mar-a-Lago” look are showing up everywhere.

“In New York, for example, people still want work done, but they prefer it to be invisible,” Rowe says. “In Florida, the same amount of work is worn like a badge of honor.”

As with other surgeons, Rowe says he’s had to reject some patients seeking the overdone look. He says his goal is to create “balance and harmony, not distortion.”

“There have been times when we’ve had to say no,” he says. “If someone asks for a procedure that would throw off their natural proportions or lead to an exaggerated result, we’ll guide them toward something more refined or decline altogether.”

He adds: “Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for every person or every stage of life.”

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Alex DeLuca is a staff writer at Miami New Times. She previously interned for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and freelanced for The Appeal. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

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