Kaitlin Armstrong did have cosmetic surgery while she was a fugitive in Costa Rica, but there is no official, public “before and after” breakdown beyond what’s been described in news reports and court-related coverage.
What procedures she reportedly had
Multiple outlets report that in San José, Costa Rica, Armstrong paid for cosmetic work that included:
- Rhinoplasty (a nose job) intended to change the shape of her nose.
- A brow lift to alter the position/shape of her brows and upper face.
- Lip fillers or other injectable fillers were discussed and at least temporarily visible, with marshals noting swollen lips and a bandage on her nose when she was arrested.
These procedures were part of an effort to alter her appearance so she could avoid recognition while on the run.
“Before and after” appearance
Public descriptions and images used in news coverage generally note that:
- Before surgery, she had a fuller, more prominent nose and a more natural brow position, along with a more familiar likeness to her driver’s‑license and earlier photos.
- After surgery, her nose appeared narrower and more refined, her brows were elevated, and her lips looked temporarily swollen from fillers and recent work, yet she was still recognizable enough for U.S. Marshals to identify her.
Because media outlets and the surgeon have not released detailed, clinical- style side‑by‑side photos, precise changes (like millimeter differences or exact angles) are not publicly documented; only general facial changes can be observed from news images and broadcasts.
Ethical and privacy note
Even though Armstrong is a convicted murderer, her medical and surgical details are still partly private, and only what emerged through legal proceedings and media interviews is publicly available. For that reason, information about her surgery is limited to broad descriptions of the procedures and general visual changes, not a full medical “before/after” analysis.
