Beauty Doc Blog

CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, once known as the perennial perky co-host of NBC’s Today Show, has been the fodder of gossip in recent months and it’s not just about switching networks.

Although Couric denies the accusations, it’s rumored that she’s enhanced her looks with plastic surgery.

Side-by-side comparisons of the TV journalist’s face throughout the years confirm one undeniable fact. She doesn’t look the same as she did sitting next to Bryant Gumble or Matt Lauer. But is the change due to the natural effects of aging or attempts to avoid an exclusive interview with Father Time?

In February of 2004, Women’s Wear Daily reported that Couric, then 47, was planning an Endotine brow lift. The procedure, which she denied during an appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live, involves the surgeon attaching a small, biodegradable implant to the bone. Muscles are then lifted and suspended on three to five pegs on the Endotine device. Eventually, the affected tissues fasten themselves to bone in the new, higher position. The device dissolves after about six months, leaving a smoother, more youthful appearance.

The Endotine brow lift, usually performed under local anesthetic, allows the patient to return to work in just a few days. Itching and numbness are normal as the incision heals and the body becomes used to the Endotine implant.

Promotional photos of Couric, circa 1993, illustrate a pixie-short haircut framing her slightly plump yet smooth face. But that plumpness isn’t as pronounced today. If Couric wished to regain some of the youthful freshness to her face, skin resurfacing might be something to consider.

Popular skin resurfacing treatments include dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, chemical peels or laser resurfacing.

Skin resurfacing won’t alleviate deep forehead wrinkles, but Couric doesn’t appear to have a problem in that area. Perhaps Botox injections (which last up to 6 months and require no downtime) have been utilized to prevent a furrowed brow as she approaches age 50.