Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. They were the group of friends we all wanted to be part of during the nineties and early noughties. But nearly 30 years on (gulp!), how are the Friends cast members looking? And what cosmetic work - i.e. Botox and fillers - if any, have they had done? I spoke to Dr Rachel Aarons to get her thoughts.
The Friends Cast Then and Now: Who's Had What?
Could they BE any more gorgeous?
Back in the nineties (which I swear was just a couple of years ago), most of my friends and I wanted to be one of the Friends characters. If you were ‘ditsy’ you were a Phoebe. If you were smart, you were a Ross. If you were funny, you were a Chandler. If you were a control freak, you were a Monica. We all resonated with at least one character.
And they all looked so great - each with their own distinctive style. The Rachel haircut is one of the most iconic haircuts of all time, with people racing out to the hairdressers to get it for themselves. So, when the show came back in 2021, after 17 years, we were all curious to know if they were looking just as good as they did back in the day.
The one where they got Botox: What work have the Friends cast had done?
As if you need a reminder, here’s what the Friends cast looked like in the nineties. Fresh-faced, youthful and gorgeous.
The Friends cast then - back in the 90s
And here’s what they look like in 2021, on the set of Friends (left to right). Matt LeBlanc - AKA Joey (left), aged 54, Matthew Perry (Chandler) was 52, Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), 53, Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe), 58 years old, David Schwimmer (Ross), 55, and Courteney Cox (Monica), perched at the front, was 58.
Friend the reunion - the Friends cast in 2021
Obviously, it’s been a few years since we saw them the first time round, but they’re still looking great - though some are clearly looking fresher than others. Though I had my suspicions about which cast members had had some cosmetic help, I wanted to know the thoughts of an aesthetic practitioner, so I spoke to Dr Rachel Aarons, owner of the Curated Clinic. So, has Jennifer Aniston had a bit of tox? Has Coutney Cox had fillers? Here’s what Dr Rachel says…
Chandler
“Matthew Perry has had lots of age-related changes, suggesting he’s not actually had much done. He does, however, have significant skin laxity from his weight fluctuations over the years. I think he’s looking as expected for a 50 year old. His brows sit quite low, suggesting he could have been treated with wrinkle relaxing, though seeing how his facial muscles moved with expression would really be the giveaway.”
Matthew Perry then and in his 50s
Ross
“David Scwimmer looks as if he has had a rhinoplasty to correct his slight deviation. His skin looks in good condition for his age, suggesting he has incorporated regular use of SPF, possibly alongside prescription vitamin A and use of a vitamin C. His forehead and around the eyes look smooth, suggesting he has head treatment with botulinum toxin (commonly called Botox).”
David Schwimmer still looking great years later
Joey
“I think Matt Le Blanc has aged remarkably well, suggesting he’s had some assistance. He looks like he has some mid face volume replacement in the cheek area.”
Matt LeBlanc nineties and now
Rachel
“Jennifer Aniston’s face is so consistent, and the help she has had has been really sympathetic. We know she’s had a rhinoplasty, which she has spoken openly about. She’s clearly maintained a great level of skin hydration as well as proactively stimulated collagen and elastin. And she may have had profhilo, microneedling, or Morpheus 8 to assist with this. I suspect wrinkle relaxing to the forehead, frown and crow's feet area is a staple maintenance for Jen. She's recently discussed having "the salmon sperm facial" AKA polynucleotides - so she's clearly invested in her skin”
Has she even aged? Jennifer Aniston then and now
Phoebe
“Lisa Kudrow seems to have taken a more hands off approach. There are lots of static facial and neck lines, suggesting she has avoided anti-wrinkle treatments and other non-surgical procedures. There are lots of UV related skin changes. Hopefully, she wears daily SPF now, but she might not have done in her 20’s and 30’s.”
Lisa Kudrow doesn't appear to have had injectable treatments
Monica
“Courteney Cox has had the most work done out of all the Friends cast and, unfortunately, I believe it has been overdone. Her wrinkle relaxing has been helpful in the prevention of fine lines, and she has invested well in collagen stimulation procedures, such as microneedling, laser and chemical peels. Sadly, I think she had gone over the top with the fillers and become ‘alienised’. She has clearly had temple and cheek filler, as well as tear trough, and a subtle lip enhancement. Fortunately, she recently took steps to reverse this filler fatigue.”
Courtney Cox has been open about her injectable treatments
In an interview with The Times, Courteney Cox talked about taking her fillers too far, saying, "There was a time when you go, 'Oh, I'm changing. I'm looking older […] and I didn't realize that, oh shit, I'm actually looking really strange with injections and doing stuff to my face that I would never do now." And Cox says she later got much of her filler work dissolved to give her a more natural appearance.
Pivot! How to look natural with Botox and fillers
For many people, Courteney Cox is what they think all people with Botox and fillers look like. But that isn’t the case at all. Just look at Jennifer Aniston - also in her fifties, but looking fresh and natural after having aesthetic treatments. The best injectables are undetectable!
So, how do you stay looking natural and gorgeous with aesthetic treatments like Botox and fillers? Injectable treatments are more popular than ever, and can give incredible results if done well. The issue is that people can, sometimes, go too far with them, and in situations where the practitioner won’t say ‘no’, there’s risk of ‘filler blindness’, where the patient can no longer see the changes in their face, whereas other people no longer recognise you. This seems to have been the case with the lovely Courteney Cox.
The key to great aesthetic treatments is to find a practitioner who will work with you on an individual - not cookie cutter - level, to find what treatment is right for you. They should give you a thorough consultation, explaining the treatment in detail and running through the potential risks and side effects. They should also give you a great aftercare service - Remember the Friends theme song, “I’ll be there for you”? This is exactly what your practitioner should be saying (or singing!) if any complications arise or you have any questions. And they should be working to keep you looking like yourself, just fresher. Like the best version of you. Not like someone else.
Something that’s really important is to choose a medically qualified practitioner, such as a doctor, dentist, nurse or prescribing pharmacist. This is because injectable treatments like Botox and fillers require a lot of training and great knowledge of anatomy. Though considered generally pretty safe, there are associated complications, and it’s important for your practitioner to know A) how to perform the treatment well, B) understand where to inject for optimal, natural and safe results, and C) know what to do if anything does happen to go wrong.
A great place to start is by researching your practitioner or clinic on Glowday, where we only list healthcare professionals with proper aesthetics training and insurance. They’re all vetted and verified, and you can view their reviews and before and after photos in one place.
Friends until the end
However they’ve aged and whatever work they’ve had done, I love them and think they are all incredible. Now, I’m off to watch yet another rerun (they never get old!) and reminisce about nineties fashion. See ya!
If you're looking for undetectable injectables, check out the thousands of incredible aesthetic prectitioners on Glowday and find the one in your area that suits you.