One of the most well-known faces of Gen Z, Millie Bobby Brown, has been causing a stir with her recent public appearances, with fans questioning why she appears to be much older than her actual age.
The 21-year-old actress was declared unrecognizable as she walked the red carpet at the premiere of her film, The Electric State in Los Angeles.
This speculation started after her attendance at the SAG Awards earlier this week, where social media users were taken aback by how mature the young star of Stranger Things looked.
One, writing on X, said: ‘Literally had to double check [she] turned 21 the other day and not 40.’
‘Already looking like 30-year-old,’ commented another.
‘When did 21 going on 45 looks become fashionable?’ asked a third.
Some fans have even gone as far as to suggest that Millie, who was born on February 19, 2004, might have undergone filler injections, a cosmetic procedure commonly used to volumize the cheeks and lips.
Now cosmetic doctors have weighed in, adding their expert view as to whether or not fans are correct in their suspicions.
Millie Bobby Brown, 21, was unrecognizable as she debuted a mature new look on Monday, at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film, The Electric State
‘Her cheekbones appear higher and her lips appear fuller, which could be the result of filler,’ Dr Paul Banwell, an award-winning consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon told MailOnline.
However, he added any work she has had done is subtle, and is not ‘weighing her down’, as some social media commenters have suggested.
The star’s changed appearance may simply be due to the result of ‘natural ageing’, Dr Banwell said.
‘Your bone structure and face shape will change as you get older, especially from such a young age of 12.’
Dr Banwell warned that Millie shouldn’t risk her natural beauty by ‘over-doing’ fillers.
‘This could cause “pillow face” or a frozen face which is, I believe, not the true purpose of these sorts of treatments.’
Dr Banwell added: ‘Fillers are a popular way for people to rejuvenate the skin and make the face appear plumper. Used well, it can create a more youthful, fuller look.
‘As we age, we naturally lose collagen and fat in our face, which leads to a less full, saggier appearance. This volume loss can lead to a less youthful look.
Social media users have been quick to comment how the Stranger Things star looks far older than her 21 years
‘The most popular cosmetic tweaks to the face tend to be filler and botox as they are more easily accessible and have quite instant results, if done correctly.’
In 2023, Millie also sparked rumours of a nose job after appearing on the red carpet.
But at the time plastic surgeons agreed she had not undergone the procedure.
Dr Richard Reish, a New York based award winning plastic surgeon told his 30,000 TikTok followers: ‘In regards to her nose, she has a relatively straight dorsum. It is very nice and smooth.
‘She does have some irregularities in the ala of her nose with some alar retraction of the nostrils right at the soft triangle of the nasal tip.
‘She also has some exposure and droopiness of the columella.
‘However, she is gorgeous and has a beautiful look overall.’
Fans have previously highlighted the star’s noticeably plumper lips and voluminous cheeks over the years as potential sings she may have undergone cosmetic ‘work’.
Experts have long warned Botox and other non-invasive treatments, such as micro needling to achieve a youthful look, may cause facial swelling. Pictured, Millie in March 2024
Promotional photographs showing the Stranger Things star’s plumper lips and ‘older’ face have sparked rumours — some of them brutal — on social media that she has undergone cosmetic tweakments
Dr Paul Banwell told MailOnline: ‘If she has had work done, I don’t believe she is “weighed down by fillers”.’ She’s seen left in the photoshoot and right in 2018
‘Her face looks like it’s being weighed down by fillers,’ one said.
‘I feel so bad for the societal pressures that lead such young girls to do this,’ another comment read.
‘She looks so much older than her age, it feels like they’re robbing themselves of stages in life.’
Millie has previously spoke about her insecurities to Glamour magazine.
‘I feel like s**t today,’ she told the publication back in 2023. ‘I have a huge pimple on my face.
‘And I’m going to go on Instagram, and I’m going to see five different girls that look beautiful, flawless, stunning, and, OK, slay.’
She added that she was probably going to end up ‘sobbing’ because ‘she knew she didn’t look like that.’
She said that looking back, she believed the public scrutiny ‘mentally stripped her down’ and ‘stunted her growth.’
‘You cannot speak on children that are underage,’ the actress stated. ‘I mean, our brains physically have not grown yet.
‘To diminish and practically stunt someone’s growth mentally, strip them down, tell them, “Hey, listen, you don’t look that great,” or, “Why are you wearing that?” or, “How dare you think you can wear that?” or, “How dare you say that?”‘
