Alexis Bellino will be 50 in January and begin a significant new chapter in her life.
The former cast member of Real Housewives of Orange County exclusively tells PEOPLE that she had a mid-facelift, which she purchased as an early birthday gift for herself before reaching her personal milestone. Her objective? to appear “youthful and zesty” at her new age and in the future.
Over the past few decades, Bellino has had a “complex” connection with plastic surgery. She says she was the “first girl” at the University of Missouri to have implants when she had her first enhancement, a breast augmentation, at the age of 19. Her propensity for implant surgery eventually earned her the moniker “Jesus Jugs” on national television. However, her frequency of the procedure quickly declined after a painful post-operative complication left one of her implants leaking silicone, forcing her to have smaller implants last year (Bellino claims that her boob jobs have convinced her daughters to avoid the surgery).
Bellino also had sinus surgery in 2011 to remove affected tissue, although the procedure—which was broadcast on Bravo at the time—also served as a cosmetic nose job to fix the “bump” on her bridge.
Bellino was always aware that she would need a makeover, despite her complex experiences with everything. “I chose this course of action because two of my friends who are ten years older than me had it done at 49 and look fantastic at sixty. I feel as though I should learn from those who are smarter and older than me.
Bellino’s children, who are now young adults, “begged” her not to have surgery despite her plans. “Mom, please come on,” they said. We’ve had enough of you and your belongings, Jesus Jugs. I just said, “Guys, you’ll get it when you’re 50.”
Before he overheard Bellino’s consultation with Dr. John Layke, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, her husband, John Janssen, who she married in October 2025, had his own reservations and was “against” her desire for a facelift.
She went into the procedure eager for a refreshed appearance because she trusted the procedure.
Her seven-hour procedure, which she paid for herself earlier this year, featured a CO2 laser that resurfaces the skin, a neck lift, a brow lift, an upper blepharoplasty, and a minor facelift (to address the midsection of her face, including her “laugh lines”).
Bellino described her recuperation as a “whole different animal” in comparison to her previous experiences, and it was extremely “brutal.”
It wasn’t as difficult as I had anticipated, but it wasn’t simple either,” she says.
Bellino claims she has “no doubt” that once her findings are in, she will be “fully” recovered. She also mentioned that the left side of her face “took a little bit longer to catch up to the healing.” Four weeks following the procedure, she even walked the red carpet without anyone noticing her new appearance.
Bellino plans to share a behind-the-scenes peek at the process on social media after her facelift news was made public, and she isn’t worried about any backlash. “I think a decade or two ago I would have been affected by comments, and now I just don’t care,” she adds, explaining that her “approach to ageing” involves developing “thicker skin” as a result of being in the spotlight.
You simply say, “Okay, take it or leave it.” I am this person. Your circle is relatively small, and you know who you adore. Women should feel empowered, in my opinion.
She views plastic surgery in the same way. “I no longer wear makeup when I go out. My laugh lines don’t bother me. Why not if I feel better? The doctors are here to help with that.
Bellino won’t be undergoing any more operations anytime soon. “That’s [a procedure] that I wished I hadn’t done so young,” she adds of her ultimate desire to remove her breast implants, but she claims she won’t have any further surgeries done for “a very long time” except than a facelift upkeep.
“9 months, 2 weddings, 1 facelift….yep, it’s been a happy, busy stinking year,” Alexis, who married John Janssen last October, posted on Instagram on August 2 along with before and after pictures showing her recuperation and the results of the cosmetic procedure. The Real Housewives of Orange Country alum recently treated herself as an early present for her upcoming milestone birthday. “My October wedding to my beloved @johnwjanssen is shown in the picture on the left. My son’s July wedding is shown in the picture on the right. just nine months later.
The Bravolebrity, who has children with ex-husband Jim Bellino, James, 20, Miles, 18, and Mackenna, 18, acknowledged, “No, I didn’t need a face lift, I know that’s what I will hear,” but she also acknowledged that even her family opposed her having surgery. “My kids and husband all fought me on this decision saying ‘mom/wife you don’t need it, please don’t do it, what can we do to talk you out of it,” Alexis went on. “But look at the results!!!”
However, Alexis’ family is singing a different song these days.
“Now my husband and kids are all so happy with the results!!!!!!” the 49-year-old exclaimed. In actuality, it’s MY choice, not theirs. This was my half-year “happy birthday” to myself because I’ll be turning 50 in January (in six months).
Alexis, who starred on RHOC seasons five through eight in addition to season 18, feels increasingly closer to her late mother Penelope, who died in 2023, as she enters a new decade.