Barry Keoghan has revealed he underwent a high-end cosmetic procedure costing up to roughly $6,000 as discussion surrounding his changing appearance refuses to slow down.
The 34-year-old Irish actor, currently filming Sam Mendes’ ambitious four-film Beatles project as Ringo Starr, turned to a non-invasive skin-tightening treatment known as XERF.
Keoghan was filmed lying on a treatment bed while celebrity skin specialist Nilam Holmes moved a handheld device across his cheeks and jawline.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about it and Nilam is very excited about it,” he said. “And she’s brilliant at what she does. I really mean that.”
The revelation comes after months of scrutiny over the Saltburn star’s face which, he said, has gotten so bad he no longer wants to “go outside.”
Barry Keoghan is once again being criticized for his appearance online
The Dublin-born actor built his reputation through films including The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, before earning an Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Banshees of Inisherin.
But it was 2023’s Saltburn that dramatically altered the way the public looked at him.
His performance as Oliver Quick transformed Keoghan into an unlikely heartthrob and placed far more attention on his physical appearance.
Keoghan acknowledged the change himself in a 2024 interview with GQ.
“It’s nice not just being looked at as the weird-looking guy,” he said. “My prettiness didn’t get me this far.”
That newfound status also arrived with a level of scrutiny he had not necessarily experienced earlier in his career.
Now, Keoghan is taking on arguably his most recognizable role yet.
He is currently playing Ringo Starr in The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, with Paul Mescal portraying Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn playing George Harrison and Harris Dickinson taking on John Lennon.
Each movie will tell the band’s story from a different member’s perspective, with all four planned for release in April 2028.
Keoghan underwent two sessions of a treatment designed to tighten his face
Keoghan’s latest cosmetic treatment is called XERF.
Developed in South Korea, it uses radiofrequency energy to heat deeper layers beneath the skin.
The aim is to encourage the body to produce more collagen, the protein that helps keep skin firm, while gradually tightening loose areas and creating a sharper-looking jawline.
Fans of The Beatles, however, feel that Keoghan’s search for a better, more youthful appearance will be a detriment to his portrayal of Ringo Starr.
Jacopo M. Raule/Getty Images for Bottega Veneta,Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Patients can usually resume normal activities immediately, while the visible results are designed to develop gradually as collagen forms over the following months.
Keoghan has undergone two sessions.
A single full-face appointment with Holmes costs £2,500, while two sessions spaced roughly four to eight weeks apart cost £4,500, equivalent to around $6,000.
Each treatment lasts approximately 90 minutes, and the clinic says the effects can remain visible for 12 to 18 months.
Keoghan’s fuller cheeks and lips have been scrutinized for months
When Keoghan attended the New York premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in March, viewers quickly noticed that his face appeared fuller than it had in earlier photographs.
Much of the discussion centered on his cheeks and lips.
Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Nora Jaafar later told the Daily Mail that the appearance of his mid-face in photographs looked “consistent with cheek filler.”
“When larger volumes are placed through the mid-face it can create a rounded or slightly ‘puffy’ appearance,” she explained.
Keoghan later appeared in London ahead of Burberry’s presentation with what observers described as a noticeably fuller pout.
Dr Barbara Kubicka, founder of ClinicBe, said the change had once again attracted attention.
“Barry Keoghan’s appearance has definitely [drawn] conversation around his lips looking fuller, and whether that is down to treatment, lighting, or natural variation remains to be seen,” she said.
The constant discussion over his appearance eventually became “a problem”
Whatever Keoghan has or has not had done, the commentary surrounding his face has affected him considerably.
During a March 20 appearance on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up, the actor acknowledged that he has a supportive fanbase but said there is also a much uglier side to being recognizable.
“There’s a lot of hate online,” he said. “There’s a lot of ab*se of how I look.”
Keoghan said he had tried removing himself from social media, but admitted curiosity would sometimes draw him back after a public appearance to see how people reacted.
Capitol Records / Henry Grossman
What he found increasingly made him want to disappear from view.
“It’s made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside,” he said. “And I say this being absolutely pure and honest to you. It’s becoming a problem.”
The impact eventually began reaching his work.
“When that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem because then you don’t even want to be on screen anymore,” he explained.
Keoghan worries his young son will eventually read what people say about him
The actor’s concern is not limited to his own self-esteem as Keoghan shares his young son Brando with former partner Alyson Kierans.
He has said one of the most painful parts of the online trolling is knowing his child may eventually discover it.
“It is disappointing for the fans, but it’s also disappointing that my little boy has to read all of this stuff when he gets older,” he said.
The issue had already reached a breaking point in 2024, when Keoghan deactivated his Instagram account amid intense online attention surrounding his personal life.
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