Selena Gomez's Emmys appearance fuels Botox buzz as a plastic surgeon explains the eye asymmetry fans noticed in red-carpet photos. The Selena Gomez Sparks ‘Fresh Botox’ Buzz As Surgeon Explains Her Emmys Look first appeared on The Blast

Selena Gomez turned heads in gold at the 2026 Emmy Awards, but her glamorous red-carpet appearance also sparked a different conversation among some fans.

Social media users questioned whether something looked different around the actress’ eyes, with theories ranging from “fresh Botox” and filler to makeup, lighting and natural facial asymmetry.

Now, plastic surgeon Dr. Omar Tillo is explaining what could produce the effect viewers noticed while stressing that photographs cannot determine whether Gomez recently underwent any cosmetic treatment.

Selena Gomez’s Emmys Appearance Sparks ‘Fresh Botox’ Speculation

Gomez arrived at the September 14 ceremony in a strapless gold Louis Vuitton gown, pairing the shimmering look with long waves, peach-toned makeup and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Vogue described the dress as a gold chainmail design, while the actress attended as “Only Murders in the Building” competed for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Amid praise for her look, some Reddit users focused on an apparent difference between Gomez’s eyes.

Commenters floated several possible explanations, including recent Botox around the brow area, cheek filler, contouring, irritation or natural facial asymmetry.

Gomez has not said she recently received Botox or any other cosmetic treatment.

Dr. Omar Tillo, plastic surgeon and Medical Director at CREO Clinic, cautioned against drawing that conclusion from red-carpet photographs.

“Looking at photographs alone, it isn’t possible to say that Selena has recently had Botox, and I would be very cautious about attributing any change in her appearance to a particular treatment,” Tillo told The Blast via email correspondence.

Plastic Surgeon Explains Why Her Eyes May Look Different

According to Tillo, the area attracting the most attention may explain why some viewers thought Gomez looked noticeably different.

“What people seem to be responding to most strongly in these photographs is the asymmetry around the eyes,” he explained. “One eye appears slightly more closed than the other, and because the eyes are such an important reference point when we recognise a face, even quite a small difference can make somebody look surprisingly different.”

Tillo acknowledged that recent Botox is one possible general explanation for that kind of appearance, but emphasized it is far from the only one.

He explained that Botox temporarily reduces activity in targeted muscles. When used around the forehead or between the eyebrows, dose, placement and distribution matter because several muscles help control eyebrow and upper-eyelid positioning.

“If those muscles are affected unevenly, you can temporarily see a difference in brow height or how open one eye appears compared with the other,” Tillo said.

In uncommon cases, he added, Botox can cause temporary eyelid or eyebrow drooping known as ptosis, creating noticeable asymmetry.

Dr. Tillo Says Timing Could Matter If Botox Was Involved

Even if Botox were responsible, Tillo stressed that the treatment’s effects don’t appear all at once.

“Botox doesn’t normally reach its full effect immediately,” he explained. “Changes develop over several days and generally become more established over the following week or two.”

Consequently, someone treated relatively recently could experience a period in which the result is still settling.

That explanation remains hypothetical in Gomez’s case because neither Tillo nor fans know whether she recently received treatment.

Gomez has, however, previously addressed cosmetic-procedure speculation herself. In 2024, PEOPLE reported that she responded to a TikTok discussion about changes in her appearance by writing, “I have Botox. That’s it. Leave me alone.”

That previous admission does not establish that Botox had anything to do with her appearance at the 2026 Emmys.

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Could Filler Have Changed Selena Gomez’s Appearance?

Some commenters also wondered whether cheek filler could explain why one of Gomez’s eyes appeared smaller.

Tillo again cautioned that photographs cannot establish whether she has filler.

“Generally speaking, however, adding volume to the upper cheek can change the relationship between the cheek and lower eyelid,” he told The Blast. “If there is significant volume immediately beneath the eye, particularly when somebody smiles, it can make the eye aperture appear slightly smaller.”

Still, the surgeon said he would not look at Gomez’s Emmys photographs and conclude that filler was responsible.

“Facial expression, camera angle and existing natural asymmetry can produce a very similar effect,” he explained.

Makeup And Lighting Could Be Playing A Bigger Role

There may also be a considerably simpler explanation behind the online discussion.

“Makeup, lighting and styling can also make facial features appear different in photographs, so they shouldn’t be overlooked when comparing red-carpet images,” Tillo said. “These factors can emphasise existing asymmetry or change how the proportions of the face appear on camera.”

That is particularly relevant at an event where Gomez’s beauty look was deliberately coordinated with her metallic gown. PEOPLE described her makeup as peachy-pink, while her hairstyle featured loose waves.

Ultimately, Tillo said a single red-carpet appearance cannot provide evidence of a particular procedure.

“A difference in muscle movement, natural asymmetry, makeup, swelling, expression or simply the moment a photograph is taken can dramatically change how familiar somebody looks,” he explained.

And even if Botox caused temporary asymmetry, Tillo noted that its effects are temporary and muscle activity gradually returns.

“But without examining somebody clinically and knowing what treatment they have actually received,” he concluded, “anything more specific would simply be speculation.”

The Selena Gomez Sparks ‘Fresh Botox’ Buzz As Surgeon Explains Her Emmys Look first appeared on The Blast