Halloween Exposé: Elphaba’s Extreme Makeover

There have been television shows a-plenty over the years documenting extreme surgical makeovers. Usually an average looking woman gives herself up to the show’s producers who send her on her way to a cosmetic surgeon. Various procedures are performed, designed specifically to enhance her individual beauty, and VOILA! We have a lovely woman thrilled with her new look. Not so well known are certain (shall we say infamous?) characters that have had extreme makeovers and have not gotten as much publicity. With good reason!

Take Elphaba for example. Elphaba certainly did not want it to be known she really existed at all, let alone that she was having a cosmetic makeover! And just why is this? Well, you know from Halloween what a bad rap witches get to begin with, let alone the Wicked Witch of the West! So Elphaba was quite secretive when she chose Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center for her makeover.

Another reason Elphaba was so discreet was the money. Let’s face it, she cleaned up in 1939 making the Wizard of Oz. I suspect she went into hiding, perhaps in Ireland or the Amazon, somewhere that green was not thought odd and where she used up all her profits. Witches live a long time; royalty checks will keep you alive just so long I am told. I am not at all surprised that when audition call for the Broadway musical Wicked went out, that Elphaba was ready! In a personal interview with the famous witch herself, Elphaba told me that as soon as the book came out she suspected it would be made into either a musical or movie. It was only after the great success of her performance that Elphaba allowed quotes from this interview and these before and after photos to be released.

It was then, after doing her research, and staying far from Tinsel Town, that Elphaba turned to Dr. Branman for a makeover in the relatively discreet town of Little Rock. After assessing her case during her consultation, Dr. B and Elphaba decided on a combination of procedures that would not only update her image, but increase her beauty by a good 200%. You can see from the before and after shots that these procedures included rhinoplasty, otoplasty, blepharoplasty, mentoplasty, and HA dermal filler injections for nasolabial folds and lip augmentation, quite a variety of cosmetic facial procedures. Of course Elphaba refused laser resurfacing or skin whitening  stating,  “after all, I do take some pride in being a Witch, and green skin is a hallmark of that tradition . . . besides who the heck would hire me without it? I just wouldn’t be believable as the character. Tradition, my dear, tradition.”

If Dr. Branman can do that for Elphaba, just think what he can do for you! And on that note we leave you to your traditions for Halloween, whether they be Trick or Treating, apple bobbing,  or taking in a Broadway show! Happy Halloween, Folks!

Circe Santaniello