The face of the world as we know it could be about to change - and so has the face of Vladimir Putin.
Having established himself as the tough Russian President who doesn't care what other world leaders think of him, it's strange to think that he might be a fan of plastic surgery.
There is no doubt that his face has changed considerably over the years, but is this down to natural ageing, or something rather more drastic?
Putin, who launched his country's assault on Ukraine on Thursday last week, has never commented on the rumours that have dogged him for years.
"It looks like a candle has melted, and then hardened," Lorraine Kelly savagely said about his face on her show this week.
While others believe that it's actually Putin's alleged use of steroids that has altered his appearance.
Botox
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Rumours first began swirling that Putin had received Botox when he turned up to a meeting in Kiev in 2011 with black eyes.
The Russian leader had nasty-looking blue-and-yellow bruise around his eye, which many concluded was result of Botox.
There was so much talk that Putin's spokesman was forced to issue a denial, saying: "It's probably just how the light fell. The prime minister is tired."
Since then his face had become even smoother and the wrinkles seem to have disappeared.
Russia's liberal New Times magazine revived the Botox debate the following year in an article titled 'What has happened with Putin's face?'
Four plastic surgeons agreed that it was likely that Putin has undergone Botox in his forehead as well as an eye-lift on his lower lids, and an injection of firming filler into his cheek bones.
Steroids
However, there is a school of thought that Putin's face has actually been altered by something completely different.
Former foreign secretary Lord David Owen said he suspects steroid use has actually caused the changes in the shape of Putin's face.
The muscle-boosting drugs could also be contributing to his physique - and we know he's not afraid to take his top off for a snap.
Lord Owen told Times Radio: "Look at his face, see how that has changed - he now has an oval face.
"People who said, oh, it's plastic surgery or Botox, I don't believe that at all.
"He's on either anabolic steroids as a bodybuilder - and he's very proud of his muscles and strips to the waist and everything like that - or he's on corticosteroids.
"If you're on these drugs, this gives you this face.
"It reduces your immunity and makes you more vulnerable to Covid.
"This man has been in complete isolation, quite extraordinary, won't see anybody, stays miles away, tremendous pressures.
"Which indicates he's on a steroid and probably, maybe, a combination of both."
Cheek fillers
Ever since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, many people have become convinced that something has happened to Putin's cheeks.
He once had a rather gaunt looking face, but it now looks far more plump, which seems to go against the normal aging process.
Leading UK cosmetic surgeon Gerard Lambe told The Sun that he believes Putin has got a dedicated aesthetic surgeon.
"Putin’s facial contouring has clearly changed over the years and while our face shape can become thinner with age – his is noticeably wider and plumper," he said.
"In images from years ago he certainly looks much more gaunt and craggy but some work has been done to create a youthful, fuller contour with fillers."
Eye and chin lift
The most notable aspects of Putin's face which have changed are his eyes and chin.
He previously had bulgy eyes, but now there appears to be less excess skin on his upper eyelids and a reduction in bagginess.
His rather weak and flat looking chin is now more pointed, which could indicate a chin lift has taken place.
Dr Lambe added: "I can also see a subtle upper eye lift and quite likely a chin lift – giving him a much more alert and fresher look,"
While Patricia Wexler, a plastic surgeon from New York, said it's now far more common from men in positions of power to have these sorts of procedures.
She believes Putin's "windswept look" could be the result of a fat draft to remove bags from under his formerly sunken eyes.
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