The scars on the sides of Democratic front-runner Joe Biden’s face are the result of a facelift carried out before he launched his 2020 presidential campaign, according to leading cosmetic surgeons.

Up close, large vertical scars beginning at the top of the outside of his ear canal to roughly a half inch below the lobe can be seen on both sides of the former vice president’s face. Separate horizontal scars stretch from behind his ear to his upper neck.