Denise Richards' Estranged Husband's Expedited Hearing In Jeopardy With Surgery Plans

Denise Richards has thrown a wrench into her estranged husband Aaron Phypers' push for an emergency court date.

The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star revealed she is scheduled for surgery next month, a move that could stall their already heated divorce fight. 

Denise Richards' ex first filed for divorce on July 7 after six years of marriage, asking for spousal support in the range of hundreds of thousands per month, but the court shut that down.

The TV star told the court she will be unable to participate in the upcoming proceedings next month. Legal documents filed on Friday note that the actress's surgery will make her "unavailable for a large portion of December," creating a new roadblock in an already messy breakup.

Per The Daily Mail, she admitted that seeing her private life splashed across headlines never gets easier, especially when reality TV leaves nothing to hide.

The court stepped in earlier this month, granting Richards a five-year protective order after she accused Phypers of abuse and other disturbing behavior.

Richards has not shared details about her upcoming procedure, but she has been open about how an implant surgery helped her confidence after a rough stretch in her personal life.

In August, The Blast highlighted how the 54-year-old told her surgeon, Dr. Robert Cohen, the moment she realized her implant had ruptured, something she admitted was not unfamiliar territory.

She expressed deep gratitude to her doctor, his staff, and her longtime friend Camille Grammer, crediting their support for helping her "start to feel like myself again."

She even joked about getting ready for swimsuit season, but emphasized that the real win was getting herself back. The clip showed her recovery process, from waking up calm under anesthesia to feeling noticeably better the following day.

Richards' news about her surgery comes after Phypers asked the courts for urgent financial relief, arguing he cannot wait until the new year for his spousal support hearing. The Blast reports that in his plea, he asked the judge to move the January 5 hearing to a much earlier date. 

In the legal papers, he painted a grim picture, stating he is in "literal danger of being made homeless with no vehicle and no cell phone" and leaning on friends for help.

His request includes more than $300,000 in immediate funds to cover everything from rent and utilities to car payments, storage fees, and a hefty legal bill tied to his ongoing felony domestic violence case.

The mother-of-three is not just focusing on medical recovery as she works through her ongoing divorce. One of her first steps? A brand-new haircut marked the beginning of her refreshed mindset.

Richards revealed her updated style on Instagram, teaming up with celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan for the big debut.

In the joint post, Richards flashed confident smiles while showing off soft waves and a lighter, more effortless vibe. Wearing relaxed olive overalls and a pale pink top, she kept the mood upbeat as McMillan fussed with the final touches.

The stylist raved about her transformation, calling attention to how her hair shines with "loose long layers," which frames her standout features: her "big blue eyes and infectious smile."

Richards is not pretending her split is painless, especially with every detail splashed across the headlines.

The Blast captured the model's opening up during the Bravo2Bravo panel, where she joined fellow Bravo stars Brittany Cartwright and Kim Zolciak for a frank conversation about life under a microscope.

Richards told the crowd she is staying grounded through the chaos, leaning heavily on the people who have stood by her throughout her restraining order battle with Phypers. 

Even with the support, she did not sugarcoat the toll public scrutiny takes, admitting, "Being in the tabloids is very daunting. When you first have to deal with it, it's very hard."

She also explained that reality TV brings a different kind of exposure; there is no hiding, no editing your truth, and no pretending a storyline is not happening.