Kathleen's Transformative Plastic Surgery Journey at 78
Kathleen, a 78-year-old woman residing in Rhode Island, underwent a neck and facelift a few weeks after her latest birthday and is overjoyed with the outcome. Here is her narrative, as shared with Sarah DiMuro and refined for length and clarity.
Ageing is a privilege. At 78, I'm fortunate to have good health, an active legal career, two daughters, four grandchildren, and a husband I cherish (though he still has trouble, after over 50 years of marriage, remembering to put down the toilet seat). While I'm grateful for all I possess, I don't believe there's anything amiss with desiring to modify your appearance, especially if it influences your self-perception.
My worry regarding my sagging skin emerged approximately 15 years ago. When I was in my early 60s, it became increasingly evident that I was inheriting my mother's turkey neck. I began positioning myself in photos to hide the slackening, casually placing a hand under my chin to conceal the hanging skin that had also troubled my mother and her sisters.
In my mid-60s, I entertained the notion of plastic surgery and even scheduled an appointment with a prominent doctor near our Rhode Island residence. However, the substantial cost appeared to be an overly expensive indulgence in my vanity – not to mention that she was recommending a complete face transformation.
"But I'm okay with the lines and wrinkles, and I don't mind the skin above my eyes. It's merely this neck skin that bothers me," I affirmed to her.
She gave me a disbelieving look, questioning how I could possibly be content with the years of sun damage and the forehead lines.
I left her office and treated myself to some turtlenecks at the T.J.Maxx down the street. If Diane Keaton could embrace ageing with turtlenecks, so could I.
But as time passed, I found myself avoiding mirrors increasingly often, and I felt less enthusiastic after my regular visits to the hairdresser. Another aspect of ageing was that weight was steadily creeping on. I believed that if I shed some of this weight, I'd feel better. I committed to eating more healthily and even invested in a weight loss plan. I lost over 30 pounds and started to feel like my younger self once more. Nevertheless, that weight loss also caused the skin on my face to sag even more. I could no longer even see my jawline.
A dear friend of mine had had her neck procedure done a few years ago, and she looked wonderful. I contacted the doctor she had visited, [Wellesley, Massachusetts, board-certified facial plastic surgeon] Dr. Jeannie Chung, and made an appointment.
Unlike the doctor I had seen a few years ago, Dr. Chung and her practice manager took the time to discuss all the possibilities, listened to what I wanted, and did not attempt to push any procedures on me. She also eased my concerns that at 78, I was too old to consider surgery.
"In general, I don't think it's ever 'too late' for plastic surgery, as long as the patient is healthy and has realistic expectations. Plastic surgery doesn't have to be an all-encompassing surgical transformation," Dr. Chung clarified.
We determined that, for me, the ideal procedure would be a neck lift and facelift. I left her office that day looking forward to the next steps.
My daughter flew in the day before the operation, as we both agreed it would be too much for my husband to handle alone. He supported my decision to undergo the surgery but was also terrified about my being under anaesthesia for a six to seven-hour procedure. That night, we all drove to a hotel near the hospital. The plan was for us to stay there for three nights to make the drive to Dr. Chung's office for drain removal more manageable.
On the morning of the surgery, I took one final look at my face in the hotel mirror and knew I wanted to proceed. I wasn't seeking perfection by any means; I simply wanted to glimpse a bit more of the woman I once was.
Once we reached the hospital, reality set in – and so did a touch of fear. I'm 78, what on earth am I doing? Fortunately, my daughter was there.
"Mom, you always do everything for everyone else. You're doing something for yourself, and we're all excited for you!" she said.
I hugged her and my husband, and then they wheeled me into the operating room. The next thing I knew, I was waking up and feeling completely disoriented. I tried to mouth the words "Don't let my husband in yet, just my daughter," but the nurses didn't comprehend. When my husband saw me, his eyes welled up and he nearly fainted. The large bandage around my head, the slurring of my words due to the anaesthesia, and the swelling were, as I anticipated, extremely overwhelming for him.
Once we returned to the hotel, I crawled into bed and the real challenge began. I'm undoubtedly the most difficult patient and didn't make it easy for my daughter as she reminded me to take my medication and adjusted the pillows around my head. I also didn't feel or sound like myself. My voice was very hoarse from the breathing tube inserted during the seven-hour surgery, making it hard to speak. Those initial few nights were tough, mainly because I couldn't get comfortable and desperately longed to take a shower and wash my hair.
Photo taken 6.5 weeks after the surgery
A few days later, once the drains were removed and we were back home, I started to feel more like myself again. I looked in the mirror and was delighted with what I saw. The neck wobble had vanished. I still didn't quite look like my old self and knew it would take several months for the final results to become apparent, but I also knew I had made the correct decision. By the seventh day, the first batch of stitches was removed and I was permitted to drive. I even dropped by my law office to chat with my secretary and meet a client, both of whom were highly impressed with how well I was recovering.
It's been almost two months since my procedure, and I don't feel that I look any younger – I just feel happier with the person I see. I'm still recovering, and each day I notice more movement and sensation returning to my face and neck. And I would do it all over again in an instant. Do I wish I had done it earlier? Of course. But I did it at 78, and I learned first-hand that when it comes to feeling and looking great, it's never too late.
