Dolores Catania's Cosmetic Surgery Journey
While many of us struggled to get out of our loungewear and tidy up during quarantine, The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Dolores Catania seized the opportunity for long-awaited self-enhancements. After years of weight fluctuations due to health issues and unsuccessful attempts at shedding pounds, the reality TV star lost a remarkable 40 pounds last year. However, to deal with the excess skin that remained, she realized that surgery was the solution. Familiar with cosmetic procedures, the 49-year-old decided on a tummy tuck, but it wasn't until the pandemic disrupted her life and the RHONJ filming schedule that she finally had the time for it. We had a chat with Catania about her recent tummy tuck, other treatments she's undergone over the years, and her belief in openly discussing plastic surgery.
RealSelf: When did you first start considering a Tummy Tuck?
Dolores Catania: I've been an inconsistent dieter for an extended period. It began with a thyroid problem that was wrongly diagnosed, causing my weight to fluctuate. I stopped exercising and sort of lost my motivation. My entire life, I was into fitness - I mean, I was married to Mr. New Jersey [her ex, Frank Catania, a former bodybuilder] - so health, fitness, and looking good were of significant importance in my life. But once my thyroid was out of balance, I gained 40 pounds within a year, and then I couldn't lose the weight for a while. When I finally did, I was left with extra skin. I have sufficient knowledge about working out, bodybuilding, and weight loss to understand that despite getting my thyroid and hormones in order, certain parts of my body needed correction.
RS: Why did you decide to do your Tummy Tuck now?
DC: This decision was in the works for at least two years, but the timing was always an issue. When would I have the time to do this? And what better time than now, when everything is closed and we're in the filming break? Every aspect of doing it at this moment was related to that. Even when not filming, we had our parties, events, red carpets, philanthropy, and fundraisers - things we might film for four months a year but still did daily. When all that came to a halt due to the pandemic, it seemed like the ideal time.
RS: How did you find your doctor, Dr. Joseph Michaels?
DC: I understand the situation when people lose weight and are left with a lot of excess skin. Regardless of their weight loss journey, they now need to have the skin removed. I haven't always witnessed the best outcomes, as it's a high-risk surgery and a lot of effort. It's not just a minor tweak - it's like removing a suit from someone's body. So, I spoke to a girl who had an outstanding weight loss transformation, and she said that if she could reach Maryland, she would go to Dr. Joseph Michaels and claimed he was fantastic.
I explored his website, looking at the before-and-after pictures, and I could hardly believe it. It seemed too good to be true; I was genuinely astounded by his work. I know the effort required to achieve such small sutures in such a major surgery and to minimize the scars. I researched everything he did, whether it was boobs, butt, or tummy tuck, and kept observing in disbelief until eventually, I thought, This is my doctor. I reached out, and after having a virtual consultation with him, I noticed his bedside manner was exceptional. He's a true gentleman, and I could tell he genuinely cares about his patients. There was no doubt.
RS: You Opted to do some Liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift along with your Tummy Tuck. How did that go?
DC: I did have 360 lipo along with it, and I also had a bit of fat transfer. I had a Brazilian butt lift with Dr. David Greuner five years ago, but a lot has changed since then, so Dr. Michaels made some adjustments and made it a bit rounder. The first BBL was a challenging experience, which is probably why I took a break before undergoing any further procedures, but this time around, I wasn't worried because what he was doing was just a simple fat transfer. It was the tummy tuck that was tough. A Tummy tuck is not for the faint-hearted. It's a major decision, and you'd better ensure it's done correctly. Otherwise, you might end up looking like a shark took a bite out of you. So, I was nervous, but it was something I'd been contemplating for a long time, and I was finally ready to go for it.
But it's not an easy process. You really can't move much, and you come home with drains, and you really need to relax. You have to stay in bed, and I have trouble sitting still, so that was the most difficult part. It's been four weeks now, and I'm still being very cautious. I'm still a little sore and have limited movement, but I have no regrets. Honestly, I regret waiting, but the reason I did was to find the right doctor.
RS: What was it like to have out-of-state surgery in the midst of a pandemic?
DC: I had my friend drive me. That's what a good friend does. It was a four-and-a-half-hour drive, but I'd honestly have driven across the country for Dr. Michaels. My friend, who's a nurse and with whom I used to work in the OR [Catania was a surgical assistant], took excellent care of me overnight, but it was a bit rough when I returned home the next day.
The most challenging aspect was that when you undergo an elective procedure and have your family hovering over you, extremely concerned (I come from a very close-knit Italian family), I felt bad about it. I know their concern stems from a good place, but ultimately, they need to accept it. My mother is the typical Italian mother who gets overly emotional about such matters. I returned home from surgery and basically passed out, and when I woke up, I saw my brother, father, sister, and mother cooking for me. That's what got me into trouble in the first place - pasta and meatballs - and that's what I woke up to!
RS: How did your family initially react to your decision to get the surgery?
DC: I didn't inform anyone until the night before, when I was packing to go to Maryland, and they took it quite poorly. My boyfriend almost broke up with me! He's a perinatologist and is opposed to elective surgery, but he's also not a woman and doesn't truly understand. He said, "I like you just the way you are," but I wasn't satisfied with myself as I was. It's lovely to hear, but this surgery was for my own reasons. It wasn't because someone said I didn't look good or because I wanted to look better compared to the other girls. It has nothing to do with anything except that I needed it for myself.
RS: Is your boyfriend still upset, even after seeing how happy you are?
DC: Upset? For four weeks, he's hardly spoken to me! Every day, he says, "You didn't need to do that." But you know what? I did it, and if you don't like it, that's too bad. It's flattering to have someone say "I love you the way you are, and you don't need that," but that's all it is to me.
But now my boyfriend keeps saying, "One more thing, and I'm breaking up with you for good," and I keep telling him that there will be one more thing, there will be three more things, or four more things in the future. I'm not finished. He needs to support me. I support him. He rides motorcycles, and that's more dangerous than plastic surgery! I don't even want to bring up the motorcycle issue because I don't want to hear him tell me not to have surgery. It's all a trade-off.
RS: Being in the public eye and on RHONJ comes with its fair share of critics. Have other people's comments ever influenced the way you see yourself?
DC: No, I had procedures done long before I was on the Housewives. It's just me. But when you see yourself on TV, you do think, Oh, I need to go on a diet or I'll never wear those pants again. And they say the camera adds 10 pounds to you. I'm not sure if that's a myth or not. I'd like to believe it's true, but I don't know. I don't typically notice the negative comments about me. I'm quite resilient, and if I weren't, I wouldn't last a day in this world. Everything I do regarding my body is for myself. I mean, I want people to like me, but if they don't, I won't lose sleep over it.
RS: You've openly discussed your cosmetic surgery, especially your facelift, in the past. What do you think people should know before undergoing a procedure?
DC: I had a facelift about five years ago, and the before-and-after results were remarkable. I know there are excellent doctors everywhere, but I'm a surgical assistant by profession, so I can recognize quality work. I don't care if the surgeon is on Park Avenue or in a small town like Wall Township, [New Jersey], where my doctor, Dr. Mark Karolak, was. The misconception is that your doctor must have a fancy office and work on famous people to be good, but that's not always the case. It's truly about the surgeon themselves.
One crucial thing to know about plastic surgery, and any surgery for that matter, is that when it heals, there's scar tissue beneath, so you want to get it right the first time. If you need a revision and have to have your face or body fixed because someone else messed up, it won't be an easy surgery. Many doctors won't even want to touch it, and it'll cost you as much as the initial surgery, if not more. That's why I'm particular about choosing the right person for plastic surgery.
RS: Have you ever had a bad experience with surgery?
DC: I've never had a negative experience with surgery, but I've witnessed enough, and that's a significant reason why I'm so candid about my plastic surgery. I know people will go for it. I advocate for doing whatever makes you feel good. I also believe it's only fair for me to be transparent about the doctors I visit, considering the research I've done and the results I've achieved, and that's why I even showed the before-and-after of my facelift. People were like, "I wouldn't show my face like that," but the doctors deserve the credit. I want people to go to the right doctors, and I don't want to see them get hurt.
As a person, I care enough to ensure people don't get injured or cheated. A lot of people save up for surgery because they desire it so intensely. They'll take time off from work and find assistance for their families during recovery, so it's a major issue if it doesn't go right. People always ask why I'm so open - that's the reason.
RS: Do you have any other cosmetic procedures that you'd like to undergo next?
DC: I actually had miraDry a week or two after my Tummy tuck. It was more related to hormonal changes than anything else. I'm starting to have hot flashes, and if I'm in a heavy, beaded dress under the lights on a red carpet, the last thing I want are sweat marks. MiraDry was an excellent treatment, and it works. You don't have to wear deodorant afterwards; even though I do because I like to smell pleasant, I won't smell if I don't. I love it.
I was also on a roll after my surgery and went for my mammogram and gynecological appointment. 2024 might be challenging, but I'm going to do my best! I'm going to make it worthwhile.
Related: All the Treatments Bravo’s The Real Housewives Have Gotten in 2019 (And What Some Want to Try in 2024)
