Diary Of My Facelift

But the surgery would require traveling to Los Angeles and multiple follow-up visits. I knew that wasn’t for me. Besides, I live in the greatest city in the world—surely New York had someone equally qualified.

Choosing a surgeon wasn’t about trends. It was about trust.

After gathering four additional recommendations—three of them men—I followed my instincts and booked my first consultation with Dr. Bianca Molina. (It’s a fact—the majority of plastic surgeons are men.) She is a woman of Latin descent and is widely praised for her excellent patient care. At her Fifth Avenue office, I was greeted by the lovely Erika Kulka, who oversees operations.

After examining my face and neck, Dr. Molina explained that for patients over 50, non‑surgical options such as fillers and Botox are often insufficient. Her recommendation was a full facelift, including the neck, plus revision of the upper and lower eyelids, known as blepharoplasty. Aging causes a loss of facial volume, she explained, and facelift procedures can restore some of that volume by transferring fat from the abdominal area to the under-eye and mid-face regions.

Laser resurfacing, she cautioned, is not always appropriate for patients with non-white skin, as it can cause hyperpigmentation and is generally reserved for treating fine lines, which are more common in Caucasian complexions. In my case, she noted, there were no sun spots, melasma, or uneven skin tone or texture, so additional procedures such as microneedling were unnecessary.

Confident in her assessment—and admittedly swayed by her demure demeanor and chic Chanel slippers—I canceled my remaining consultations.

AARP (Getty Images, 2; Courtesy Deborah Gregory, 3)

The fear wasn’t the pain—it was the unknown.

Once my surgery date was confirmed, the standard pre‑operative requirements were outlined, including medical clearance, lab work, and prescriptions commonly used to manage nausea, pain, and incision care. Smoking and vaping are discouraged for several weeks before and after surgery, as nicotine interferes with healing. Alcohol consumption is also restricted due to its impact on bruising and bleeding.

Although Dr. Molina is on staff at Lenox Hill Hospital, she prefers performing cosmetic procedures at Greenwich Street Surgical. Facelift surgery typically takes about six hours, followed by several hours of recovery as anesthesia wears off. Patients are discharged the same day and advised to have a responsible adult or medical professional assist them that evening.

In my case, my friend Duane took me home, and my former neighbor, Nurse Jenny (not Nurse Jackie), stayed on hand with throat lozenges and popsicles. A sore throat is common after general anesthesia. Patients are also advised to sleep on their backs initially and to move around periodically to reduce the risk of blood clots.

One of the most common questions patients are asked is whether the procedure is painful. In my experience, it wasn’t. I took two Tylenol the first night and nothing more. I returned to work within days and applied makeup again after four weeks.

The transformation was subtle—and that was the point.

Yes, I looked fabulous. The transformation was subtle, natural, and exactly what I wanted.

Full facelifts are a significant financial investment, typically ranging from $25,000 to $40,000. When performed by the right surgeon, many patients feel the results justify the cost. I do look slightly younger than my actual age—though I won’t kiss and tell.

Post‑operative care includes multiple follow‑up visits. Swelling is common and can appear in unexpected places; in my case, ankle edema resolved with dietary changes, leg elevation, and daily walking. While many surgeons schedule three or four post‑op visits, Dr. Molina prefers six or seven. By my six‑month follow‑up visit in January 2026, everything was healing beautifully.

Happy New Year, indeed.