Single Mom, 52, Would ‘Never Have Been Able’ to Afford Plastic Surgery. Here’s How She Got a Free Facelift

For Abbe, a 52-year-old single mother of two, this might just be her year. Though she never imagined undergoing plastic surgery, fate stepped in when she unexpectedly received a full facial makeover — completely free — from renowned surgeon Dr. Mike Nayak.

The story began when Dr. Nayak, of Nayak Plastic Surgery, announced on social media that he was searching for a live model to operate on during his TeoNayak Congress in Turkey. Thousands applied, but only one person would be chosen for the free procedure. Abbe made it to the finalist round but wasn’t selected.

“I never in a million years thought I’d even get picked as a finalist,” Abbe said of the process. “It was still cool to be considered — I just didn’t think I’d actually win.”

Months later, fate intervened when she ran into Dr. Nayak at the airport. Having long admired his work, she took the opportunity to reintroduce herself and mention she’d love to participate if he ever needed another model.

“Abbe approached me and said she’d be honored to help again if the chance ever came up,” Dr. Nayak recalled. “As it turned out, I did need a model for my masterclass in Istanbul that May — and she was perfect.”

Dr. Nayak admitted that while his first social media contest was a publicity success, it left him uneasy. “It made one person happy and about 400,000 people upset,” he said. This time, with Abbe already eager and available, there was no need for another contest. “She was in the right place at exactly the right time.”

A Rare Opportunity

As part of the TeoNayak Masterclass, Abbe underwent several procedures — an upper blepharoplasty, brow lift, preservation deep plane extended facelift, deep neck lift, and a lower eyelid TCA peel for discoloration and fine lines. While the surgery itself was free, Abbe paid her own way to Turkey. Given that Dr. Nayak’s deep plane facelift and neck lift typically start at around $200,000, she saw the airfare as a small expense.

Recovery wasn’t easy. Abbe described her initial pain level as “9 out of 10” for a few days, requiring an IV fentanyl drip. “It was rough. I couldn’t sleep well at first, but after a few days, I turned a corner,” she said.

Dr. Nayak noted that working abroad meant he didn’t have his usual medical tools and medications, which might explain her heightened discomfort and bruising. “When I’m not operating in my St. Louis clinic, I sometimes have to adapt. But I knew everything would balance out in her recovery,” he explained.

A New Chapter

Living just minutes from Dr. Nayak’s St. Louis practice, Abbe had followed his work for years. “I used to drive by his office and think, ‘One day,’” she said. “I never could have afforded this on my own.”

A licensed clinical social worker, Abbe has spent decades caring for others — her patients, her family, and especially her two daughters. With both girls soon heading to college, she said the transformation has renewed her confidence and inspired her to look forward to the next phase of her life.

“My girls are getting older, and I feel refreshed, more youthful,” Abbe said. “I think I’ll finally have the confidence to date again — something I haven’t done since becoming a single mom.”

Her daughters fully supported her journey, cheering her on from home while she underwent surgery overseas. “Life had taken a toll on me,” Abbe said. “I’ve always been a caregiver — at home and at work. I looked depleted because I was depleted. Now, I feel renewed, optimistic, and deeply grateful. It’s an amazing gift — I feel like the luckiest woman alive.”