Deborah, a fit woman in her 70s, has always stayed active and confident. She loves taking care of her skin and getting facials. But in her early 70s, she noticed what she calls a “fatty neck,” which runs in her family—and she didn’t like it.
At 76, feeling financially ready, Deborah decided to get a full facial rejuvenation so that how she looked on the outside would match how young she felt on the inside. She says all her yoga and Pilates helped keep her body young, and with her family history, she expected to live a long life—so she felt it was the right time for plastic surgery.
Choosing the Right Surgeon
Deborah and her husband live in upstate New York, so she went to the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery with Dr. Vito C. Quatela, a double-board-certified plastic surgeon. “He’s world-renowned,” Deborah says. “He’s really good at what he does.”
They started with a virtual consultation to discuss what Deborah wanted. Dr. Quatela knew she wanted to look younger, but not drastically different.
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The Surgery
Dr. Quatela performed a “comprehensive facial rejuvenation,” which included:
- A deep plane facelift and neck contouring
- Lower eyelid work to brighten her eyes
- Brow lift to open up her upper face
- Laser treatment around the mouth to smooth lines
- Adding volume where needed using her own facial fat
The surgery took 7–8 hours in June 2023. Dr. Quatela aimed for a natural look, not a “pulled” appearance.
Recovery and Results
Deborah stayed at the facility’s Carriage House for 10 days after surgery. Her husband was surprised when he first saw her swollen and bruised face. “He said I looked like I’d been in a boxing match,” Deborah recalls with a laugh.
Now, at 78, Deborah has fully healed and is thrilled with the results. Dr. Quatela says she stayed positive throughout the process, which helped her recovery go smoothly.
It took just over six months for her to feel fully healed and see her final results. She says her face now matches the fit and youthful feel of her body. Friends and family have noticed her transformation, and she’s received many compliments, especially from her husband.
When she and her husband visited their winter home in Florida, some friends noticed she looked different but didn’t say anything—until she shared her facelift story. People were impressed at how natural she looks.
Deborah is enjoying her new, rejuvenated look while continuing her Pilates and staying active.
