BEVERLY HILLS, CA — For seven decades, Mae was perfectly content with the natural aging process. The California retiree embraced her silver hair and felt secure in her skin—until a brush with death and a 50-pound weight loss journey led her to a Beverly Hills surgeon’s office for a transformation that is now capturing the internet’s attention.
A Life-Altering Health Scare
The catalyst for Mae’s change wasn’t vanity; it was survival. In 2023, Mae survived a bilateral pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition that served as a massive wake-up call. Determined to reclaim her health, she overhauled her diet and exercise routine, eventually shedding over 50 lbs.
However, the rapid weight loss left Mae with a reflection she didn’t recognize. “My face was just skin,” Mae told PEOPLE. “Then it just kept getting worse.”
The “All-In” Makeover
After extensive research on YouTube and multiple consultations, Mae partnered with Dr. Carl Truesdale, a facial plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills. Despite never having cosmetic work done before, Mae decided to go “all in” at age 69.
Her comprehensive surgery list included:
- Deep plane neck lift and facelift
- Lip lift
- Upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
- Endoscopic eyebrow lift
- Fat transfer and CO2 laser resurfacing
The result? Mae marvels that the procedures effectively “took off 30 years” from her face.
The Reality of Recovery
While the viral videos show a seamless transition, Mae is candid about the grueling recovery process. She describes the physical toll of the surgery, noting that her head and ears remained numb for months. She even had to “relearn” how to smile as her facial muscles adjusted to their new positions.
“It’s big stages, and you keep thinking, ‘Is it ever going to get back?'” Mae said, comparing the healing process to the recovery after childbirth.
Living with Newfound Confidence
Despite her story going viral, Mae has kept the details of her surgery close to her chest, telling only her husband, her six children, and one close friend. She admits she feared being judged, but the reactions she has received in public have been overwhelmingly positive.
“My biggest thing was, I’d be driving down the street and think, oh, people are seeing my ‘turtle neck,'” she says. “Now, I drive down the street and hold my head high.”
Now weighing 107 lbs and back to an active lifestyle of yoga and chasing her grandkids, Mae isn’t ruling out more work. She mentions a potential “mommy makeover” (tummy tuck and breast augmentation) in the future to ensure her outward appearance matches the strength she feels within.
For Mae, this journey wasn’t about hiding her age, but about finally feeling like her best self.
