I paid $102,000 for a facelift at 71. I wish I could have done it a decade ago, but I couldn't afford it.

This interview is based on a conversation with Carolyn Rudoph, 73, retired Army personnel and postal supervisor, from Louisville, Kentucky. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I always kept myself in shape by going to the gymmaintaining a size 6, and having a pretty good figure.

However, when I reached 63, people would walk behind me on the street, walk past, and look back. There was no mistaking the look of surprise when they saw my face.

I looked after other people

Co-workers would often ask if I was OK, as if I seemed sad. I’d go into the bathroom, look in the mirror, and think, “You know what? I do seem sad when I’m not smiling.”

I had drooping marionette lines and undereye bags. You couldn’t see my upper teeth because everything was sagging. They made me look like I was ready to cry any moment, though I wasn’t.

Then, in 2022, my husband, Max, died of brain cancer. I was in a state of mourning for two years, but kept myself busy doing stuff on the house and helping with my family.

My daughter remarked that I was always doing stuff for other people, not myself. “When are you going to do something for yourself?” she asked.

“You know what?” I said. “Ever since I was 63, I’ve wanted a facelift.” The problem was that I hadn’t been able to afford it. But now that I’d gotten some money from Max’s life insuranceI reconsidered.

“What the heck?” I thought. “Maybe I should do it.” I had a few consultations in my home city of Louisville, but didn’t think the surgeons were quite right.

I had a deep plane facial

In November 2024, I got in touch with Dr. Carl Truesdale in Los Angeles. We immediately clicked. By luck, he happened to have a cancellation, and I had surgery on December 4.

I had a forehead lift, a deep-plane facelift, a neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, and a little fat injected at the bridge of my nose, where it had flattened.

Dr. Truesdale reassured me that I wouldn’t look artificial. He said he could take 30 years off me. It made me laugh because he put a photograph of me, at 44, above a piece of equipment in the operating room so he could check against it.

The seven-and-a-half-hour procedure wasn’t cheap at $102,000, but I wanted to be one-and-done as I was in my 70s, for goodness sake’s

I didn’t know what kind of surgeries I may need for my health in the future, so I didn’t want to have the cosmetic ones spread out over several years.

The difference was noticeable almost immediately. I looked in the mirror and felt more confident about my reflection. Some people commented that I look in my 40s, but I’d say mid-50s, which is perfect.

I might get married again

I cared about my appearance before, but now I wear more stylish clothes and makeup when I’m going to the store. It’s a sign of the society we live in, but I feel like people treat me with more respect.

A few men have asked me out for dinnerbut I’ve always said no. But now, I’m thinking of dating. You never know, I might get married again.

I’ve been through a spiritual awakening during the last 18 months since I had the surgery. I’ve learned a lot and wish I could have afforded it a decade ago.

But it’s not a regret. I feel like I’m the best Carolyn that I could be at my age.