Patricia never planned on becoming a TikTok before-and-after. The 57-year-old educator was about to start a PhD program when a student looked at her and asked,“are you old.”That single question stuck with her. She realized that without makeup, she looked tired, and she wanted to feel ready for public speaking and graduate coursework, so she started researching surgeons.
She ended up with Dr. Carl Truesdale, a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon, and the procedure list was extensive: upper and lower eyelid surgery, an endoscopic brow lift, facial fat transfer, a face and neck lift, and a permanent chin implant. Her neck lift also addressed skin laxity and scarring from a cervical fusion she’d had after an accident. Dr. Truesdale posted the results on TikTok, where the video has collected 148,400 likes, 934 comments, and 4,362 saves.
What makes Patricia’s story resonate is her reason for choosing her surgeon. She wanted someone experienced with Black patients’needs, including hyperpigmentation, and she said Dr. Truesdale preserved her natural features instead of altering them. Her takeaway is simple: she looks like herself, just refreshed. Would you consider cosmetic work if a comment like that pushed you to it?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.