I certainly did not think I’d ever be someone seriously considering a facelift. That was for other people. Richer people. Braver people. Housewives with glam squads and suspiciously tight ponytails.

But then 45 hit.

And I fell off the aging cliff.

This was a steep and rude takedown that came with absolutely no warning. One day you’re minding your business, the next day you look like a jowly chipmunk and your eyes have hollowed. I started to see a permanent scowl staring back at me and I looked like I had not slept since 2010. And no amount of salmon’s fruitful sperm could fix it.

I feel like from age 35 to 45 I looked relatively the same. Sure there were a few lines and wrinkles appearing each year, but it wasn’t a major shift. At least I didn’t notice one. And it wasn’t anything I couldn’t address with a trip to the dermatologist’s office.

Then the reckoning hit. One day I looked in the mirror and felt like a woman accidentally opening the front-facing camera after two margaritas. Except I was stone-cold sober, which somehow made it worse.

Specifically I saw it in my neck and jowls the most. And I felt that my brow was just heavy. And as I said to many of the doctors in the consults I did, I didn’t look “happy” anymore. I looked grumpy. I have talked about the facial feedback loop a lot in my articles. And the impact was getting more and more real by the day.

The Cliff Conversation Is Legit

What shocked me most was learning this wasn’t just me being dramatic. There is growing conversation around what many women describe as the aging cliff. And it’s a scientific fact.

New York Magazine recently discussed “The Cliff,” both physically and mentally. Mamamia also ran a great piece on ways to soften the blow of the dreaded cliff, noting that it is completely different from perimenopause. You will be moderately happy to know the cliff comes for women and men alike. Dr. Shereene Idriss spoke about it on a podcast tour. Here is a great clip of Shereene on Mel Robbins where she discusses this phenomena.

In the more than 10 consults I did, I heard many, many doctors discuss it. So what I am saying is, it’s not something that is up for debate. Everyone agrees on this one. And while some might suggest there are ways you can avoid it, you can’t really avoid it. It comes for all of us.

I have been doing all the things since I was 30. You know…Botox, Ulthera, weight lifting, yoga, eating right, even colonics, but nobody outruns the dreaded cliff. Unless you are Charlize Theron and her super powered red light.

The first cliff usually begins in your mid-40s, often around age 44, and it can involve significant shifts in how the body processes fat, alcohol, and caffeine. This period often shows accelerated changes in skin and muscle.

The science of this dreaded cliff is backed by a 12-year Stanford Medicine study tracking 108 people aged 25 to 75. They found that aging does not happen in one slow, steady line like we’re told. It comes in waves. The first major shift around 44, and another around 60. I will be more prepared for that one. And I am already strategically planning for facelift number two around then.

Why I Decided To Attack The Changes Surgically

It was this cliff that completely changed my mind about moving ahead with a facelift. And I wanted to show you my cliff, why I changed my mind, and why I ultimately chose a fully nuclear surgical response. One that included 400 stitches.

I do admit, I did raw dog it for a while and this may have made my cliff fall a bit harder. But once I realized what I was doing was no longer moving the needle, I wanted to stop everything and go straight to surgery. I’m now 12 weeks post-facelift with Palm Beach plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Murphy. I am so ecstatic with my results. I cannot thank him enough for such a natural result and an amazing healing journey.

Getting a facelift is an exercise in vanity that Kate Winslet and 114 heated commenters on my Substack would clearly disagree with. But I don’t. And if someone gets a great jawline, fabulous breasts, or a neck that suspiciously stopped aging, we should be able to talk about it openly instead of pretending like red light masks and hydration did all the heavy lifting.

The decision to move ahead with surgery was a long and stressful one for me, as I know it is for many women. It was not only about finding a great doctor that I felt completely comfortable with, but also about pulling the trigger on a surgery you absolutely do not need and that many people will try to talk you out of. Mentally, that is a lot.

I have had so many women reach out to me not only about the experience itself, but about the guilt that comes along with moving ahead with something so purely “in vanity,” and of course the anti-feminism taint that can come with it.

For me, I would much rather buy myself a facelift than a Birkin bag. Am I right? Aren’t both acts of superficiality anyway? At least one I get to wear on my actual face every day. Both are luxury purchases tied to appearance, but the cost per wear of my facelift is significantly lower. Women are often praised for buying status symbols and shamed for buying confidence. I digress.

What The Cliff Looks Like

In the spirit of full transparency and honesty, I wanted to showcase not only the aging cliff but some before and afters from my surgery with Dr. Murphy. So, I am making this Substack post completely free.

I will do a more detailed photo centric article showing a day by day count of surgery. That will be exclusively for all of my dearly beloved paid Substack subscribers. So if you have not subscribed yet…. what are you waiting for?

I don’t take many photos of myself. I barely have any across my life. My phone is 50% dogs, 25% travel and 25% and houses. But I dug through everything I could to find when my cliff happened. I’d place it around the start of 2024. I was 45. Enjoy.

I think I look the way I did at 40. This was a purely restorative surgery. I’m not trying to turn myself into a Kardashian. But as grueling as the decision was, it has made me so much happier. Does that make me vain? Probably. But the heaviness in my lower face that was dragging down my mouth is gone, and my brow looks like it has finally found joy again.

Now I spend less time in the mirror and more time living my life. I feel lighter, happier, and more like myself. I wear even less makeup, throw on some Jones Road Beauty Miracle Balm, a little concealer, and go. It has impacted my mood for the better. Dramatically. If that’s vanity, then frankly, I recommend it.

For those who wanted to know, I got a deep plane face and neck lift, fat transfer, and a temporal brow lift. I opted out of the upper blepharoplasty and lip lift that Dr. Murphy recommended, as well as CO2 laser. I was so nervous prior to surgery, and huge thanks to Dr. Murphy for handling my extreme nerves, that I took a few things off the list because I wasn’t sure I could mentally handle so much at one time. And given I don’t have a traditional job, I felt it would be easy to add those on later if I changed my mind.

Nearly 3 months post-op, I wish I had done everything Dr. Murphy recommended.

Maybe next year. And I’ll be sure to write about it here. If you have questions, please DM me on social or email me. And don’t forget to subscribe for all the really fun photos I’ll publish soon.

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This new era of celebrities actually admitting what they’ve done feels… refreshing. Long overdue, frankly. More of that, please. Maybe Demi Moore will finally come clean? Please Demi. I implore you.

What makes Denise Richard’s facelift story even more interesting for me is that I recently sat in a consult with her surgeon. And I learned so much.

YES, I SAT IN HIS CHAIR

I actually had a consult with Dr. Ben Talei late last year when I was deciding who to use for my own facelift.

I can truly honestly say that Dr. Ben Talei was one of the best consults I had (and remember I had 12 of them). I also say that having met with some very expensive, very well-known celebrity doctors, including Kris Jenner’s surgeon.

The experience is not always what you would expect. I personally expect a lot. When you are paying $500 or more for a consult and they are expecting you to pay potentially hundreds of thousands for surgery. I want a deep dive. I assume you are getting a deep, thoughtful analysis of your face. That is not always the case.

Before I even stepped into Dr. Talei’s office, his team asked me to submit not just current photos of every angle, but photos of my younger self. That alone told me a lot about how he thinks.

I DID MY HOMEWORK (OBSESSIVELY)

During my facelift journey, I consulted with 12 surgeons. Yes, 12. Across New York, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Dallas, and even South Korea. Many readers have been asking me to put together a pros and cons list of all. It’s a great idea. If you have specific questions or requests, leave them in the comments or email me.

Photos, details, all the juicy stuff. It’s coming. Soon I’ll be sharing my pre-facelift nutrition protocol that the wonderful Jennifer Hanway walked me through.

But given all the conversation around Denise’s result, I wanted to add some real, firsthand perspective from my consult with her surgeon.

Also, I’ll admit it, I love chiming in on celebrity gossip… especially when I actually have something useful to say.

THE CONSULT

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I am taking a quick break from facelift content and celebrity chatter for a quick and unglamorous non-luxury product tip.

I’ve tried every lip product from the iconic (but honestly kind of foul-smelling) Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream my mother used, the standard Aquaphor tube that every dermatologist on planet earth recommends, to Glossier Balm Dot Com (I remain completely baffled why everyone likes this?) In addition to every lip balm I have tried every lip scrub from La Mer to Tatcha.

And the BEST product, while not glamorous and with objectively ugly packaging, that works absolute magic on lips: baby diaper rash cream. Otherwise known as panthenol, or provitamin B5. I purchased it on Amazon for $16 and use a tiny amount at night before bed.

I originally bought it during this past brutal New York winter while I was upstate recovering from my facelift. There were lots of long walks in the cold, very dry air, and my lips were wrecked. Luckily my jawline was looking snatched. More on that to come.

The “celebrity cult product” commonly associated with the ingredient panthenol is

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Something strange has happened in the last 6 months sinc…

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This is the longest my face has gone without “assistance” since I was 30 years old. That’s when I first started getting light botox to prevent crow’s feet. At the time my then husband forbade it. I went anyway and h…

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The story …

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Personally, I love Tom Ford glasses and sunglasses. They’re quiet-luxury perfection. Minimal to no logos, just that sleek gold “T.” I can’t stand giant logos screaming down the side of someone’s frames. Unless they’re vintage and iconic, oversized branding is a no for me.

And since I’ve been on a Botox break while I wait for my facelift in 2026, I’ve been buying more and more sunglasses and tinted eyeglasses — my current form of camouflage.

Recently, I discovered a website where I’ve been scoring authentic Tom Ford glasses for nearly 50% off. Friends have snagged Prada frames for similar deals.

This is my two-minute share below.

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But in the middle of all that? I’ve been neglecting other deep beauty + wellness rabbit holes my readers enjoy: Ozempic.

This past week Chrissy Teigen came out saying she used Ozempic for 40 lbs of weight loss. First of all, thank you so much for the transparency. Hooray! After one year of usage she was able to shed the baby weight that she just couldn’t budge.

Now, Vogue says everyone is secretly microdosing Ozempic. And I sort of have to agree. A few months ago I wrote with Jennifer Hanway about a “natural girl’s Ozempic stack.” I did start taking some of the supplements she suggested — and yes, they help. Especially the Berberine.

But here’s my dirty secret and honest reveal: I tried the real thing. For just one week. And it was glorious. Natural support is nice. But let’s be honest right? Nothing works like the real jab.

In my last trip back home to New York I was looking around and honestly, everyone I know seemed smaller. And they ordered less at dinner. Everyone just looked… so much thinner. I won’t lie - I was jealous.

But here’s the thing. I don’t want to microdose Ozempic. Vogue wrote about a staffer who microdoses every two weeks to control her binge eating. I feel like — well, if you want my honest opinion — I don’t want to use that as my crutch. I don’t want to be on yet another something-or-other. And I do read so much differing information on Ozempic that I’m pretty scared to build it into my regular life.

As I head into my late 40s, weight gain has become a constant topic among my friends. It’s not baby weight anymore — it’s midlife pounds, usually 5 to 15, though some more, some less. Either way, we’re all struggling to get it off.

Here’s my hot take: microdosing isn’t it — at least not for me. “Quick hitting” for a week was the real game-changer. Forget the slow drip; I’m talking one sharp reset and then move on with your life. And yes, every nutritionist and medical professional is probably rolling their eyes, clutching pearls at the idea of a “quick fix.” But here’s the truth: I dropped 4 pounds in 2 weeks, reset my eating for a week or two, and finally admitted what I didn’t want to hear — my metabolism has slowed, and I just need to eat less. Midlife metabolism is rude, but at least this gave me the reset to deal with it.

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, nurse, or nutritionist. I’m just a girl with a substack who’s curious (and sometimes reckless) enough to test-drive these things and tell you the truth. This isn’t medical advice — just my personal, one-week Ozempic experiment.

In this article, I want to cover exactly how this one week dose hit me, how it let me kickstart my larger weight-loss goals, my deep dive into peptides in general, and the big question: how is everyone getting their hands on this? It’s complex. And there is a huge grey market.

I’ll explain each one of these in detail below.

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Here’s the thing: there are excellent surgeons who deliver natural, gorgeous results without the Hamptons price tag. The trick is separating hype-driven “celebrity doctors” from the quietly brilliant surgeons doing the work at mortal-friendly prices.

Why Did Prices Skyrocket?

A perfect storm: supply and demand, celebrity marketing, and surgeons realizing people will pay anything not to look like Real Housewives Season 3. Add in fewer people patching with filler-only band-aids, and surgery came roaring back. Surgeons know it. Prices ballooned.

The Sticker Shock Reality

In my facelift research this past year, I can tell you: fees are high. Like, “choke on your green juice” high. The fancy Park Ave surgeons? They’re starting at $125K - and that’s just the facelift. That doesn’t include the brow lift, the bleph, or the add-ons that magically appear on the menu. Those “little extras” can double your bill.

But here’s the good news: yes, you can absolutely get a facelift (with extras) under $100K. And no, you don’t have to hop a flight to Turkey, Guadalajara, or Korea. Though plenty of women do.

Michelle Wood’s viral video of her facelift in Guadalajara made her surgeon, Dr. Maribel Belmontes Castillo, so in-demand she now has a 10-month waitlist. My friend Emily Wagner of GroomedLA is even doing an IG Live with her next week. Make sure to tune in to her instagram live.

Turkey is another hot spot. I reached out to Dr. Soner Karaali after seeing some of his jaw-dropping transformations on Instagram, specifically this one. I sent in photos and the doctor recommended a deep plane facelift, necklift, eyebrow lift, upper bleph, lip lift and fat transfer. The total price was quoted at 12,000 euros. I asked if I could do an in person meeting either over zoom or even in person in Turkey before committing to surgery. I was told that this was very unusual. They would get back to me with time slots. I never heard back. I was told surgery with him is booking until March 2026. Language barriers, lack of follow-ups, and my general fears ruled it out for me personally.

The Transparency Gap

Here’s the thing: there are incredible surgeons all over the U.S. — they just might not have the PR machine behind them. Finding them, though? That’s the challenge.

Not everyone can book a meeting with Melinda the Beauty Broker — and honestly, what she does is amazing. She’s built a one-of-a-kind service connecting women to some of the most sought-after surgeons, and her clients rave about her. She’s the gold standard if you want highly curated introductions.

But the reality is, it’s pricey, the wait is long, and it underscores how non-transparent this whole industry is. Not everyone wants to pay $1,250 for a 45 minute consult to then be told what doctor to pay for a consult. Also - if you want to jump the line and now join a very long waitlist, the price is $2,500 for the consult. And again, this is all using zoom.

Even with a beauty broker, most of us are still left wondering: why isn’t there a clearer map of surgeons, specialties, and price ranges? That’s the gap I’m trying to explore - for women who want more accessible intel. It’s minefield out there.

The great thing is that more and more women are admitting to their surgeries. A great first step. But it’s still few and far between.

Why Listen to Me? Or Maybe Don’t Listen?

Quick disclaimer: I’m not a beauty editor. Never wrote for a glossy, never kissed PR ass, never cared about comps. I’m not a doctor. I never worked in a doctor’s office. I am not a nurse. I have no medical background whatsoever.

I started Charlotte’s Book a decade ago because I was sick of the same regurgitated, highbrow “tips” that told me - again - to check credentials or look at before-and-afters. No sh*t. And I was tired of reading about the same 15 surgeons and dermatologists editors name-drop over and over. Surely there are more?

I was also annoyed listening and reading articles from women who were so much younger than me. I wanted the real intel: what people are actually paying, who’s worth it, what sucked, what worked. And because I don’t rely on advertisers or magazine gigs (I could care less if Allure or Town & Country ever pay me), I can tell you when a consult sucked without worrying if it burns a bridge. This has always been a no-nonsense platform. I’m obsessive about tweakments, aesthetics, and transformation — which can be really powerful.

My 8 Tips for Landing a Great 5-Figure Facelift

1. Call the top doctor’s office — but ask who trains under them.
Can’t afford Dr. David Rosenberg? Maybe you can afford his protégé. Can’t swing Dr. Ben Talei? Maybe one of his associates is your ticket. Surgeons who train under the greats often deliver excellent work at a fraction of the price. But you need to ask. This won’t be offered up.

Want more super valuable advice? Make sure to subscribe to keep reading.

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My journey started last December. A friend of mine recently had her facelift done by Dr. Steven Levine—yes, the very same surgeon Kris Jenner credited with her latest face transformation. He was already well-known in New York’s beauty world, but the Kris reveal launched him into a new stratosphere. My friend raved about her results, and I saw them with my own eyes. So, I booked a consult, along with several other doctors. It was $500 back then, and had my consult with Dr. Levine. This was before the Kris Jenner reveal.

Behind the paywall: the juicy stuff: what he told me, what it’ll cost, what kind of vibe you’re signing up for, and why I really disagree with a few posts I have seen on instagram regarding other visits with Dr. Levine.

But first, a little foreplay…

The Consult

Technically, I first met Dr. Levine about ten years ago at a Hamptons dinner party. We’re the same age—47—and he’s extremely professional. On time. Efficient.

Unlike many surgeons, his office didn’t ask for any photos—no before pics, no reference shots of my younger self, nothing. And none were taken at the appointment either.

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Enter micellar water—a 100+ year-old invention that still beats most modern cleansers. We all know what it is. But I think it’s wildly under-appreciated. It’s so simple. So effective. So cheap. Available everywhere.

Here’s why I’l…

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And yet... if you’re a woman of a certain age, you know exactly where this is going. The “high colonic” scene from L.A. Story (1991) lives rent-free in our collective subconscious: Steve Martin on a date with Sarah Jessica Parker’s rollerblading wellness pixie, SanDeE* (yes, with an asterisk). They don’t go for dinner. They go for a colonic. In Venice Beach. Because... California.

I’ve been colonic-curious for years. Booked an appointment once, then bailed in a panic while practically holding the treatment room door open.

But last week? I finally did it. And friends… wow.

I lost two pounds. My stomach was flat. My digestion? Glorious. I totally get why the Gwyneths and Cindys swear by it now.

So here it is - my full flush report. What it felt like, my step-by-step experience, what to expect during a colonic, and expert answers from the legendary NYC colonic queen herself, Tracy Piper. (Warning: some details are behind the paywall because, well, this story goes very deep and very detailed.)

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We’ve seen good facelifts. We’ve seen bad facelifts. And then there’s whatever wizardry just happened to Kris—a masterclass in restraint, precision, and million-dollar facial architecture. Her jawline? Taut but not tense. Her neck? Smooth but not statue-like. And her eyes? Bright, lifted, and devoid of that telltale “I just saw a ghost and can’t close my eyelids” look.

P.S. Isn’t it adorable how People wants us to believe it’s the bob that’s making Kris Jenner look 30 years younger? Sure. And I guess my jade roller is what’s keeping my jawline snatched, too.

Let’s break down why this facelift is so f*cking great:

1. It’s not too tight.

Going to the right doctor means you don’t look pulled and taut. Kris still looks like herself, just post-8-week-retreat-in-the-Alps-with-an-IV-drip-of-stem-cells better. This is likely a deep plane facelift—the gold standard among top-tier plastic surgeons. It lifts the underlying facial structure, not just the skin, so you get a natural repositioning rather than a skin-stretching horror show. That’s the key here.

“This is not your mama’s mini lift,” says Dr. Ben Talei. He is good friend of the Kardashian clan and although was rumored to be the surgeon for Kris, Page Six is reporting that is Dr. Steven Levine (I actually had a consult with him last year and wrote about it in my last piece). Unlike the more superficial SMAS lift, a deep plane targets the underlying muscles and connective tissue. This gives more natural results. It looks lifted, not yanked up. It repositions, rather than just tightens. In my opinion, these new techniques are why it’s essential to do your homework before going under the knife. Technique, technique, technique is what it’s all about.

2. The neck is flawless.

No rogue platysmal bands, no “turkey wobble,” no obvious scar tucking under the ear. This kind of result typically requires a neck lift with fat sculpting and muscle tightening. Kris Jenner didn’t just get a facelift, she got an aesthetic rebirth.

“A great facelift always includes the neck,” says NYC-based facial plastic surgeon Dara Liotta. A frequent contributor to Charlotte’s Book, telling us Why Less is More and explaining Liquid Rhinoplasty.

3. There’s volume—but not filler face. Fat grafting not filler.

Her cheeks are full but not pillow-y, suggesting fat grafting over filler. This is how you

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If you’re like me, once summer hits, you’re basically surgically attached to your TKEES. Those sleek little sandals are slim, chic, and somehow both casual and c…

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Several women I know are microdosing Ozempic to tackle peri- and menopause weight gain. And they look incredible — like, suspiciously incredible. They’ve confessed it’s been surprisingly easy: appetite gone, discipline unlocked. Meanwhile, my appetite seems to be heading in the opposite direction.

And sure, by normal standards I’m still tiny — but hormonal weight gain has been creeping in like a shady character you’re trying to ghost. I’ve put on a little over the past year, and while I’m curious about Ozempic, I’m also hesitant. Very hesitant.

So before sprinting to a doctor with a “just give me the shot” energy, I asked my friend and nutrition guru Jennifer Hanway for the natural intel. Jennifer is the real deal — one of the few experts I trust (and FYI, anyone I recommend has been vetted by top NYC doctors; I do not do TikTok wellness advice). Jennifer even has a mini-guide called Finally Full: The GLP-1 Fix focused on perimenopause and menopause nutrition.

Jennifer also specializes in women’s nutrition. Are you an Inflammation Isabel, Cortisol Claire, Hormonal Hannah or Menopause Megan? Jennifer can help.

Lucky for me (and now you), she gave me some insights.

First: How Does Ozempic Actually Work?

Ozempic belongs to a category called GLP-1 receptor agonists, and here’s what it does inside your body:

• Regulates appetite: Slows down stomach emptying, so you stay full longer.

• Controls blood sugar: Boosts insulin, lowers glucose.

• Improves metabolism: Helps your body burn energy and store less fat.

In theory: if we can mimic these three effects, we might just hack a little Ozempic magic without a prescription.

I talked to Jennifer about supplements that may help with each of these 3 effects. A.K.A. the Natural Girl’s Ozempic Stack:

1. Appetite Control

• Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
  Jennifer’s words: “Konjac root is a superstar for supporting GLP-1. It forms a thick gel in your gut that keeps you fuller longer.”

  
  My translation: It’s basically a stomach balloon you swallow.

  
  • Slows stomach emptying (Ozempic’s signature move)
  • Helps you eat less without even trying
  • Dose: 1–2 grams before meals (with lots of water)

• Protein, Protein, Protein
  We all know this, but it bears repeating: eat way more protein than you think you need. It keeps you full, stabilizes blood sugar, and basically acts like a bouncer for cravings.

• 5-HTP
  (Not from Jennifer, but my own research deep dive.) 5-HTP may help curb emotional eating by boosting serotonin. Mood: lighter. Cravings: lower.
  • Dose: 50–200 mg per day

2. Blood Sugar Control

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Now, are you a bar soap person? Because I am. I love Drunk Elephant’s Pekee Bar —ever since I interviewed the brand’s founder, Tiffany Masterson, in her Housto…

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“Oh, just sunscreen and water!” with an expression frozen in an unnatural grin.

“Oh, I just sleep on a silk pillowcase!” one says.

“I do daily face yoga!” claims another.

My favorite is “Just genetics and I drink green juice everyday.”

The classic Hollywood facelift denial is practically an art form these days.

Can we take a case in point: Demi Moore.

Now, let’s be clear. I absolutely love Demi Moore. If you haven’t read her biography, Demi Moore Inside Out, I can’t recommend it enough. She discusses intimate details of her marriages to Ashton Kutcher and Bruce Willis, eating disorder issues, drinking issues, and so much more. She openly admits and discusses all of the intense pressure on her in Hollywood. It’s very honest. A truly great read.

However, this honesty seems to disappear whenever asked about maintaining her youthful appearance. In a recent interview about The Substance, she is asked by reporter Tracy Smith, “For you personally, today, when you look in the mirror, what do you think?"

Demi answers this,”Uhm, it fluctuates, some days I look and I'm like, Wow. That's pretty good. And some days, I catch myself dissecting, hyper-focusing on, you know, things that I don't like. The difference is, now I can catch myself. I can go, Yeah, I don't like that loose skin. But, you know, it is what it is. So, I'm gonna make the best of what is, as opposed to chasing what isn't."

Umm… am I alone here in how irksome this answer is? Demi is answering this in such a cool girl laissez-faire attitude about facial aging when she has clearly visited at least one (if not more than one) facial surgeon. So she clearly is chasing it. Am I wrong here?

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And this is what gets me: with all of the honesty seeping through the pages of her book and her constant talk of how women need to just accept themselves, why can’t she just say, “Hey women everywhere, I got a facelift. I look great! Let me tell you exactly what I did.”

Wouldn’t admitting the work she has had done be the most empowering for her and women everywhere? Rather than putting out into the world the illusion of something completely unattainable?

When Julianne Moore, at age 63, says she has not had surgery, I believe her. The woman is flawless and gorgeous. But I do see the lines on her face. I watch her newest film, The Room Next Door, and I see a slightly sagging jowl and wrinkles in her forehead and around her eyes. She looks natural. I can tell she has not had surgery. And she still looks great. Effortlessly cool and gorgeous. Wrinkles and all.

Surgery isn’t for everyone. And we are all human. Even Julianne Moore and Demi Moore. But when I watch Demi in The Substance and her recent press tours around this new film, her forehead has no lines. She has no creases around her eyes. And importantly, her jawline is taught like a 25 year old. This just isn’t possible.

Some celebs are copping to facelifts these days, as written in this RealSelf article. Jane Fonda, Sonja Morgan, Marc Jacobs, and Kris Jenner are a few that have admitted going under the knife. But usually the elite Hollywood starlets still completely lie about their surgical history.

What is the taboo here? And why aren’t we over it already? Demi credits yoga and clean eating for her eternal youth and super tight jawline. But unless downward dog can hoist your face, there is clearly surgical intervention. I did study yoga in Ubud for a month, it had many great benefits. A tight jawline wasn’t one of them. Women in their 60s simply don’t look like this. Plain and simple.

A Surgeons POV

I reached out to facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Kevin Sadati who operates out of his sought after practice in Newport Beach, California. He had this to say:

“Demi Moore’s strikingly defined jawline at 61 has raised questions about whether such results can be achieved without surgery. As a facial plastic surgeon, specializing in facial rejuvenation, I can confirm that while non-invasive treatments such as fillers, radiofrequency skin tightening, and collagen-stimulating injectables can improve jawline contour to some extent for a 30-40 year old, they are generally insufficient to create such a sculpted and taut appearance a 60 year old.”

I am 47 and I have spent decades doing yoga, drinking green juice, and doing microcurrent, Thermage, Ulthera, you name it, and my jawline is not as tight as Demi Moore at 61.

Dr. Sadati continues to explain, “By the early 50s, natural aging leads to skin laxity, volume loss, and descent of deep soft tissue called SMAS. While Moore has stated she has not undergone surgery, achieving such dramatic results non-surgically would be highly unlikely.”

“A deep plane facelift or a preservation deep plane facelift, which repositions deeper facial structures rather than simply pulling the skin, remains the most effective way to restore youthful jawline definition in patients at this stage. “

“While non-surgical interventions can provide subtle contouring, they cannot replicate the dramatic lifting and definition achieved through a facelift, especially in individuals in their 60s.”

My Own Quest Continues: Understanding When Injectables Are No Longer As Effective

If you read Charlotte’s Book regularly (if you don’t please become a paid subscriber asap!), I have been on a quest to find the right facial surgeon for me.

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I have found that my botox is doing less and less, and the fillers I have been getting in my upper temples to lift my jowls just doesn’t seem to be working anymore.

Am I building a botox resistance and a filler resistance?

Once again Dr. Sadati explains it’s not a resistance per say, but you reach a point where it’s just not as effective. This is due more to your skin and less about a resistance. Dr. Sadati explains:

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I personally struggl…

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