The Decision That Changed Everything
Before we get into what went wrong—and more importantly, what went right—this story needs context. There was a decision that set the stage for everything that followed: the decision to finally undergo a facelift. My skin has always been my kryptonite. I had severe acne growing up, and as an athlete, keeping makeup on was impossible. In my 30s, I was still struggling with breakouts—even now at 62, I still get them occasionally! Discovering the virgin diet and the impact of dairy on my skin helped immensely. But I also had deep acne scars, which I treated with IPL in my 30s—and it was amazing. Then I moved on to other lasers.
Around that time, one of my clients was a plastic surgeon. I was editing video for TV commercials and saw lines between my eyes for the first time. So I started Botox. Then a decade later, filler. I kept doing things that I thought would delay the inevitable: actual plastic surgery. But I noticed I was needing more treatments, more frequently—like dying my hair, it started with highlights twice a year, then turned into full color to cover gray. Same with my skin: more Botox, more filler, more laser series. It was costing a fortune in time and money, and I wasn't thrilled with the results.
I started researching plastic surgeons. I have many friends who are amazing surgeons, and I interviewed them. But I just wasn't comfortable. Then Chris Jenner happened. I saw her results and read an article that said her secret was a second facelift done earlier—that earlier surgeries actually yield better outcomes. I had always believed the opposite: wait as long as possible, do it only once, or risk looking older. That narrative turned out to be completely wrong. Once I made the decision, everything fell into place.
Finding the Right Surgeon
A girlfriend from San Diego called and said her friend in Miami and another in LA had both gone to a surgeon in Tampa. "Tampa?" I thought, because convenience matters. My husband Tim needed a hip replacement a year ago, and I convinced him to do it in LA. We ended up in a hotel room for recovery—it was awful. So I vowed to stay local. I was introduced to Dr. Abby Mchuan, a head and neck surgeon who only does facial and neck procedures. Unlike some plastic surgeons who look overdone, Dr. Mchuan was someone you'd genuinely want to have lunch with. She walked through the procedures with me and my husband, explaining how she would do us differently based on our unique issues. The moment I met her, I felt completely confident—no fear, no hesitation.
The Preparation: A Scientific Approach
I travel 70% of the time, so scheduling was tight. We found a window right before Thanksgiving, with two weeks at home before I had to speak at an event in Las Vegas. I wanted optimal outcomes from the start, so I dialed in my preparation. My diet was already anti-inflammatory, with good protein sources. But I went further. I reached out to a friend who had a facelift and he recommended specific peptides: epitalon, CJC, BPC157, TB500, and copper peptides. I created a morning and evening protocol. I also got a topical copper peptide from a great source, doubled up on essential amino acids, my yoLked forotropen (because I knew I wouldn't be able to lift weights for a few weeks), and collagen. Additionally, I had a home hyperbaric chamber (HBOT) from OxyHealth—originally for my son's traumatic brain injury—and a red light device. These two are crucial for healing.
Mindset was everything. I never doubted this would be easy and perfect. Right before my surgery, a friend who had the same procedure a week earlier looked great. I thought, "I got this." My husband went in the day before for his own procedure (which included more work: upper and lower blepharoplasty) and came out looking fine. I was calm.
The Surgery and the Complication
I had a neck lift, deep plane facelift, and brow lift. The preparation involved taking a medication to lower blood pressure and calm me, then local lidocaine to the face—no general anesthesia, to avoid nausea and vomiting (the number one risk for poor outcomes). I have an old injury in my mid-spine from a heavy coffee table incident—a rotated rib that makes lying on my back painful after 20-30 minutes. Yet I lay on that chair for four hours. About three hours in, my blood pressure started rising, likely from back pain causing anxiety. They gave me another medication to control it.
When it was over, I looked amazing—just a little redness under my eyes. Then they gave me an oxycodone. I should have refused—I always vomit from those. I took anti-nausea meds at home, but I still felt sick. I threw up. And that caused a hematoma. Within an hour, I went from looking fine to a scary monster. My entire face swelled, turned black and blue—even inside my mouth and ears. Meanwhile, my husband, who had more done, had just a tiny bruise.
We went back to Dr. Mchuan. She had to drain the hematoma. I went home, stayed calm. Next day is Thanksgiving—the hematoma returned. She had to open the sutures again, go back in. My family came over for dinner, not freaked out. But my husband was worried about a team meeting scheduled for the following Monday. We ended up doing it via Zoom. The clock was ticking: I had to be on a stage in 10 days, and I was black and blue.
The Recovery Accelerators
Dr. Mchuan remained calm and explained the plan. I went home and used everything I had prepared: peptides (BPC157, TB500, copper peptides), topicals, red light mask twice a day, and 90 minutes in the hyperbaric chamber daily. She also started doing IPL on me—five treatments in rapid succession. By the time I left for Las Vegas, the bruising and swelling had dramatically improved. I still have a tiny spot of discoloration near the hematoma site eight weeks later—barely noticeable—but the transformation was remarkable.
I believe the biggest factor was mindset. I refused to freak out. I had experience with lasers and peels that left me looking scary temporarily, but I always recovered. I trusted the process. But I also learned two critical lessons. First, know your body: if a medication makes you vomit, don't take it. I could have managed with just Tylenol—the surgery wasn't that painful. Second, check your omega-3 index. Two days before surgery, my lab results showed a 6:3 ratio of 3:1, which is too low (meaning blood is thinner, easier to bleed). I had been eating more fish and still taking fish oil—that likely didn't cause the hematoma but didn't help. Shifting that ratio takes months, so be aware.
Also, ice more in the first 24 hours. I was too out of it to do enough. If I could redo anything, it would be those two things: skip the oxycodone and monitor my omega-3 index earlier.
The Takeaway
Things will happen. My husband rubbed his stitches out of his eyes and had to get restitched. That's why you need a surgeon you trust and stay nearby. For me, the combination of hyperbaric oxygen, red light, peptides, proper nutrition, and a calm mindset made the difference. I stood on that stage 14 days after surgery, looking far better than anyone expected. The photos will show you the journey from bruising to recovery—it's astonishing.
If you're considering this, do your due diligence. Find someone you truly trust. Prep with the right supplements and therapies. Understand that complications can arise, but with the right support and mindset, you can get through them. And remember: the best thing you can do for yourself is to not freak out. That alone is half the battle.