Linda Truesdale, 68, trusted her son, Dr. Carl Truesdale, a board-certified plastic surgeon, to do her long-awaited facelift. Linda’s decision to have her son undergo such a sensitive operation was fraught with emotional issues as well as a great feeling of trust. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, she described her journey, which began with a discussion about cosmetic surgery and culminated in a life-changing metamorphosis. Here are the main elements about Linda’s decision and her encounter with Dr. Carl Truesdale:
The painful path of trusting a plastic surgeon son. Linda had been considering cosmetic surgery for years, particularly after major life changes such as weight loss and relocation. When her son, Dr. Truesdale, inquired if she was ready for surgery, she carefully considered her alternatives. Linda opted to take a more progressive approach, which eventually resulted to the first phase of her change.
“I’d been asking him for a few years if I was prepared for anything. “And he says, ‘Mom, you don’t need anything,'” Linda recounts. Linda relied on her son’s talent, which is known for producing age-defying results, to obtain a youthful yet natural appearance. Although Dr. Trusdale joked about making her seem as youthful as she did when he was born, Linda chose a more realistic conclusion, opting for an appearance that would place her around the age of forty.
The facelift surgery and recovery. Linda’s first operation, at the age of 68, featured a lip lift and an upper eyelid lift. Linda elected to remain awake for the two-hour surgery, which was performed under local anesthesia, so that she could observe the metamorphosis firsthand. Although Linda’s recuperation went quite smoothly, she did encounter a brief setback after failing to follow post-operative instructions, such as avoiding excess salt and keeping her head elevated.
Despite her mistake, Linda healed swiftly and was back to normal in two weeks.Linda underwent a deep-plane facelift four months later, addressing sagging skin on her neck, jowls, and chin. The seven-hour treatment was performed under complete anesthesia. Linda later wished she could have stayed conscious, like she did during her first surgery. Dr. Truesdale, her experienced plastic surgeon, performed expertly, resulting in a relatively smooth recovery with minimum pain and few complications. Linda trusted her son, a plastic surgeon, to perform a life-changing treatment without seeking a second opinion.
In fact, she trusted her so well that she joked about letting him do hip surgery if needed. However, the night before her surgery, she had some reservations and spent hours praying about it. Despite her concerns, Linda’s steadfast trust in Carl as a plastic surgeon helped her overcome them. Dr. Truesdale stated that performing surgery on his mother was both meaningful and challenging.
“Of course, every patient matters deeply to me, but there’s something unique about operating on your own mother,” the surgeon said. Throughout the procedure, he upheld the same professional standards that he applies to all of his patients. Linda stayed in the guest house behind his home to ensure her rehabilitation proceeded smoothly, allowing him to closely monitor her progress. Linda, approaching her 69th birthday, looks on her path with renewed confidence. “It’s just nice to be able to make people feel good when they see you,” she said, recalling a praise on her gorgeous skin.
Linda’s tale demonstrates how entrusting a plastic surgeon with your personal, transforming procedure may result in a pleasant, life-changing experience. Dr. Truesdale’s competence and close relationship with his mother resulted in a unique and successful outcome, strengthening their emotional and professional bond. Linda is getting a facelift done by his plastic surgeon son, Dr. Carl Trusdale.