Healthy Living Thought Leader: Diana Devi
Ever walk into an eye exam expecting a prescription for new glasses and walk out with a recommendation for plastic surgery?
Welcome to my world, where at ‘An Ageless Life,’ we embrace feeling confident and sexy at any age. Today, I’m sharing how a simple eye exam led me to reaffirm this philosophy in an unexpected way.
Personal Journey:
It all started innocently enough with a couple of visits to the eye doctor. My eyes were redder than a Netflix binge-watcher’s at 3 AM. Despite little change in my prescription, the doctor dropped a bombshell: apparently, I was hoisting my brows like curtains just to see better. At first, I thought, “No way, it must be the dilation,” but soon I had to face the eyebrow-lifting truth. I was raising my eyebrows and it was causing my headaches! It was impacting my vision, red
Consultation Chronicles:
This realization had me talk to not just one, but two plastic surgeons. Despite the benefits for my vision, both consultations quickly dashed any hopes of insurance coverage, because it as ‘cosmetic.’ At my first consultation, a sharply dressed surgeon with meticulous precision in every aspect of his appearance laid out my options. His demeanor reassured me that he valued precision in surgery as much as in style. However, the options presented didn’t include the simple eyelid procedure I had hoped for. Instead, spurred by a sudden impulse, I found myself inquiring about neck lifts—an idea that stemmed more from my growing concerns about aging than from any prior plan.
Decisions and Downtime:
Undeterred by the lack of insurance coverage and the prospect of being dance-free for a few weeks, I scheduled both the brow and neck lifts at the same time. Why suffer twice when you can face it all at once? As the date drew near, I oscillated between do I really want to do this and resolute bravery, marking my calendar with a blend of dread and anticipation.
Presurgical Consult: Facing Fears and Final Decisions:
Three weeks before the scheduled surgery, I returned to my surgeon’s office for a presurgical consult. As I was shown into the exam room, I noticed my heartbeat picking up pace. Anxiety tingled through me, stirring a mix of excitement and doubt. “Was I really going to do this? Maybe I should just stick to the brow lift…” The thought of drastically altering my appearance was daunting. I fidgeted, overwhelmed by the enormity of the commitment. “What if I look like someone else afterward? What will people think? Should I even tell anyone?” These questions raced through my mind just as the surgeon walked in.
He reviewed the two procedures once more, sensing my tension. I expressed my deepest fear to him, “I still want to look like me afterward.” His response came with a reassuring laugh, “That’s exactly what we aim for.” His confidence eased my nerves. I took a deep breath and, with a newfound resolve, told him, “I’m ready!” This moment of affirmation was pivotal—not just agreeing to the surgery but embracing the journey, ready to take the next step.
“Anxiety tingled through me, stirring a mix of excitement and doubt.”
Empowerment Amidst Stigma:
Initially, I was hesitant to share my decision about the surgeries because I wondered what it meant about my views on aging. At ‘An Ageless Life,’ we promote feeling confident and sexy at any age, and here I was, facing my own crossroads. Would enhancing my appearance with surgery seem contradictory? I realized that feeling confident and sexy isn’t just about accepting aging but also about making choices that allow us to live fully and joyously at any stage of life. The more I pondered, the clearer it became: embracing these procedures was an act of self-care as valid as any diet or exercise regimen, a way to ensure my external self matched my internal vigor.
Surgical Saga and Cat Drama:
The surgery was meticulously planned, integrating both procedures to minimize recovery time and anesthesia risks. For years, I’ve maintained a rigorous regimen of face yoga and diligent skincare, including daily sunscreen, to combat aging. However, genetics and natural processes eventually outpaced these efforts. Post-surgery, as I lay there amidst the haze of recovery, the pain was surprisingly manageable. But the emotional weight of seeing my cat, Cleo, frightened by my bandaged appearance cut deeper than any physical discomfort. Her wary eyes, usually so full of affection and recognition, now flickered with confusion and fear. This unexpected moment of alienation in my own home underscored the gravity of the transformation I had just undergone, pulling a mix of laughter and tears from the very depths of me.
Transformation and Acceptance:
The results were more than skin deep. Not only was my vision clearer, but my confidence also soared. I had faced my fears and societal stigmas head-on. Sharing my story led to surprising reactions: many of my friends and peers had toyed with the idea of surgery themselves. Opening up about my procedures turned out to be as liberating for them as it was for me. I shared as much detail as they wanted.
Choosing Plastic Surgery:
This journey has taught me that choosing surgery is indeed a form of self-care. It’s about listening to what we need to feel our best, no matter the circumstances.
If you want to know more about my surgical journey, follow me on TikTok. I have more pictures and posts on my progress. Join the conversation and share your own experiences with embracing change at any stage of life.
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About the Author:
Diana is an empowerment coach for women over 50, building on her 30 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist and as an Argentine tango dancer. Diana’s goal is to help her clients become a W.H.I.P. “A Woman, who is Hot, Intelligent and in her Prime at EVERY age. When Diana is not working with clients or on the dance floor she is training her cats, CleoCatra ( an Egyptian Mau) and D’Artagnan (a Savannah) while patiently waiting for the day she can travel around the world to dance tango again. You can checkout Diana on her website: An Ageless Life.
