At age 68, Linda Truesdale decided to make a change. With a new outlook on life and after losing weight, she chose to undergo facial cosmetic surgery. But instead of searching for a doctor, she called someone very close—her son, Dr. Carl Truesdale, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills.
A Request Years in the Making
Linda had talked to Carl about surgery for years, but he had always assured her it wasn’t necessary. “I had been asking him for a few years if I was ready. And his response was, ‘Mom, you don’t need anything,’” Linda told PEOPLE.
That changed after a personal transformation. She had lost weight, moved across the country, and let go of old baggage. “Carl said, ‘Well, Mom, do you think you’re ready?’” she recalled. At first, she said yes but wanted to move slowly. That was the start of her two-step surgical journey.
Subtle Changes, Not a New Face
Linda’s goal was simple: to refresh her face, not erase it. Although Carl is well known for dramatic anti-aging results, Linda asked him not to make her look too young. “I was 31 when he was born. I didn’t want to go that far back. Looking like 40 is good,” she said with a smile.
First Procedure: Lip and Eyelid Lift
In the fall, Linda had her first surgery—a lip lift and upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty). She was awake during the two-hour operation, thanks to local anesthesia. “I’m one of those people who craves results,” she said.
Recovery went well overall, though she admitted to not following some post-op instructions. For instance, she once ate salty chips and bent over too soon, causing some swelling. Still, she was back to normal in two weeks.
Second Surgery: Deep Plane Facelift
Four months later, Linda had her second surgery—a deep plane facelift to tighten her neck, jawline, and jowls. This time, the seven-hour procedure required full sedation. Recovery was smooth and mostly pain-free, with just some discomfort near the brow lift area and numbness around her earlobes. She was back to herself within five weeks.
A Priceless Gift from Son to Mother
Dr. Carl Truesdale typically charges $60,000 to $120,000 for a full facial transformation. But Linda paid nothing. “I paid for it by having Carl,” she joked. “It’s a gift to my mom,” Carl added.
She never sought other opinions and had full confidence in her son. “I would go to Carl if he could do anything I needed,” she joked, even saying she would have considered more procedures if needed.
A Night of Doubt, A Morning of Faith
Despite her confidence, Linda admitted she was nervous the night before surgery. “I was like, OK, we’re getting ready to do this. What if something happens to me? How is my son going to make it?” she said. She stayed up that night, praying. But she trusted him completely.
A Surgeon’s Unique Perspective
For Carl, performing surgery on his mother was emotional. “Every patient means a lot to me, but operating on your own mother was something special,” he said. “She gave me life!” he reflected.
Still, he followed the same procedure he would for any other patient. The only difference was her recovery spot—his own backyard—where he could personally monitor her progress.
A New Look, A New Confidence
Now approaching 69, Linda says she feels great when she looks in the mirror. She recently had a woman approach her at a store, complimenting her glowing skin. “It’s nice to have people look at you and feel good about you,” she said.
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