The Truth About Plastic Surgery over 50 - #148

In this episode of Afterpause, we’re cutting through the noise around plastic surgery, noninvasive aesthetics, and skincare for women over 50. Renowned NYC-based plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan joins us to explain what actually works and how to create a thoughtful, long-term approach to looking refreshed without looking overdone.

In this episode, we cover:

  • What women over 50 are really looking for: Why the goal is often not to look younger, but to look rested, healthy, vibrant, and like yourself, and how menopause changes the skin, hair, face, and overall appearance.

  • Understanding the different types of facelifts: A clear explanation of full facelifts, deep-plane facelifts, vertical restore techniques, mid-facelifts, mini-facelifts, and neck lifts, and how a surgeon determines which approach may be appropriate for different stages of facial aging.

  • Suture suspension and thread lifting: What suture suspension actually is, how it differs from traditional threads, who may be a candidate, and why there is so much disagreement among surgeons about these procedures.

  • The aging neck: Why the neck can be one of the most frustrating areas for women in midlife and beyond, what happens to the platysma muscle as we age, and when Botox, a Nefertiti-style approach, or surgery may make sense.

  • Tired-looking eyes: Why the eyes can make you look older or more exhausted than you feel—and how to think about upper and lower blepharoplasty, under-eye puffiness, dark circles, hollowness, and the role (and limitations) of eye creams.

  • Hollowing, volume loss, and facial balance: How menopause-related changes in fat, bone, skin, and soft tissue affect the face, and why simply adding more filler isn't always the answer.

  • What noninvasive treatments can, and cannot, do: A realistic look at skincare, lasers, injectables, biostimulators, regenerative treatments, and other nonsurgical options for women who aren't ready for surgery or don't want it.

  • How to combine surgery, noninvasive treatments, and skincare: Why the best aesthetic plan isn't necessarily one procedure. Learn how women can think about their face and skin as a long-term investment, combining the right surgical procedures with nonsurgical treatments and a strong skincare routine over time.

  • Red flags when choosing a plastic surgeon: What women should look for when evaluating a doctor, how to think about credentials and experience, why seeing before-and-after photos matters, and warning signs that a surgeon may be selling a procedure rather than creating an individualized plan.

  • Skincare for mature and postmenopausal skin: The importance of protecting the skin barrier, using targeted active ingredients, and protecting against environmental damage—and how to approach vitamin C, retinoids, hyaluronic acid, sunscreen, and other popular anti-aging ingredients.

Whether you’re considering a facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, injectables, lasers, regenerative treatments, or simply want a better skincare routine, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for navigating plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine after 50—to look like the best, most rested version of yourself.

Dr. Devgan trained as a classical artist before medicine — Yale, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Columbia and New York Presbyterian for residency and fellowship. She operates on the principle that beauty is in the details. Millimeter-level changes. Not transformation — enhancement. Her most fulfilled patients aren't the ones who look younger. They're the ones who look like themselves — well-rested, radiant, and congruent with how they feel inside.

Find Dr. Devgan:

https://laradevganmd.com/

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If you’re a Chicago-area midlife woman, check out the Chicago Menopause Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to navigating menopause locally with experts:

https://chicagomenopausecollective.org

 

 

 

 

Jill Foos