A $20K Deep-Plane Facelift in Mexico Helped Her Reclaim Her Identity

I Didn't Recognize Myself in Photos

When you accompany a loved one on their final journey as a child, it takes a toll on you, too. That process drained me, and after her death, I had to step back and reassess everything.

I had never experienced depression before, but I plunged headfirst into it. People took photos of me, and when I looked at them, I couldn't find a single one where I looked good—or even like myself.

By spring 2023, I was no longer doing well. I needed a fundamental change. Coming from the entertainment industry, where people constantly get facelifts, the idea of cosmetic surgery didn't scare me at all. I began researching the procedure both in my hometown of Nashville and abroad.

I always say there are two things in life you should never cut corners on: a babysitter and a facelift. So I did extensive research before choosing the right surgeon to meet my needs—regardless of cost.

I booked my appointment with Dr. Fabián Mendoza, a board-certified surgeon in Guadalajara, Mexico, long before his office even calculated the fees.

My facelift cost around $20,000

I wasn't just impressed by his results but also by the opportunity to connect with his former patients through a group where they shared before-and-after photos.

The deep-plane facelift—including a two-week stay in a recovery facility and follow-up appointments in the U.S.—cost around $20,000 (approximately €17,100).

My identical twin sister, Patsy, had undergone a facelift in Nashville 17 months earlier, which cost about $60,000 (around €51,000). Unlike her, I didn't pay à la carte for each individual procedure, including blepharoplasty. The price in Mexico was all-inclusive.

I waited nearly two years for Dr. Mendoza's availability, and during that time, some friends and family expressed concerns about my trip to Mexico. I kept saying it was my decision—and mine alone.

"You only have one face," they told me. That's true, but I was in good hands, and Guadalajara is a cosmopolitan, modern, and clean city—not some dusty backwater in the middle of nowhere.

Patsy accompanied me to Mexico in June 2025 and was a tremendous support throughout the procedure. It took place in a major hospital, where I stayed for 28 hours after surgery.

From there, I went to a recovery facility with medical staff, translators, cooks, cleaners, and drivers to take me to appointments.

Sixteen days post-surgery—after plenty of shopping with Patsy—I returned to the U.S. and documented my journey on Instagram.

Now, I feel like my outer self finally matches my inner self. I was never afraid to reveal my age, but the surgery has made me feel younger—like my old self again.