While many stories about plastic surgery are newsworthy, the most sensational and incredulous seem to get the most media attention. Such is a recent story that appeared on Good Morning America just a few days ago. The woman who supposedly has had the most cosmetic surgeries in the world appeared on the popular morning TV show. With 52 plastic surgery procedures to her credit, 55-year-old Cindy Jackson from Ohio is the Guinness World Record holder for cosmetic surgery endeavors.
By her own admission she has had five facelifts, two sets of blepharoplasties, liposuction to her stomach and knees as well as regular sessions of Botox and injectable hand rejuvenation.She has spent over $100,000 in fees over the past 25 years. With such a vast personal experience, she now makes a living as a cosmetic surgery consultant and authored a book entitled “Cindy Jackson’s Image and Cosmetic Surgery Secrets”.
While many may view this story as just another plastic surgery addict heading down the Michael Jackson highway or another middle-aged women trying to cling to her youth and in desparate need of attention, there is another more useful and relevant side to this story. While she is the exception in terms of patients seeking and undergoing procedures, there is no denying that for 55 years old she looks exceptional and not a bit unnatural or at least not obviously surgical. This certainly separates her from Michael Jackson and many other celebrities who undoubtably have spent a great deal more and not faired as well.
Why has she turned out so much better than many others that have been brought to our attention by the media and the internet? Despite her many plastic surgeries, the vast majority of these have not been major surgeries (by my count less than a dozen) and have not been overdone. Most of her true surgeries were more ‘nips and tucks’ and many of her procedures were injectable in nature, although counted as if they were operations. In essence, she has used more minimally-invasive procedures that have been done on a regular basis. Like the regular maintenance on an expensive car, she has intervened at the first signs of aging and not waited until she required a major overhaul with the associated drastic change and potential surgical look afterwards.
She has stated that her goal was to look authentic and natural. She never wanted to look like she had anything done. This is an intelligent cosmetic approach and, while most are not going to go to this extreme, it is indicative of the contemporary approach to anti-aging. Intervene early and control the effects of aging by taking advantage of today’s injectable and less invasive plastic surgery procedures.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana