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My mother, who's in her mid 60s, once told me: "I want to look less like a turkey and more like a spring chicken." That phrase popped into my head more than once as I spoke to Bette, 72. A recent plastic-surgery success story, Bette had a neck lift and proudly told me, "My turkey neck is gone!"

While one might want to ponder the frequency of poultry analogies amongst the older-woman set, the more important takeaway is this: There's no age cap when it comes to feeling better about yourself.

"As you get older, your skin starts to sag," explains Bette. "I had a 'turkey neck' and it was really, really bothering me. The skin was wrinkled and had a lot of laxity. It made me look older than I want to look. Dr. Heller did a neck lift on me and I couldn't be happier!"

"When working with lax skin that is significantly aged, you have to be very careful that the result doesn't look 'pulled' and that the internal structure is affected in a way that makes the end result very natural looking and flattering. Everything has to blend perfectly; you can't have a '30 year old neck' with a '70 year old face,'" says Dr. Justin Heller, owner of Heller Plastic Surgery in Valencia. "For Bette, I was very conservative with her skin, which is thinner due to age, and didn't just 'pull' the skin. I do what I refer to as an 'internal lift,' also lifting and tightening the supportive muscles and tissues beneath so that the look is very natural and flattering," explains the board-certified surgeon.
"I love it and am already planning my next surgery with Dr. Heller - an eyelid lift!," says Bette. "My husband did so much research before we chose a doctor and he was incredibly impressed with Dr. Heller's testimonials, reviews, before and after pictures and education. He went to very prestigious schools and has better reviews than anyone. We still would have met with other doctors, but once I sat down with Dr. Heller I was just so comfortable and at ease, I knew I wanted to work with him. He is amazing! His staff is, too. It always feels like you are talking to a friend."

"If there's anyone my age, or any age, thinking of plastic surgery - I say, 'Do it!' Do it for yourself. This is one of the best things I've ever done. We focus on taking care of everyone else - kids, grandkids. Do something for you! This used to really bother me and now I feel more confident and my makeup goes on so much better. My recovery was fast, my husband loves the results, too, and my daughter was so impressed with it all, she scheduled a breast augmentation with Dr. Heller," shares Bette.
Heller Plastic Surgery is located in the Atrium Building next to City Hall in Valencia. The comfortable, well-appointed office is now accepting patients and scheduling complimentary consultations. 661-233-4949

Dr. Heller's Education and Experiences
American Board of Plastic Surgery Board Certification
MOHS Fellowship
University of California Irvine Orthopaedic Hand & Microsurgery Fellowship
University of Texas Southwestern Plastic Surgery Residency with specialization in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
UCLA Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Craniofacial Research Fellowship
Yale University School of Medicine