For those who live their life on the small screen for the world to see, the scrutinizing microscope is always on, especially when it comes to looks. For former Real Housewives of Orange County star Jeana Keough her time in the limelight started way before the catty fights ensued on Bravo’s hit franchise. “I started modeling when I was 18 years old. I was a Playboy playmate when I was 20. I’ve done a lot of TV and movies so the show was a natural progression and not really that big of a deal,” she says. “I have always looked young for my age. But being in the spotlight you definitely always want to look your best.”
At age 62, Keough, naturally, went through menopause, which after she experienced it said made her feel like she, “Needed a little help.” The hormonal effects of menopause plus the remnant heartbreak of a three-year relationship coupled with extra skin that, “caused a weird rippling under her chin” from SmartLipo a few years earlier, was enough to make Keough want to fix everything that was bothering once and for all. And so she ended up in the office of Newport Beach, CA, plastic surgeon T.Y. Steven Ip, MD.
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Her neck was her main concern, and according to Keough, always has been. But during their meeting, Dr. Ip pointed out to her that there was also some excess skin that was starting to look crepey, jowls that were sagging and bags under her eyes. “After our first consultation and really getting to know Jeana and her desired results, I suggested she get a necklift, facelift, quad blepharoplasty (upper and lower eyelids) and a temporal brow lift. She was definitely open and receptive to my suggestions and really confident in my abilities, which is always nice to feel from a patient,” says Dr. Ip. Armed with a realistic idea of what could and could not be achieved with surgery, Keough says the conversation was, “Very honest. I knew I wouldn’t look like Demi Moore after. I thought I just wanted my neck done. So when he suggested a little lift for my eyelids, I wasn’t expecting that. But he showed me how it would open up my eyes and seeing that showed that he knew what he was doing.” To keep her looking natural and age appropriate, Dr. Ip avoided over pulling her so that she didn’t look too tight or ‘obviously done.’
Image/T.Y. Steven Ip, MD
Although this wasn’t Keough’s first foray into plastic surgery—she had a breast augmentation when she was younger—she says she was still nervous. “I’m such a control freak, so to be unconscious for five or six hours and not having control made me a bit scared.” Five hours later, a new version of herself emerged and she says her neck looked better immediately.
Image/T.Y. Steven Ip, MD
During the recovery, Keough says she didn’t have much pain. In fact, the pain was so minimal that she didn’t take any pain pills and resorted just to some Tylenol. “The only thing was I asked Dr. Ip was when he was going to take the tape off the back of my ears because it was bugging me. He told me there was no tape so I guess it was just numb.” Swelling, numbness and even bruising are typical of facial surgery and can take a few weeks to subside (numbness can last longer). “Jeana healed very nicely and we got to see a beautiful reveal about a month after. Her results will only continue to improve for up to a year,” says Dr. Ip.
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“I have been told full results for a facelift can take up to a year, as far as all the swelling going down and scars healing, but I think in a couple more months I will be close to fully recovered,” she says.
With a new neck, face and eyes in tow Dr, Ip explains that the best way for Keough to maintain her results for the long term is to stick to a healthy lifestyle and avoid yo-yo dieting as much as possible. Neglecting your skin and body and failing to stay at a steady weight can easily cause sagging skin to occur and basically undo all of the surgical results.
“Today I feel better about myself. I wanted to feel more confident and I do! Everybody keeps saying how great I look and asking me if I’ve lost weight or what I’m using on my skin. You wouldn’t look at me and think plastic surgery right away, which is what I wanted. I wanted a refresh!”
Image/T.Y. Steven Ip, MD
