Deep Plane Facelift: Was It Worth $40,000? w/ Catt Sadler

Key wellness, self-care, and productivity takeaways (from the conversation)

1) Prep your body and life before surgery (huge emphasis)

• Don’t go into surgery exhausted. If you’re depleted, recovery can be harder. She described sleeping upright for weeks as miserable and stressed being “open-eyed, energized, well.”
• Clear your schedule in advance. She would redo this by clearing time the week before (and advises more time if possible).
• Plan for multiple appointments. Expect:
  • blood tests, physical clearance, and imaging (e.g., chest X-rays)
  • anesthesia/sedation logistics
  • extra paperwork/clearance steps over a couple of weeks

2) Sleep and positioning care during recovery

• Stay as upright as possible to manage swelling/drainage.
• Use lots of pillows to support the upright position (she described it as the main daily challenge).
• Avoid sun exposure and follow strict aftercare instructions when treated with more aggressive devices (see CO₂ laser section).

3) Build a recovery support system (don’t do it alone)

• Have a close person stay with you for at least the first 24–48 hours. She strongly felt she couldn’t have done it alone.
• She also suggested considering structured support (e.g., hotel/retreat options exist for those without help), though she didn’t personally use them.

4) Expect and manage common post-op challenges

• Sore throat/intubation irritation can happen (likely from the breathing tube).
• Limited jaw opening and eating changes can occur:
  • soups, smoothies, oatmeal; she couldn’t chew for about a week
• Nerve-related concerns are possible with deep procedures, and recovery may involve:
  • patience (nerves can take time to reconnect/heal)
• Emotional reality check: regret or fear can hit. She described panic moments and emotional difficulty—reassurance and trusted guidance matter.

5) CO₂ laser aftercare “rules” (when she discussed potentially doing it for her face)

• “Behave like a vampire”: strict sun avoidance
• Keep skin moist and don’t touch it
• Avoid leaving the house for weeks; she said don’t plan it in summer
• Healing supports she mentioned:
  • topical antibiotic-like cream (described as Neosporin)
  • prescribed peptide serum
• She estimated ~3 weeks to a month for downtime/scabbing/redness to settle and noted infections are a key concern, so strict hygiene matters.

6) Maintain results with skincare + lifestyle (not just procedures)

• A facelift isn’t a “stop skincare” solution. She stressed:
  • skincare discipline and avoiding over-aggressive actives during healing
  • sunscreen and hats for long-term outcomes (sunspots/pores persist regardless of facelift)
• She described a simplified skincare routine early on (gentle moisturizer, minimal strong actives) before resuming experimentation later.

7) Mindset + internal work matter for readiness and outcomes

• She connected readiness to an inner healing journey she completed in the years before surgery.
• Key belief: surgery can’t fix mental health—being “ready inside” improves the experience.
• She framed surgery as self-care/self-gift, not vanity alone, and supported integrating external changes with internal growth.

8) Self-advocacy for menopause/hormone issues (wellness beyond aesthetics)

• She encouraged women to push for testing and appropriate care instead of being dismissed.
• Menopause symptoms discussed included:
  • brain fog, memory issues, severe mood/cognitive changes
  • sleep disruption (waking around 2:30–3:00 AM)
• She highlighted that clinicians may misunderstand menopause and misdiagnose it (e.g., as depression/anxiety), and stressed advocating for hormone-related evaluation.

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Methodologies / frameworks mentioned

“Before surgery” checklist mindset (implied by her advice)

• Clear your calendar (ideally enough time off for swelling/bandage/stitches)
• Build appointments into your timeline (labs, imaging, physical clearance)
• Ensure you’re rested and emotionally prepared
• Arrange:
  • a trusted surgeon
  • a trusted support person at home post-op

Post-op routine principles she followed

• Upright positioning with pillows
• Drainage/bandage plan adhered to early
• Soft foods early (soups/smoothies/oatmeal)
• Pain meds as prescribed
• Follow-up visits for stitch removal and monitoring

Skin maintenance after facelift

• Use sunscreen + sun protection consistently
• Keep skincare regimen strict (facelift doesn’t remove sun damage)
• During early healing: simplify products and avoid strong exfoliants/actives
• Later: test and refine products based on how your skin responds

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Presenters / sources mentioned

• Amy Chang (host)
• Catt Sadler (guest; “Cat”)
• Dr. Steve Kim (facelift/blepharoplasty/neck lift surgeon in the story)
• Dr. Diaz (prescribed peptide serum for CO₂ laser healing support)
• Dr. Diamond (mentioned in relation to a medicine/serum + peptides)
• Dr. Colin (mentioned by name in the menopause/hypnosis/doula context)
• Nordstrom (Nordstrom makeup counter mentioned from earlier life)
• Oprah, Naomi Watts, Halle Berry (celebrity examples related to increased menopause openness)