Deborah, a healthy 70-year-old woman, led an active lifestyle and was always proud of her beauty. She maintained her skincare regimen and enjoyed getting facials, but as she approached her early 70s, she began to see what she refers to as a “fatty neck,” which she claims is inherited.

And she did not like it.

At 76, she felt financially secure enough to invest in a full facial rejuvenation to make her appearance reflect how youthful she felt on the inside. Deborah tells PEOPLE that all the yoga and Pilates that were keeping her body young and vibrant were surely helping her health, and she thinks she’s “probably going to live a while given [her] family history,” so she thought plastic surgery was necessary.

Deborah and her husband live in upstate New York, so visiting the Quatela Center for Cosmetic Surgery and double-board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vito C. Quatela made perfect sense.

“He’s world-renowned,” she states simply. “He’s good at what he does.”

Deborah and Dr. Quatela began with a virtual consultation in which he determined what she would like to see for herself. He conveys to PEOPLE that he comprehends her yearning for a slightly more youthful appearance, rather than attempting a complete transformation. He was confident he could assist her.

“Deborah underwent what we call a comprehensive facial rejuvenation,” he tells me. “To put it simply, we worked on numerous parts of her face and neck to get natural, harmonized results. This comprised a deep plane facelift and deep neck contouring to restore youthful curves, lower eyelid surgery to brighten her eyes, a brow lift to open up her upper face, and laser therapy around her lips to smooth small creases. We also contoured and restored volume where necessary with her own face fat—think of it as deliberately restoring the fullness that normally fades with age.”

He accomplished all of his goals with an operation that lasted seven to eight hours in June 2023. Dr. Quatela further stated that his objective was for his patient to appear natural rather than “pulled.”

“Each element was carefully chosen to work together, creating a refreshed appearance,” the designer says. “The goal was for Deborah to look like the best version of herself.”

The doctor reports that Deborah’s surgery and recuperation went just as planned. She remained on-site at the facility’s Carriage House for ten days, where she was supervised by staff, and Deborah claims that her presence surprised her husband. He was unprepared for her bruised and swollen appearance when he saw her the day after surgery.

“I stayed overnight there with a nurse just because I would rather not have to come home and have my husband take care of me that first night,” she tells me. “I had an appointment the next morning to have the drainage tubes removed, and my husband met me there. His first three words when he saw me were “OMG.” He claimed I looked like I’d been in a boxing bout for 12 rounds and lost each one since my face was bloated and bruised.”

Fortunately for Deborah, now 78, and her husband, the swelling and bruising subsided as predicted, and she maintained her upbeat manner, which Dr. Quatela describes as what “struck” him most about her as a patient. Despite her suffering and bruises, she remained cheerful, he adds.

“What is noteworthy about Deborah is her ability to remain cheerful throughout the recovery process. She saw this as an investment in herself and trusted the process. Many patients, like Deborah, tell us that their recuperation went more smoothly than they expected, thanks to our extensive support system,” he says.

Deborah said it took her a little over six months to feel healed enough to see the results she desired, and then she felt like she had a face that matched how fit the rest of her body was. And she has received nothing but accolades from others around her, including her spouse.

It was especially delightful when she and her husband returned to their winter home in Florida for the first time after her metamorphosis. She claims that some of her pals down there could see she “looked different but didn’t want to say anything,” so she ultimately revealed her facelift.

“I’ve only received praises from individuals. “They all say it looks so natural,” she exclaims.

In May, the Quatela Center for Cosmetic Surgery uploaded Deborah’s transformation on TikTok, where it received almost a million views, nearly 50,000 “likes,” and 2,000 shares, with many praising how “natural” her cosmetic surgery appears.

Deborah is embracing her social media fame and expresses gratitude for the positive responses she has received. She’s simply loving her new, revitalized appearance and keeping up with her Pilates while flaunting it.