Los Angeles mother Amy Kaplan, 63, has opened up about her decision to undergo a facelift, revealing the emotional and physical journey behind the cosmetic procedure. Known for sharing her life online alongside her twin daughters and influencers Allie Kaplan Rutstein and Lexi Kaplan Giudic, Kaplan says her motivation stemmed from wanting her appearance to match the energy and vibrancy she still feels inside.
“What motivated me to get a facelift was that I still feel like I’m 30 inside,” Kaplan told PEOPLE. “I have the same energy, the same vibrancy, but when I looked in the mirror, it just didn’t match how I felt inside.”
Kaplan has long prioritized her health, working out for two hours daily, eating a balanced diet, and staying active since turning 40. “I can still wear a bikini and feel great,” she says. “But when you start catching yourself pulling your face up in the mirror thinking, ‘Okay this looks better,’ that’s when you know it might be time.”
Her facelift included a unique recovery approach. Kaplan stayed at the five-star Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, just steps from the surgical center, as part of her doctor’s protocol. “It’s actually part of the surgery and recovery process with Dr. Patrick Davis,” she explained. “He requires a hotel stay right next to the surgical center for the first night with a nurse so you are not recovering alone, and you are close by for a visit the next morning.”
While the setting was luxurious, Kaplan emphasizes that recovery was challenging. “Recovery process is slow. You take two steps forward one day, the next day maybe one step back. The swelling shifts and moves. The lymph nodes have to drain. There’s liquid that moves every day, so it’s just not a linear healing process,” she said.
The healing period also brought unexpected cravings and the need for extra rest. “I require a lot more sleep, and I require a lot more calories. I’m finding I’m eating a lot more carbs and fatty foods. My body is craving that to heal,” Kaplan shared.
Throughout the process, Kaplan has been supported by her twin daughters, who have documented the journey on Instagram and TikTok. “We’re all super close, so it’s just been really exciting to see her improving and how happy she is with the results,” Allie said.
Lexi added that having her mother stay with her and her husband during recovery created opportunities for bonding. “Even though she’s recovering, we’ve been cooking together most nights and going food shopping together,” she said.
The sisters decided to share the full experience online, aiming to show the reality of cosmetic surgery beyond the typical before-and-after images. “We want to give people a more honest look at what it’s actually like,” Lexi said. “Usually you only see the final results. You don’t really see what the patient goes through to get there.”
Memorable moments included escorting Kaplan to the Peninsula in a Rolls-Royce house car, and seeing her immediately post-surgery. “I’ve never seen her like that, and so it was definitely shocking and a little scary,” Lexi said. Even in those moments, Kaplan kept her sense of humor, “She was cracking jokes. She was still obviously herself,” Lexi added.
The family emphasizes that sharing their experience is not an endorsement of cosmetic procedures. “This isn’t to say that we’re promoting plastic surgery. That’s not the point at all,” the sisters said. Instead, they hope to normalize candid conversations about both the challenges and joys of such experiences. “At the end of the day, everyone should do what makes them feel happy and confident,” they added. “Having the support of your friends, your family and even our TikTok community through all of it really means everything.”
