Designer Marc Jacobs, 58, had a facelift a couple of weeks ago. We know about it because he posted photos of his bandaged face and post-op recovery, tagging his doctor and including the tags #f*ckgravity and #livelovelift. Jacobs has posted more photos since, and I continue to be amazed at how well he’s healed. As I mentioned in the last story, my mom was black and blue for a long time after her facelift. He just looks like he has some minor swelling, which is apparently due to this less invasive type of face lift his doctor invented. In a new interview with Vogue, Marc explained why he was so open about his surgery. He said he wants more transparency around cosmetic procedures. He also called out celebrities who lie about what they’ve had done, saying they set an unrealistic standard.
He doesn’t want to live with shame
I’m 58 years old. I don’t think I look bad for 58 years old. I didn’t feel like I had to do this, but I feel like all of these conversations around aging or around plastic surgery are just like any other conversations to me. The problem comes with the shame around them. And I don’t want to live my life with shame, you know? I find that the way I do that is by being open, transparent, and honest about things. Yes, I’m vain. I find there is no shame in being vain. I find there’s no shame in wanting attention. I find there’s no shame in getting dressed up and showing off a look. You know what I mean? Those are some of the things that give me pleasure. Self-care on every level, whether it’s spiritual self-care or meditation, or whether it’s getting my hair dyed and cut, or spending two hours at JINSoon getting my nails done…those are all part of wellness for me. External and internal wellness are really important. I say the same thing about all of it, which is that the better I feel about myself, the better I’m able to be to others.On why people have shame around plastic surgery
It all comes down to shame and these old paradigms. When you look at current male and female actors, and they’re expected to look a certain way in order for the audience to see them the way they want to see them, they have to uphold this myth that they are what you see on screen, that they’re not real. Who believes that someone will look the same for 30 years on screen? But there is this kind of standard and we’re very much a product of the world we live in. That’s the part that I find really strange. In a world, especially one where a younger generation is all about transparency, disclosure, and honesty, I don’t see why people have this shame around vanity or keeping up with a certain thing. You know, we all have filters on our phones. We all retouch and filter our pictures. That’s the world we live in. It’s like this thing we do because the audience wants it, but the audience wants it because we do it. So it’s this funny little circle. But the thing that I find disappointing or difficult about that circle is that you could just remove the shame, and be honest and straightforward. It seems so crazy when an actor or public figure denies that they’ve done something. And they say like, ‘Oh, it’s olive oil, I bathe in seltzer.’ It’s like, come on. Like all those things might be true, but they’re not why your neck is tight.On his choice to get work done
There’s no disgrace in being old or looking old. It’s just a choice to want to look younger. I don’t think there’s any disgrace in that. There will always be products or treatments, and there will always be some people who prefer to use those products or things as a means to achieve the aesthetics that they prefer. It’s like everything now…to start a dialogue is really what it’s about. It’s just funny how many people responded to my posts in that way of like, ‘Thank you for your transparency, your transparency is everything.’ I think you just need to start a conversation, and then maybe that will have a resounding echo that helps people feel less ashamed. I just don’t think there’s shame in being vain.
You know he’s calling out Jennifer Lopez with the olive oil comment. Maybe she hasn’t done Botox, although I doubt it. I think she’s fudging because she’s surely had other high end dermatological treatments while denying the more popular ones. Kate Beckinsale just claimed she hasn’t had any Botox or work done, which is hard to believe because her face looks completely different. I don’t think celebrities should have to disclose anything if they don’t want to. Just don’t lie about it! Say you’re not comfortable talking about it. It’s understandable that famous people want to shut down speculation but as Jacobs said it’s often obvious. Like Jacobs, Jane Fonda and Susan Sarandon have admitted to the work they’ve had done, which is rare.
It’s also impressive to hear someone say that there’s no shame in vanity or in wanting attention. I’m going to pay more attention to Jacobs now. I bet his face lift will look great once its settled too.
