A suburban Cincinnati mom of three has died after complications from a “mommy makeover” she had. Rachel Tussey, 47, just wanted to look and feel good.
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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about wanting one”mom makeover.”
It is a surgical procedure that attempts to return a woman’s body to its pre-baby shape and often includes a tummy tuck, breast lift or augmentation, and liposuction.
The process is not cheap. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons appreciates it costs at least $20,000. Recovery is extensive.
But the desire to look (and feel) like I did at 25 is strong – especially now, at a time when it seems everyone is taking a GLP-1 drug and looking thinner than ever. I wondered if the procedure might be worth the financial and emotional costs – if the benefits outweighed the risks.
In at least one recent case, they didn’t.
A Cincinnati mom just wanted to look and feel good
A TikTok the mother of three has died on March 17 following complications from an abdominoplasty he had February 25. Rachel Tussey, a 47-year-old resident of suburban Cincinnati, just wanted to look and feel good.
On March 3, Tussey’s husband posted on TikTok that while the initial surgery was successful, his wife fell and was left brain dead. He blamed excessive pain medication and staff incompetence.
“Someone dropped the ball and killed my wife,” he said, eventually making the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support.
The doctor who performed the operation he said he was “hurt”.
Tussey’s tragic death highlights the sobering reality of the pressure women – especially mums – are under, often from society, to look and feel young, fit and like they did before having babies.
It’s normal for moms to want to look and feel good
Tussey was excited about her surgeryposting regular updates and documenting her journey leading up to the tummy tuck.
abdominoplasty, according to the Mayo Clinicis an operation that removes extra skin and fat from the abdomen. The result is a firmer, smoother and toned abdomen.
On February 13, Tussey posted about it having lost 20 pounds and talked about the importance of healthy eating in her 40s. In an October post, Tussey described using pharmaceutical products to help her lose weight, saying“GLP-1s help me.” She often spoke of her age and empowerment in midlife − “Over 40 and fabulous,” TikTok page is read.
I was trim and athletic throughout high school, college and even after my first two babies were born. Over time, it became increasingly difficult to recover from having babies, especially the last two births. Things really changed when I hit 40. I don’t like to blame the metabolism on aging, but it definitely felt like it was harder to stay thin.
Unrealistic beauty standards hurt moms
There are also strong social pressures fueling this desire, often rooted in unrealistic beauty standards.
These expectations drive women to erase the visible signs of aging, whether through plastic surgery or less invasive treatments like Botox, all in pursuit of smooth skin, lifted features and a perpetually youthful appearance. The widespread influence of people like the Kardashian women, along with their openness about cosmetic surgery, highlights how normalized and aspirational these standards have become.
It doesn’t just affect famous people. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeryin 2022, the United States led the world in the number of procedures performed, with more than 7.4 million.
Although I haven’t had plastic surgery, I can relate to the longing for a more toned stomach. In fact, I don’t know a middle-aged mom who doesn’t talk about trying to stay slim, age well, and look great. Most women I know in their 40s and 50s are already putting tremendous pressure on themselves to look like they were in their 20s. I know quite a few people who have undergone cosmetic or surgical procedures to achieve this.
As Uzbek and GLP-1s have taken over Hollywood, it seems that everyone who once struggled to be thin has achieved it quickly and with minimal effort (although obviously, the side effects are brutal). I’ve even considered that route, but so far, I don’t feel like it’s right for me.
I don’t blame Tussey for doing a mom makeover. The fact that she died of complications from a procedure to look and feel good – whether she felt pressure from society or herself – is tragic.
Aging is a fact of life, but also a privilege. not everyone gets old. It’s not a license to be unhealthy, but pushing women to feel like they have to constantly change their bodies with procedures and surgeries just to have value is sad.
If only we as a society could learn to love and appreciate women as they age, not just for their outer beauty, but also for their character and inner beauty.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four children. Subscribe to her newsletter, The Right Trackand receive it in your inbox.
