The Fauxdashians: Mommy Makeovers, the Berlet Belly Button and Botox

Kerry: Hello, welcome to season two of Once Upon a Surgery. I’m the host Kerry Berlet, wife of world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Berlet. Today we have a very exciting show. You may recognize them. We have the cousins of the Kardashians.

Kerry: I’m just kidding. But really like you guys, there is something that kind of reminds me of the Kardashians. And you guys and they’re not sisters,

No, no, just friends. And my bank account looks nothing like the Kardashians.

Kerry: Right. Wouldn’t that be nice, right? I know. But so and I ran into you guys at our favorite restaurant LuNello’s and I it was like again, it was like so I love meeting beautiful women who say that they’re huge fans of Dr. Berlet and it doesn’t like it’s not this look of like, you know, the plastic.

Kerry: It’s just another pretty woman and like I could say you guys I think the dark hair you look alike, but it’s not because you’re the cookie cutter, you know, like from the same plastic surgeon or anything, right?

No, not at all.

No, not at all. Like there’s some areas

Don’t tell our secrets.

Kerry: Right. But there’s some areas of the country where I really I’m like everybody looks like cuz they all have like are over done in the same way. Like it’s like it must be the same person, you know.

No, we always looked similar and you know.

Kerry: Right, right. And I so and let’s get into So who went to him first?

Adriana: So Giovanna actually started the Dr. Berlet journey for us.

Kerry: Okay, right, right. And how long ago?

Giovanna: My sister used him like years ago. Okay. In 2010. Oh, wow. And so I went to Dr. Berlet in 2016, 10 years ago. Wow.

Giovanna: So yeah, it was 10 years ago April. Okay.

Adriana: Yeah. So she recommended him to me. Okay. So then I went in. The results were great.

Giovanna: She was ready. Yeah, but I was like “You have to go to him.” Cuz she’s like, “I don’t know who to choose. I’m you know, meeting a couple surgeons.” And I was like, “You have to go to Dr. Berlet.” I said, “He’s like, you know, makes you feel so comfortable.” I said, “Go there.

Giovanna: It’s like family. The office is like family.” And we really are. Now we go there and we’re like, “Hey everybody.” Yeah, it is like a going into visiting your family. Yeah.

Giovanna: So, I was like, “Before you make a decision, just go visit Dr. Berlet.”

Adriana: Yeah. And then the first time I met him, I stopped interviewing anybody.

Kerry: You booked him. Really?

Adriana: Yeah. And then it’s just Okay.

Never looked back.

Kerry: And what was the What was the first thing you did? Ooh, and you look young. Like it could have been 10 years ago.

Giovanna: Yeah, it was 10 years ago. Yes, I’m 44. Oh, wow.

Had it, yeah. Yeah, you guys look like you’re in like your 30s.

Oh, I wish.

Kerry: Oh, yeah. But so, and what was the first thing you did?

Giovanna: So, I had my first time I had my tummy tuck. He’s very He’s not like a surgeon that pushes surgery. He says He likes natural, which I like. That’s exactly what I want. I didn’t want to look overdone. I didn’t want to look too tight. I didn’t want to look somewhere I wanted it to be like, “Did she have her stomach done? Did she have surgery?” I like that.

Giovanna: Where you really can’t tell. You have to ask. I love that. Okay.

Giovanna: So, when I went, I had a tummy tuck and a breast lift first. Cuz I had lost so much weight. So, I lost 100 lb and then I had so much stomach like flab. And it was just so uncomfortable. And he’s like, “You know, once you have this tummy tuck, he’s like, you are going to feel so much better.” And I did. I was so worried about the belly button cuz they always look like little slits.

Kerry: That’s what everybody says.

Giovanna: So, Dr. Berlet’s belly buttons are truly a work of art.

Kerry: Really?

Giovanna: Truly a work of art. Like from the minute like even the day I got out of surgery, the first thing I did was

Adriana: And that was the first thing she showed me.

Giovanna: I know. I don’t know if you guys remember the conversation, but she’s like, “Look at my belly button.” And I was like, “Yeah, it’s perfect.” Because every time I see somebody’s surgery, even like online or these doctors that are I’m to be like have so many followers, I’m like, Oh my god, that belly button is so overstretched and it looks like a slit. Wow. So, I was like, I don’t want that. So, he did that.

Giovanna: He did the tummy tuck, did the breast lift, and I wanted breast implants right away, and he said no.

Kerry: Really?

Giovanna: “No.” He’s like, “Let’s wait 6 months. He’s like, see how they, you know, they settle, and then if you want it after that, then, you know, we’ll do that.” So.

Giovanna: Okay. That’s exactly what we did.

Kerry: Yeah. Nice. So, it’s like was it like a mommy makeover thing?

Giovanna: Yes, it was actually. I felt like it was a weight loss mommy makeover. So, I got Yeah, I got a tummy tuck. I didn’t get any lipo or anything. I got a tummy tuck, I got my breast lift, and then I got breast implants. Okay.

Giovanna: Small breast implants, nothing like crazy. It wasn’t high profile, it’s just moderate. So, it was perfect.

Adriana: Yeah. Yeah. So, I did those I started also with the mommy makeover.

Kerry: Okay.

Adriana: so, I had back-to-back C-sections. So, no matter what I did, I always looked

Kerry: Right.

Adriana: Still pregnant. So, he fixed that. I did the tummy tuck, a breast reduction, and a lift.

Adriana: Right. After that, I did have a little bit of dog ears. So,

Kerry: And what’s a dog ear?

Adriana: At the incision, it almost kind of like pinches out.

Kerry: Okay.

Adriana: And once the swelling goes down, sometimes it’s it’s smooths. It was still just a little bit protruding, so we did lipo to smooth out.

Kerry: Okay.

Adriana: And then what did I do after that? Oh my god, it’s a list.

Adriana: I did that. and then eventually I did my nose. Okay.

Adriana: And the one thing that always bothered me was I’m I was very hooded eyelids. Okay. And I was like, I need to get it done. I need to get it done. And like Giovanna said, he’s not one to push just to make the money. Like, he’s not like that. eventually he was like, “It’s time.” Okay.

Adriana: Got my eyes done. I did do a chin lipo at one point.

Kerry: Okay. And you’re also in the in your 40s?

Adriana: yeah, I’m 41.

Kerry: Oh, wow. Okay, yeah. I know, but your eyes look amazing.

Adriana: Yeah, no, they look great. It’s huge difference. I can actually wear makeup now, and it’s not getting all over my eyelids, and you know, I don’t look like I’m tired all the time. I do still look like I’m mad all the time, but that’s just That’s just me. Give her resting Yeah, I unfortunately, I swear I’m really nice. She’s like, “I’m really happy.” And I’m like, she’s like, “You don’t look happy.” I’m I’m always very happy.

Adriana: But no, it definitely I feel like I just look

It just looks better.

Kerry: It brightens your eyes. It’s a really good so. And then did And so And you have kids?

I do. I have three.

Kerry: Okay. And so what were Like when you do all these I mean cuz I know my kids are always like, “What did you do?”

Oh, yeah. What are we having now? Yeah, there was a point where they were like, “Okay, mommy looks crazy.” And I would explain to them They were a lot younger. Now they’re like, “I remember that time where you looked like

Wow.” but obviously it’s been so good for so long. I don’t really have anything else I need to do. I feel like he touched on it every thing that I was insecure about, and now I’m I’m good. I’m happy. Like I don’t feel like Well, no. I do every time I see him, I’m like, “When do I need a facelift?” And then he’ll tell us when.

Kerry: Yeah, I know. Yeah. But that is I’m getting at that point.

Kerry: It’s It’s my birthday tomorrow. And I’m like, I’m going to be 51.

And then 51, see? He keeps you looking so young.

Kerry: Yeah. Yeah. But still there’s like I think And then people are like, “What are you going to lift?” But I’m like, “See if I don’t smile, you can see.” We all We all have

That’s crazy. I say the same thing. I’m like, “Oh my god, I have jowls. I feel like I have jowls.” But I mean

Kerry: Right. But he And he was like It wasn’t until really this year where I was like, “Is it time?

Kerry: Is it time?” And then it’s like, “Okay, we could actually.” And when you do it a little younger, then your skin’s more elastic, I guess. So that it works better.

So you want to do the You don’t want to do like the full lift, you just want to do like the mini one that they’re doing now? Is that it?

Kerry: Well, I don’t know. I guess we’ll see what he does. But that and then I’m going to have fat put in my ears cuz my earring hole way

Yeah, mine is like that, but I think it’s from all the years of the kids when they were little pulling on it.

Kerry: Oh, really?

Kerry: Yeah. No, I had this setting for earrings and the like the jeweler was like, “Oh, we had this great idea. It’s a champagne glass setting, so it’ll sit right in your ear.” Well, what did it do? It stretched out my earring hole, so I did it. Oh, yeah. So, now he did pierce it up, but I’m like, I’m just I think you can put fat in and

Yeah, right.

Kerry: You learn something new every I know. There’s always There’s always the next thing.

Kerry: But, now and so how So, you guys do your families or they like Well, I guess your sister was the first one to go, right?

Giovanna: Was the first one, yeah. So, my mom and my sister found him in like 2009. Okay. And then she got her breast lift done in 2010 and actually we actually well, not we, but she actually left a deposit from a surgeon in Ramsey that she couldn’t get back, but she loved she loved Dr. Berlet that much and she’s like, “We’re willing to lose that deposit and just go to Dr. Berlet.”

Kerry: Really?

Giovanna: Because he’s just so, you know, makes you feel comfortable, makes you feel like, “No, this is good. This is what we’re going to do.” You know, he wasn’t pushy, not like aggressive. You know, when actually say we work in sales, so A lot of the surgeons are like salesmen. Right.

Giovanna: And they push it and he wasn’t like that. Right. So, that’s honestly like was refreshing. Yeah.

Adriana: Right? So, Another surgeon that I had visited before meeting Dr. Berlet, I believe he was somewhere in Fort Lee. He was like, “We’ll do everything while you’re under. We’re going to do breast, tummy tuck, we’ll do lipo, we’ll do a BBL, we’ll do it all at once.” It sounds great. Right.

Adriana: You really think about it, that’s so dangerous. Yeah.

Adriana: And when I met Dr. Berlet, it was like, “Wow, like why am I trying to do all these things in one and put my health at risk?” Right. So, yeah, I didn’t even look back. You know. Definitely feel safer with Dr. Berlet.

Kerry: And but you did say he will say any says no to filler sometimes.

Oh, yes. No to filler. No to fillers. Dr. Berlet is against which I which I find refreshing as well, because he’s like, “No, no, I don’t believe in them.” You know, he’s always like, “You

Sticks

With his aesthetic that he likes. He likes he feels like your own body absorbs your own, you know, fat better. So, if you’re going to do anything, it has to be from your body. So, which I’m, you know, I agree with. Yeah.

But, I mean, I have to tell you, it’s Dr. Berlet. I’m not going to gatekeep. Dr. Berlet does the best Botox. Oh, he does. I will not go to anybody else for Botox. Absolutely not. He does the best Botox. Everybody that I would like, “Oh, I just got Botox.” I was like, “Oh, how long ago?” They’re like, “Oh, a couple weeks ago.” And they’re like, “Oh my goodness.

Like, these lines.” Right. I’m always like, you know, you get what you pay for. You really do. Like, yes, his price, you know, on it is a little more expensive than everybody else, but you know what? That’s your face, and I don’t care. I have to tell you. Yeah. Chef’s kiss. I would never Chef’s kiss on the Botox.

Kerry: Know there’s some people that go to like the Groupon.

Yeah. I can’t imagine that. I cringe. It scares me. Yeah, cuz it is like, I mean, it’s like an art, really.

Yeah, it is an art. And he says, he’s like, you know, he’s like, you have to know the proper placement. He lays you down, he numbs you up, and he, you know. Yeah. Yeah, and he has you move your face Yeah. He just in general, I don’t think people realize that he was an architect as well.

Kerry: Right. Yeah. So, right there, just the shapes, the everything. How do you trust anybody else? I mean, really. I mean, it’s it’s also rare. Yeah. Not all plastic sur- like, a lot of plastic surgeons have someone else do the Botox, right?

Right.

Never I would never go to someone else that and she’s like, “Oh, the nurse is going to do it for me.” I was like, “I’m leaving.”

Kerry: That doesn’t happen with him. He sees everybody. Yeah. You know, that’s nice. It’s a personal touch. and so, when you So, you’ve done a lot. Do you think that like, at your reunion, did you like, were Do you ever go to a school reunion?

I love going to them. I know. It’s so funny. I have fun. I love it. Everyone’s like, “What?” I know I look good now.

I don’t mind.

Kerry: Right. And is anyone like, wait, what are you Do they ask?

you know what? It’s the thing that Giovanna was saying, where it’s so natural that it’s like she looks so good, what’s her secret?

Yeah, like what’s her skin care Well, we’re not the types to be like, “Oh, I’m It’s just I woke up like this.” No, it’s not like that. Yeah, they ask everybody. If they ask, you know, absolutely I’ll share. I’m not like, “Oh, I’m not going to tell like I” It’s so funny, when we started working, I’m a broker at, you know, Coldwell Banker, and when I was working there, I went in for Botox, and as I’m leaving, somebody from the office is walking in, and I was like, “Oh my god, what are you doing here?” She’s like, “I’m seeing Dr. Berlet. He did my nose.” I was like, “Oh my god, I had no idea.” I know, like you don’t realize cuz, you know, you really don’t talk about it.

Like, “Oh yeah, so you know, this is my surgeon.” Yeah. You know, worked on me. Yeah. But he’s very trusted to know he knows like he’s trusted, you know, so many people.

Kerry: Yeah, I know. I mean, he’s over 30 years, and so it’s like there just keeps on being like another person. Well, it turns out he did my niece’s nose, he did this. It’s just like crazy connections.

You know what? I have to say word of mouth and referral is so big, because he’s really not, you know, he doesn’t put all his work on social media.

Right. He’s not that type of doctor. However, if you saw his before and afters, like even looking at mine, I’m like, “Wow, like my scars are minimal.” Whatever treatment they gave me for the scar, and you know, I was obviously I kept up on it, but whatever scar treatment Oh, yeah. and you know, keeping up with it, I you can’t see my You literally can’t see my scars. She heals really good with the scarring.

my I don’t heal as well. -huh. But your scars are really good. No, they’re really good. They’re really good. They’re very They’re They’re bikini They’re bikini level. Yeah. Oh, you can’t see that. And mine is hip-to-hip, but it’s so like light pink, like you can’t even tell. Yeah. No, mine has gotten better, but her skin definitely heals just better in general.

It was still great, I mean. Yeah. I think it was pretty good. Yeah, no, you look beautiful. Thank you.

This is literally how we talk to each other.

Kerry: Right. That’s why people think you’re sisters. So funny. Wait, how long have you known each other?

Oh, 10 years? No, yeah, 11 years. 10, 11 years. Well, literally a year before you got your surgery. So, you got it about the same time. So, our kids went to pre-K together. So, our kids introduced us. They allowed us to be friends because we Our kids call everybody by their first and last name when they’re babies.

And they’re like, “We want to go by, you know, Adriana De Santis’ house.” And I’m like, “I don’t know your mom.” And then There’s so many connections between us.

Yeah, like her best friend is my best friend when we were Her best friend when she was growing up is my best friend now. And it’s just like, you know, everything came together.

Kerry: And wait, do you work together?

Now we do. Now we do.

Kerry: Oh, that’s awesome.

Yeah, she’s my boss now.

Kerry: Really?

Yeah. I don’t know if I’d really call that I’m really a boss, but

Kerry: I was best friends with my boss, too. I mean, she was actually my boss, but you just, you know, you get close.

Yeah, well, I mean, everybody’s like, “Oh, oh, they met in real estate.” No, we were friends way before and our kids are friends. So, it’s actually great. We go on vacation together. We’re like sisters.

Kerry: Oh, that’s great, yeah. Now, have your husbands done anything with Dr. Berlet?

No, my husband wouldn’t even know what Dr. Berlet looked like if he went to see him. He’d be like, “Who’s that?” They don’t do a thing. No.

Kerry: All right. But there’s no shame in that. I think that No, there is a I mean, I think I think he I think they may need a little need a little zhuzh, right? Little Botox.

You know.

Kerry: Cuz it was like, well, there was the one woman where I mean, you’re still young, but she was like, “Now, you know, I’m looking so young. Now, my husband, you look so old compared to me.”

I’d rather that than the other way around. Not a problem. I don’t like it when the scale is the other way.

Kerry: Right, yes. Right. The better looking one. Right. Exactly. And are they Are the husbands supportive though? Cuz sometimes

Oh, yeah, oh, very much, yeah. Right. It’s just maintenance. Absolutely. At the end of the day, whatever makes us happier, Yeah, happy wife, happy life. Yeah, happy wife, happy life. Absolutely.

Kerry: I know. And do you think do have you gotten anyone like judging you like any like the

I mean if they judge us and that’s worth it.

Yeah.

Kerry: Right, right, right. But I have to say that even yeah, even when we go away a lot together I don’t think you would get judged because like you look so good, right?

He’s done it natural. So you can tell I have like breasts and place it literally like you know like they just look natural.

Kerry: They do. Yeah, they You know, so yeah, they’re like tear like they don’t look like you had it’s not like what you said, you’re not overly done. So you don’t have that look. Right. Yeah, so I know. And I feel like but the people are like oh, age naturally. But you’re like well, okay. So then okay, but I’ve been like don’t go to the gym cuz like okay, let’s just look at the natural blob you would be.

True. Right? I mean that’s I think that everything requires maintenance. Like as we get older, there’s things that happen. Like listen, at the end of the day like you gain weight, you lose weight, you have babies. It’s like think of that like a balloon, right? Blow the balloon constantly in and out, in and out, in and out. You know, like you blow it in, it gets like sloppy looking until there’s air pumped into it, right?

Yes, working out is important. Eating healthy is important. But sometimes you just need Dr. Berlet. Right, there’s just sorry. Yes. I like that. There’s no gatekeeping. Somebody has to be like Dr. Berlet. Oh yeah, for sure. For sure. That’s his biggest source is like word of mouth. Yeah, it’s like so Listen, when women are happy when women are happy with their results, they tell everybody.

Like he just actually did one of my friends that I worked I was a teacher with. So he just did, you know, her 4 months ago. So and she was like well, she’s like super happy, love the results, you know. Yeah. So he’s done a bunch of my friends. Perfect. My cousins, you know, their eyes.

Giovanna: My mom actually had a facelift. Mom didn’t even question it, writes to Dr. Berlet. She looks amazing. So you know, I love it. She just looks refreshed, right? She doesn’t look tired.

It. Everyone was like, “She looks so good, but I don’t know like what did she do different?” And I’m like, She doesn’t have You know when you I don’t want to tell her secret. I’m telling all of you her secret, but

Now obviously, you know, she says it, but yeah, no, she just looks You know when you see somebody with like the tight face that just looks waxy? Yeah, yeah. That’s what I was I’m always afraid when I see people and I’m like, “Oh my god.” But no, your mom’s results came out good. I told you. I was like, “Oh my god, she looks amazing.” That’s why I’m like when it’s my turn Right.

Kerry: I don’t want to look at it like that, too. Right. I yeah, and did she do the SMAS in her lips, too? I don’t know. Yeah, yeah, you probably don’t even know. Once I have to do mine, then I’ll know all the terminology.

Kerry: Right. You guys are still You still have a while. Like another like probably 10, 15 years.

I don’t got enough so. 10, 15 years. We’ll talk in at least five. Yeah, I’m like that’s a little too far away. We’re going to age gracefully.

Kerry: So. So, why don’t we get Dr. Berlet in to talk about the years of you two and what kind of, you know, patients you were?

I’d love to hear it.

Kerry: All right, so we brought in Dr. Berlet to my Once Upon a Surgery Birthday Party. so, we have these two lovely ladies who have been your patients for years. Do you feel like they’re basically family now?

Dr. Berlet: They totally are.

Giovanna: We definitely feel that way. How long has it been? It’s been over 15 Well, yeah, because my sister Well, my sister went to you in 2010. So, it’s been over 15 years. Yeah. So, he’s been My whole family knows him. My cousins, my sister, my mom. So, we are family.

Kerry: Yeah, that’s crazy. And again, we were saying I’m sure they’re like it’s all word of mouth, but I’m sure they’re the after photos are going to be a challenge cuz back in the day, you know, I don’t even know.

You never took the after You never took the after photos.

Dr. Berlet: I probably did. We Well, you definitely took them.

Kerry: Cuz I’m like she has this She’s raved about her belly button. you can give us a current belly button.

Giovanna: I’ll definitely have pictures and I mean you just took pictures recently cuz I was like you never really took the after picture after I was after my swelling went down. You’re like let’s go take pictures. Oh, we did. Yeah. Yeah. All right, good. So, hopefully then that will be up and here’s the other He’s interested in the belly button. Mine was perfect.

Kerry: But so we I just had the question because so she had her kids are like the same age as mine and I’m like much older than her. So, she had a mommy makeover at age you said 30 31 and so I’m just curious is there a difference if you have kids later in terms of like getting a mommy makeover versus younger?

Dr. Berlet: My guess is yes. However, you know, everybody’s so different. You know, I thought I had women who’ve had triplets and literally are their bellies cut after that, you know, without a tummy tuck.

Dr. Berlet: And then you’ve got others who have one child and they’ve been blown out and their whole belly looks like a raisin. So, you never know.

That was me.

Yeah, there you go. After twins my belly was like a raisin. Yeah, the droopy raisin. I have a lot of twin mothers up there. Yeah. And I’m a twin, of course. I know. That’s why I love twins. There you go. Right. Surgeon and surgeon. Mom’s a great And so and do you like in terms of like when you look at a patient like do you know exactly what you like what work you’ve done on the patient when you see them?

Dr. Berlet: no.

Kerry: Cuz you’re that good, right? That’s a sign that you’re good. Right? What did what did we do again? Right? Can we go through that again? Right? Love it. So, like and cuz I guess that’s the goal, right? Is to not be able to tell. I mean we see each other regularly cuz you just come in for Botox.

Botox, yeah. That’s what I said. I said I’m not going to get a key.

Dr. Berlet does the best Botox. Right. So. Yeah. Yeah, he sees Yeah, he sees us every couple months. Like no, I go every at least once every 5 months I’m there. Yeah.

Dr. Berlet: Yeah. It’s always great to see you guys. And then it’s fun to see you out. And not only that, but I love it also.

Oh, yeah, seeing you out? I love it. That was a nice surprise. Yes. I love it there. It’s so great.

We love it there.

Kerry: Yeah. So, we talked about how Adriana had gone to a surgeon who was had told her he was going to do everything at once. Like tummy tuck, liposuction, BBL, like everything. Mhm. And you that’s not how you operate, right? So, hers was more a step-by-step. And so, why is wouldn’t you want to do that all at once?

Dr. Berlet: Yeah, it’s all about safety, you know, especially with a tummy tuck.

Dr. Berlet: You know, I your biggest comp- potential complication is are clots in your legs that can break free and go to your lungs. And that could be a very unpleasant outcome. So, I anticoagulate everybody. So, if you’re going to thin their blood, you know, and then the longer you’re on the table, the higher the risk those risks are. So, it’s not worth it. Just not worth it.

Dr. Berlet: And if you stage things, you can improve the other things that you’ve done as well. You just tweak them a little bit, just

Kerry: Cuz even as she said with like her scar, the dog ear you called it or something, right?

Dr. Berlet: Yeah, like a minor dog ear or whatever it is, but then you stay and do a liposuction, we’ll trim that up a little bit, get this a little bit better. Yeah. And you And you wanted some fat in your tush.

Dr. Berlet: Yeah. So, we put very modest amounts in there. It’s very little bit.

You’re like Dr. Evil right now.

Low fell.

Kerry: So funny. Yeah. So, basically, it’s really important to go to the follow-ups, right? Because the result, you know, it’s just sometimes you might need a minor tweak. And so, that’s the big thing. All right.

Dr. Berlet: Yeah. If you’re doing the initial surgery, and sometimes you have to tend the garden a little bit. Mhm. Make sure all the weeds are up.

I was perfect.

There was nothing needed. No, I’m joking.

Dr. Berlet: Nothing further needed. Right. Yeah, but it’s you know, it’s there’s always an opportunity. Mhm. You know, if I could do every surgery twice, I would, probably.

Dr. Berlet: Yeah, you don’t know how you’re going to heal, the way you’re going to heal. Thank you, Kim. You know, the scars are permanent. You have the blood supply initially, and if you could go back later, you can even improve those. So, everything can get improved if you are willing to give a little tweak.

And you know what, Dr. Berlet makes you feel really at ease, because remember with the tummy tuck?

I was calling you all the time. I was like, was it painful? She I said, Dr. Berlet makes it seem like it’s nothing. He’s She’s like, oh girl, it’s painful. And I was like, I’d rather talk to Dr. Berlet. He eases me. He’s like, oh girl, it’s painful. Mhm.

Kerry: So, do you remember? So, after it, cuz it’s like basically 2 weeks you can’t drive, right?

Well, 2 weeks you can’t drive, but also he was saying right away, he’s like, stand up straight. Yeah. Don’t walk like stand up straight.

Over.

Because I saw my other friend got it done with somebody else, and she was like hunched over like I think she got a walker. What? Really? So, his whole thing was, stand up straight. And I remember like when the nurses called afterwards to see how I was doing, I said, I know he said stand up straight, but I really feel like I’m going to tear something.

I swear my stitches are going to come apart. She goes, no, we get that all the time. It’s not going to It’s not going to come apart.

Kerry: It’s a scary feeling. Oh, yeah. Right. Cuz you repair all the muscles.

Dr. Berlet: Well, we repair the muscles. We pull the skin pretty tight, but if you’re bent over even a few degrees, disaster for your back.

Yeah, that’s what he said. He’s like He’s like, stand up straight immediately.

Dr. Berlet: Not immediately, but then you have to work your way up. It takes about a week to get up.

Oh, yeah. I felt like I was like sit trying to stand up straight like 3 days after. Like, I’m going to try.

Kerry: But And what And the pain, how like do you remember the pain?

Oh, it was like 10.

Kerry: Really?

10. But I have to say like after like the first 5 days, I feel like, you know, it was moderate afterwards, but the first I guess because you feel like, “Oh, this is going to be painful.” but you don’t really understand like because you don’t realize how much you do Woo!

You don’t realize how much you do with your stomach. Coughing, you know, like even sitting up.

Sneezing.

Sneezing, yeah. So, you really do use your stomach muscles for a lot and I was like, “Oh my god.” But, it was well worth it. I’d do it I would do it every, you know, over again. I do feel like you have to be mentally ready for any type of cosmetic surgery cuz if you’re not like there, it’s it’s a lot to see your body like the recovery.

Afterwards and it’s worth it, but you have to be like, “I wanted this. I’m here for it. I’m going to get through it.”

It’s cold sweat. What was it? Swell hell number? Oh, I was so swollen. Yeah, but once it starts to heal and everything comes together and obviously your follow-ups with Dr. Berlet are always reassuring. Once it’s done, it’s like, “That was so worth it.” But, there was a few points where you just look in the mirror and you just want to cry cuz you’re like, “What did I do?” And then afterwards you’re like, “What?

This was worth every minute of it.” But, yeah, you have to You have to really want it because it is a lot.

Yeah, yeah. It is a lot. Right, but worth it.

Dr. Berlet: Yeah, the first 3 months you’re you’re a little bloated. Every time you eat a like a pretzel, you’re like, “Well, Yeah. Yeah.

And you feel like, “Oh my god, what did I do?” You may have

Felt that. I definitely felt that. And going to the bathroom afterwards and like, “Oh god.” But, after I was like, “I can’t imagine pushing.”

Dr. Berlet: But, after a year and then you get the muscle starting you tend to get cut from the side and the obliques start catching in. You’re like, “How is this even possible?” It’s crazy.

Yeah. It is crazy. Your body is just crazy, yeah, the way that it

Dr. Berlet: Pretty dramatic.

Kerry: Now, and she’s only 41 and you’ve done her upper lids and they look amazing. But, what’s the normal age? Like, does it vary?

Dr. Berlet: Well, yeah, it does vary. I mean, there’s some people who hereditarily have like heavier hooding or significant bags. It depends everybody’s a little different, you know, so She was pushing for it.

Dr. Berlet: I’m like, “All right, we can do it.”

Kerry: Yeah. Look how beautiful you are.

Adriana: For it for a while, and then And then you were like, “It’s time. We can do it now.” And it was it was there, but then eventually it started to do its thing.

Adriana: Me on it. Yeah. I mean, I was like, “I had to do it. I had to do it.” I had to do it.

Giovanna: Yeah. I mean, I’m going to be due soon. But I mean, I know who I know who I’d go to.

Yeah. Well, now every time I see him, I’m like, “Am I ready for the facelift yet?” I’m waiting for it to be like, “It’s time.”

Dr. Berlet: Well, you bought yourself a lot of time when you had that neck suction, right? Yeah. So, that I mean, you know, it looks great.

Dr. Berlet: You let me know. I’m not in any rush.

I’m not in any But have you done the fat graft? Because I mean, you don’t need that cuz see, different people need different things cuz you don’t yeah, you don’t really naturally have like, right? See, I fall flat. in the office? No. Oh, no. I mean, I flinch with like a little needle. Oh, that’s right. That’s why we didn’t do it in the office.

That’s right. She’s not a big fan of needles. But I’m glad that we didn’t because before that I had gotten filler in my nose because they told me that not you. Right. Somebody else. They said that it Oh, we can make it look a little bit more narrow, like it’ll be great. It did not. And then I’m glad we did it, you know, at the center because you had to remove all of that filler that was in my nose.

Dr. Berlet: Oh, yeah, I do remember that.

Kerry: Weird like the filler stays that long. Like so, it just never goes away?

Dr. Berlet: Well, they have that you know, the non-surgical rhinoplasty and it’ll stay there.

Right. Yeah. And Is that what you did? I think Yeah, that’s Yeah, that’s that’s what it was.

Dr. Berlet: They had to use I believe they used Radiesse for you though, and so you can see the white beads in there and it’s all there.

Kerry: Yeah. So, is it that was probably the only a facelift you see all that the

Dr. Berlet: You can see it, yeah. Yeah. I mean, sometimes if you if see like if they had a lot of Juvederm, it literally just oozes out of the tissue.

This is scary. Did you hear that? Yeah.

Dr. Berlet: It is a facelift. And Radiesse is like white beads. You can see that, too. That’s hydroxyapatite, so it is basically

Kerry: So, that’s why you’re almost a bone. That’s why you will not do fillers.

Dr. Berlet: Well, no. I mean, it’s not that I don’t do fillers. There’s You know, I think there’s a limit. You have to be very careful. You know, I think that fillers are, you know, in the peri- down through here, it’s great, you know. That’s the trick.

Did you know? Did he have some on like Medium satisfaction.

Dr. Berlet: Yeah, I can you can you can accentuate the jawline. You can do a lot of nice things with it.

Or Botox?

Dr. Berlet: That’s filler. But, you can actually use Botox along the jawline. If you weaken the muscles here, it will pick up just a little bit, so there’s There’s a lot of, you know, clever ways to use Botox.

I feel like

I feel like I’m always tense and I’m like He’s like, “I’m going to stop talking because now they’re getting more ideas of what to do.”

Look at that issue. Yeah.

I’ve been wanting to I have to say, like I’ve been thinking about it though because I feel like I clench a lot, so I feel like my jaw is like getting wider.

Dr. Berlet: Well, that’s the other thing about Botox is you can use it for like TMJ.

Yes. I was just going to say I have that.

I don’t really need it, but I have TMJ, so I’m like faking symptoms now to get more plastic surgery.

Kerry: Well, I have to say you did an amazing job. I think you should be very proud of yourself, Dr. Berlet. And

So thankful that we found you.

Dr. Berlet: To have such wonderful patients.

Yeah, we love you. We love you. Yeah, yeah, really.

Dr. Berlet: I look forward to it. I do. I really do.

I love She’s like, “I’m going to see my man, Berlet.” I was like, “That’s fine.” We do have our characters.

Kerry: Let’s say so, cheers to you guys and cheers to Dr. Berlet. Cheers. Dr. Berlet, we do not have one? No, no. Oh, no. Cheers, then? No.

Oh, no. Okay. Cheers and birthday.

Kerry: Thank you. Yes, thank you for coming. Yeah, thank you for coming. All right, well so I just want to say cheers, awesome work Dr. Berlet, and thank you both for coming, Giovanna and Adriana. And happy birthday, and I’m so grateful we found you. Yes, and so I hope you enjoy this episode of Once Upon a Surgery and meeting the Fauxdashians.

Kerry: And I hope you enjoyed my birthday party, too. So.

Kerry: Now we just have a little cake. Yes. I’ll make my wish for a good face lift in 2026.

You look like you already had one. Well,