# 62 Years Old, Natural, Versus 64 Years Old, Surgeried **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012 "2011-10-18T05:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/21 "2011-10-18T13:28:11Z")
[Helen Mirren](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20339363,00.html) is another actress, now in her sixties, who still looks beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/22 "2011-10-18T13:28:49Z")
You can’t assume that Somers would look as good as Weaver if she didn’t have any surgery. Maybe she’d look worse than she looks now. (yeah, I doubt it too, but maybe) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/23 "2011-10-18T13:34:28Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Weaver looks like an attractive, healthy 62 year old woman. Somers’ face looks like a mask constructed by aliens who don’t _quite_ get the way human faces look. This is precisely correct. Weaver doesn’t look younger than she is, but she looks like a 62-year-old woman who has naturally good looks, takes care of herself, and has a killer smile. It is of course entirely possible Weaver has had some work done, but just was smart about it. We tend to think of plastic surgery as a disastrously vain error because **you only notice it when it goes horribly wrong** , as is evidently did for Suzanne Somers (who I would agree was never as pretty as Sigourney Weaver; Somers’s thing was being a blonde with a great body.) But how would you notice if plastic surgery went right? Almost by definition, the best work is the work you don’t notice. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/24 "2011-10-18T13:55:49Z")
Of course I’m going to side with the Sigourney crowd here. Last weekend my daughter (14) asked me why I didn’t dye my hair, to hide what’s starting to turn gray. “Because there’s nothing wrong with growing old” was my response. I’m 49 and have some gray hair: so what? I really don’t get the whole _young = beautiful, old = ugly_ thing. We’re bombarded with advertisers and media telling us this is the case, but I don’t buy it. I much prefer natural women who are confident being themselves. Dyed hair isn’t too bad, I guess, but I still don’t even see the need for that. You are who you are and there’s nothing wrong with growing old. It happens to all of us. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/25 "2011-10-18T14:12:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The first woman I recall being shocked by (results-wise) was [Mary Tyler Moore](http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/mary-tyler-moore-gi.jpg), whose eyebrows were permanently raised into the “surprised” look. I think MTM was going for the [Carol Burnett](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=carol+burnett&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&biw=1154&bih=1132&tbm=isch&tbnid=Ylsrxz6hx7CxjM:&imgrefurl=http://www.celebritygossip.com/celebrities/carol-burnett/&docid=X5h7LAqxczFcNM&imgurl=http://www.celebritygossip.com/public/celebrity_pictures/carol_burnett_1250_2.jpg&w=399&h=600&ei=L4idTumxA-eFsgK8zKD0CQ&zoom=1) look. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/26 "2011-10-18T14:19:24Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I really don’t get the whole _young = beautiful, old = ugly_ thing. We’re bombarded with advertisers and media telling us this is the case, but I don’t buy it. I much prefer natural women who are confident being themselves. Dyed hair isn’t too bad, I guess, but I still don’t even see the need for that. You are who you are and there’s nothing wrong with growing old. It happens to all of us. It’s a vicious circle. TV studios and movie studios generally - not always - are gonna make more money with young looking actors and actresses. So they cast them. And in doing so perpetuate the situation. I can’t see an easy way out of it without a bunch of TV networks getting together and co-operating on a universal plan which sweeps across all of television to cast older people. But they’re in competition with each other; better that someone else takes the hit. Which they won’t. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/27 "2011-10-18T14:19:27Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Somers’ face looks like a mask constructed by aliens who don’t _quite_ get the way human faces look. Probably the aliens who constructed the hotel suite at the end of _2001;_ they try so hard, and yet, they make small yet significant mistakes, and the result ends up being creepier than something completely alien… ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/28 "2011-10-18T14:42:41Z")
That photo of Somers is particularly awful. An image search on her name shows lots of photos where she appears overly surgified, without the puffy mask appearance. The one linked appears to be so soon after surgery that she’s still swolen. I wonder of some of the disparity we’re seeing, not just between these two women, but between the surgeried/non-surgeried camps is that there are folks now in their 60s who had procedures done in their 40s, which produced the desired results, but now have to keep going or they’ll look (most likely only to themselves) as if they’re in their 80s. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Sigourney W. had a tiny bump shaved off her nose 25 years ago - but she new when to say when. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/29 "2011-10-18T15:46:42Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > Probably the aliens who constructed the hotel suite at the end of _2001;_ they try so hard, and yet, they make small yet significant mistakes, and the result ends up being creepier than something completely alien… Or Talosians. That picture of Somers brought to mind the illusion-less version of [Vina](http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Vina). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/30 "2011-10-18T16:04:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It is of course entirely possible Weaver has had some work done, but just was smart about it. We tend to think of plastic surgery as a disastrously vain error because **you only notice it when it goes horribly wrong** , as is evidently did for Suzanne Somers (who I would agree was never as pretty as Sigourney Weaver; Somers’s thing was being a blonde with a great body.) > > But how would you notice if plastic surgery went right? Almost by definition, the best work is the work you don’t notice. You can notice some actors have changed looks over time. For instance, I suspect that Sandra Bullock has had some work done, but I think she still looks good. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/31 "2011-10-18T17:12:41Z")
I think there’s a common misconception that any and all enhancements are terrible. A little (emphasis on little!) botox in the forehead helps. A slight eyelift makes one look more awake. Glycolic peels help cell turnover, mild glycolic acid and Olay Regenerist at night are worth your time. But few people know when to stop. Family friend does this work and say half his clients have tiny, small amounts of things done while the other half get hooked and end up looking much worse for the wear. As with so many things in life, the name of the game is “in moderation”. ETA: Sunscreen and genetics remain the best ways to look good and age gracefully. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/32 "2011-10-18T17:27:38Z")
Bernadette Peters is a good example of a woman at 60+ who – if she’s had work done – has had a _very_ good surgeon. Actually I suspect all she’s done is some plumping of her cheeks to lessen wrinkles (which with Bernadette isn’t easy to tell, considering she’s always had that Kewpie-doll look). [Here’s a picture of her from last year’s Tony’s](http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/u4ySK57xmX1/64th+Annual+Tony+Awards+Arrivals/EdvFH6vD6Ak/Bernadette+Peters), when she would’ve been about 62. Obviously she’s wearing a lot of makeup (I believe she was performing that night) but still… the woman looks incredible. [Here’s another shot from the same night](http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/u4ySK57xmX1/64th+Annual+Tony+Awards+Arrivals/TQ_SRHCOtVr/Bernadette+Peters). What’s especially remarkable about her is that the skin on her neck, chest and arms is almost flawless. That’s why I don’t think she’s had much if any work done… she just has terrific skin and has taken damn good care of herself. (Plus, probably, good genes.) Or maybe she’s got a portrait of herself hidden away somewhere that looks like the Cryptkeeper. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/33 "2011-10-18T17:32:28Z")
Sigourney is on record as being against plastic surgery (and actors NEVER lie about anything!), but looking at her close-up, she doesn’t have any of the tell-tale signs of plastic surgery/facelifts - she doesn’t have the stretched grin, the odd tightness, her eyebrows in a strange place, etc. She has the telltale signs of _not_ having had surgery - she has lines in the places where a 62 year old would have lines. It’s not conclusive, of course, but if she’s had work done, it’s very good work. I’m just not seeing the “ugliness” of wrinkles - they just look normal to me (and normal-er every day, ba-dum-chick). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/34 "2011-10-18T17:36:31Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > That’s weird, all I see is blonde, brunette, redhead… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/35 "2011-10-18T17:37:07Z")
Unfair comparison. Sigourney Weaver has always been way hotter than Suzanne Somers. In fact, SW now is hotter than SS then. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/36 "2011-10-18T17:43:07Z")
Somers is making her living pushing her healthful diet. If eating healthy makes one look like that, give me the McDonald’s. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/37 "2011-10-18T18:13:05Z")
You could use the same data to establish that throwing xenomorphs out of airlocks and sleeping with Bill Murray makes you age more gracefully. Or that not changing your hairstyle in four decades makes you age worse. I’m not a huge fan of plastic surgery, but the natural aging process has been known to go horribly wrong as well. (And I’m not mentioning Rutger Hauer’s name) This is cherry picking. – Besides, anyone can look awful in one or two pictures, espcially if they’re wearing pancake makup. Even [Sigorney](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=sigourney+weaver+2011&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=9OYBUL6PsWH7WM:&imgrefurl=http://www.film-news.co.uk/show-news.asp%3FnItemID%3D4053&docid=EiPk1w_uRKW8vM&imgurl=http://www.film-news.co.uk/images/news/Sigourney-Weaver.jpg&w=160&h=160&ei=H8CdTsT7I8ny0gHH-fTJCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=449&vpy=426&dur=261&hovh=128&hovw=128&tx=65&ty=95&sig=110138026823182511747&page=2&tbnh=128&tbnw=128&start=27&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:27). She was never as sexy in still shots as she was in action. Even if that action involved talking, rather than exoskeletons. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/38 "2011-10-18T18:35:12Z")
> [@](#): > > You could use the same data to establish that throwing xenomorphs out of airlocks and sleeping with Bill Murray makes you age more gracefully. Well, to be fair, if you _don’t_ throw the xenomorph out the airlock, you’ll age _very_ badly. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/39 "2011-10-18T18:54:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, to be fair, if you _don’t_ throw the xenomorph out the airlock, you’ll age _very_ badly. I disagree. You probably won’t look a day older, not even on the day you die. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012/40 "2011-10-18T19:03:40Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [Suzanne Somers, 64 years old.](http://images.onset.freedom.com/ocregister/gallery/lh4ty8-lh4rmqsuzannesomerstorontosun020211.jpg) _OH GHOD CHRISSY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO_ **sobbing** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/62-years-old-natural-versus-64-years-old-surgeried/600012.md?page=3)