Leah McSweeney's Plastic Surgery Journey
As many of us were busy wrapping up last-minute holiday shopping and preparing festive decorations, Leah McSweeney of The Real Housewives of New York City was treating herself to a unique Christmas present: a "new and enhanced" chest. The reality TV star and fashion designer shared on Instagram that she had undergone a breast lift and augmentation just four days prior, performed by Dr. Daniel Maman, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
Cosmetic surgery was not something McSweeney had seriously considered until recently. She had previously undergone rhinoplasty in September with Dr. Maman, and after being pleased with the results, she decided to address the changes that pregnancy, breastfeeding, and aging had brought to her breasts. We caught up with the RHONY star during her recovery to delve into her recent procedures and her belief in the importance of being open about cosmetic work.
Ruli: What prompted you to have a breast lift and augmentation now?
Leah McSweeney: I've had impressive breasts since I was 14. If you had seen them at 18, you'd understand why I say they were almost unreal. I had naturally large, perky breasts. However, having a child and aging bring about significant changes in one's body. I breastfed for 15 months, and as I've aged, my body has transformed. I now have a slimmer figure—I used to be more curvaceous—but I never looked at my breasts and thought they were unattractive. I mean, I've been on national TV showing them off without a second thought! I always thought they looked fine and had no issues. But for about the last decade, I've been considering making some changes. I didn't want them to be much bigger, but I wanted them lifted and rejuvenated a bit.
I'm glad I waited for this surgery—and for the nose job, which I really wanted—because I wanted to wait until I was mature enough to make an informed decision. If I had the chance to undergo such procedures at 18, I might have regretted it. But as a 38-year-old woman, I feel I know myself and my body well enough to make a choice I won't regret. It also seems that in recent years, the techniques and procedures doctors use have advanced significantly. So, I'm very happy that I waited and went through with it. Could I have waited longer? Possibly, but I thought, Why wait until I'm 40, 45, or 50? Let me do it now.
Ruli: Did you always plan to do both a breast lift and a breast augmentation, or did you consider doing just one or the other?
LM: Actually, I went in saying, "I want my boobs lifted. Do we insert an implant? What do we do?" And Dr. Maman explained everything to me. For a moment, I considered just the lift, but I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with that because my breasts would become smaller and not feel as full. So, I opted for a very small implant—I think we used 140cc—and I'm the same size as before: 34C. It was essentially about restoring the volume.
Ruli: How did you find your doctor, Dr. Daniel Maman?
LM: He also performed my nose surgery. I initially got his name from my dermatologist, Dr. Rita Linkner, and I knew one person who had received treatment from him. I was deciding between him and another doctor for my nose, and I chose him for various reasons. I'm extremely glad I did because he's an excellent individual. I mean, you're entrusting your life and appearance to someone else, and with my nose, I was previously very scared that I'd wake up and hate the result—but I had a strong intuitive feeling that Dr. Maman was the right choice.
Ruli: Why did you decide to do your rhinoplasty first and then your breasts, three months later?
LM: You know, I have a mother who is like Miss Earth, all-natural, and she doesn't even approve of my getting Botox. She believes I'm going too far and being excessive, so I had to proceed gradually with her. I was petrified to even tell her about this!
Ruli: How did she react?
LM: Well, she's not overjoyed, and she's made me promise that this is the last thing I'll do. She says if I do one more thing, she won't speak to me again. But I think she comes from a different era and mindset, and I respect that. I don't agree with it, but I understand.
Ruli: You chose to share the news of your plastic surgeries, not only with your family but also with the entire world. Why did you decide to announce it on social media, and what has the response been?
LM: People will say whatever they want, like, "Oh, now that you're on the show, you're doing it." But so what? Maybe even if I weren't on the show, I'd still be doing it this year. And if I hadn't disclosed something about my nose, no one would have noticed because it's such a minor, subtle change. But at the same time, it really bothers me—when someone like JLo claims she looks the way she does because of olive oil, it's just so incorrect. I understand that everyone has the right to privacy if they desire, but I just don't see any disgrace in plastic surgery. I do think everything should be in moderation, and people undoubtedly can go overboard, but that's why it's necessary to have discussions about it, because if not, that's when it becomes a problem.
Ruli: There's been a movement to destigmatize cosmetic surgery in recent years, and many members of the Real Housewives franchise have notably been at the forefront. Do you think your role on RHONY enabled you to be more upfront about your operations?
LM: I think it's definitely allowed people to have an opinion on it! But I started getting Botox and having my lips done at 30 years old. I've always been concerned about and obsessed with my skin, visiting dermatologists and undergoing lasers and peels and such, so this isn't new to me. But I do think undergoing surgery was a bold step. You know, I'd never had surgery before my nose, so when deciding on the breast lift and augmentation, a significant factor was my positive experience with my doctor and recovery—it wasn't effortless—and I felt at ease getting my breasts done as well.
Ruli: How has your breast recovery been, compared to after your nose job?
LM: They're very different. It's quite interesting because, obviously, it's a cosmetic procedure and not life-saving or anything of that nature, but you're very vulnerable and need assistance, and I'm a single woman. So, with my nose, I learned that I couldn't handle everything on my own. It was just me and my daughter, who was helpful, but she's a child. So, this time, I splurged and hired a nurse for the first 24 hours, and it made a significant difference. Since then, my recovery has been smooth, but you don't even realize how often you use your pectoral muscles until you need them and can't use them, so that aspect hasn't been easy. I really want to exercise, but I can't—and that's probably been the toughest part, for both the nose and the breasts. But otherwise, it hasn't been too bad!
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