Ruby Tuesday Matthews, a mother of three, is facing criticism from some social media followers after undergoing an endoscopic facelift in South Korea at the age of 33. Matthews has been documenting her recovery process on Instagram, sharing details of the approximately $16,000 procedure that took place last Friday at a clinic in Seoul.
Matthews stated her intention was to be transparent about her experience. However, the subsequent sharing of her swollen and bruised face post-surgery, along with a montage of her journey to Korea, has drawn sharp reactions. Critics have accused her of setting a negative example for young women and normalizing early cosmetic intervention.
One commenter wrote, "Kind of chic not to give young women a step by step guide to getting a facelift," while another asked, "Can we stop normalising this?" Others expressed concern about the normalization of facelifts at a young age and urged young women to embrace their natural appearance.
In response to the criticism, Matthews defended her choice, emphasizing that self-love and cosmetic procedures are not mutually exclusive. She argued that individuals can respect their aging bodies and know their worth while still choosing to alter aspects of their appearance for personal satisfaction. "Self-love doesn't require rejecting Botox, surgery, makeup or anything else and having them doesn't mean you're broken or chasing validation," she stated. Matthews clarified that her goal was not to become someone else or to avoid aging, but to address certain facial volume loss and achieve a more refreshed appearance.
She thanked medical tourism provider Beauty Hopper and her surgeon, Dr. Moon Hyung Suk from Ilchi Plastic Surgery. Matthews described the endoscopic facelift as a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions hidden within the hairline to lift and tighten facial areas. She noted that her surgeon determined the endoscopic lift alone would achieve her desired refreshed look, negating the need for additional eyelid surgery.
Matthews shared that the surgery lasted four hours. She also recounted a minor inconvenience post-surgery when her iPhone's facial recognition failed to recognize her swollen face, requiring an emergency visit to an Apple store to reset her phone. The initial days of recovery involved significant swelling and difficulty speaking, which she documented, noting the "worst" swelling occurred around the third day. She also showed the small incisions made in her hairline, expressing satisfaction that there were no visible scars on her face.
Amidst the criticism, some followers have praised Matthews for her openness. Comments included appreciation for her "unfiltered sharing" and for being "courageous." Others noted that if they had the financial means, they might also consider similar procedures.