For Maxine Aillerie, a vibrant 62-year-old from the idyllic Réunion Island, a profound sadness had begun to cast a long shadow over her life. The reflection staring back from the mirror had become a source of distress, a stark reminder of the emotional toll following the loss of her parents. As she poignantly described, “I just couldn’t stand looking at my face anymore,” a sentiment that led to increasing isolation. Her world shrank, with outings limited to nocturnal dog walks and a reluctance to even be seen in public during shopping trips. “I stayed in the car when I went shopping — I couldn’t bear to be seen, neither for myself nor for my partner,” she confessed, highlighting the depth of her discomfort. In a matter of months, Maxine felt she had aged dramatically, a visible manifestation of her inner grief. “I basically went from looking 60 to 80 years old, and it was unbearable,” she recounted.
Driven by a desire to reclaim her sense of self and well-being, Maxine embarked on a global search for a solution. Her quest took her virtually across continents, exploring options in Tunisia, Korea, Vietnam, and even America, all in pursuit of highly reputable clinics and renowned surgeons. It was a moment of serendipity when she realised the answer might be much closer to home. “Then at one point I thought, wait, I haven’t even looked at Mauritius,” she explained. Astonishingly, just a short half-hour journey away lay the Centre de Chirurgie Esthétique de L’Océan Indien, a centre that proved to be exactly what she was seeking. “It’s crazy — sometimes happiness is right at your feet while you’re looking for it everywhere else,” she mused.
It was here that Maxine’s path intersected with Dr Devarajen Carpanen, a Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. From Maxine’s perspective, Dr Carpanen was nothing short of “a magician.” She underwent a facelift and eyelid surgery, procedures she described as “basically… tightening the skin on the face and making incisions on the droopy eyelids and here at the crease, at this level.” Reflecting on the immediate aftermath, just two days post-procedure, Maxine expressed her thoughts: “I’m really surprised by the fact that I’m not in any pain — everything is going extremely well.” Despite some expected swelling, her emotional state had already lifted significantly. “When I look at my face, I no longer feel like hiding. I feel pretty again. I feel alive again. It’s extraordinary. It gives me chills — the feeling of being alive again is so powerful, and this just two days after the procedure. I can already see the difference, my partner sees the difference.”
The procedure itself was conducted under local anaesthesia, a process that required Dr Carpanen’s attentive care due to Maxine’s resistance to anaesthesia. “Dr. Carpanen is very attentive because I’m resistant to anaesthesia. So, I told him I was worried it would take time to work. During the surgery, Dr Carpanen maintained open communication, which Maxine found incredibly reassuring. “He kept talking to reassure me. I was already very relaxed, but he’s someone who is very reassuring and explains everything well. As the procedure went on, he explained what he was doing. I thought that was amazing. Honestly, 100% satisfaction!”
Reflecting on the transformation, Maxine initially noted the swift progress. “At first, I was swollen, but here I am, eleven days later, with this result. If that’s not magic, it’s definitely art — absolutely.” The entire experience left her feeling almost dreamlike: “It all felt like a dream. It was magical.”
Maxine also shared her previous misconceptions about facial cosmetic surgery, fearing it might alter her expressions or result in an unnatural appearance. “I used to think that facial cosmetic surgery changed the way you talk or express yourself. Like you’d end up stiff or expressionless. But no, not at all. It feels completely natural. And that’s what’s great,” she affirmed. Dr Carpanen had anticipated this, assuring her, “‘You’ll see — people will notice a change, but they won’t be able to tell that it’s surgery. They won’t know you’ve had a facelift.’ I found that hard to believe, but now, I see it’s true.”
Looking ahead, Maxine is enthusiastic about continuing her aesthetic journey. “My plans for the future? To continue with aesthetics. I want to keep going on this journey with Dr Carpanen, if possible, because I know he performs these procedures,” she revealed. Her positive experience has opened up new possibilities she had previously not considered. “I never even considered any of this before. But now I want to do it, because what he did is so successful that I want to move to the next stage. I don’t want to have just a fresh face and an old body. I want everything to feel rejuvenated.”
Beyond the exceptional surgical outcome, Maxine was deeply touched by the kindness and care she received at the Centre de Chirurgie Esthétique de L’Océan Indien. “Wonderful, just wonderful. The people are so kind and gentle. At the centre, everyone I met, their kindness and gentleness, it’s such a wave of joy,” she expressed warmly. This supportive environment was particularly meaningful given her initial self-consciousness. “Because when you’re in a place where you feel so uncomfortable in your own skin before surgery, and you’re surrounded by people who don’t look at you the way you look at yourself in the mirror… You think, ‘God, they’re going to scream and run away when they see my face.’ But actually, all of you were so kind. The nurses, everyone. Honestly, I recommend this centre to everyone. It’s absolutely amazing. There’s no other word for it.”
The impact of Maxine’s experience extends far beyond her physical appearance. “I’ve completely regained my self-confidence. I’ve found a renewed desire to live, to sing, to laugh — things I hadn’t felt in months,” she shared, her voice filled with emotion. “I get goosebumps — the change is so radical. My friends and family are stunned by it.” This newfound confidence has even reconnected her with loved ones. “I couldn’t even communicate with them by WhatsApp before. But now, I’m proudly showing my face. I go out in broad daylight. I talk to people about this change. I show what I looked like before. I promote the clinic because it’s amazing. Truly amazing.”
Maxine’s journey is a powerful testament to the transformative power of skilled and compassionate care. From her initial despair to her radiant confidence and the renewed joy in her life and relationships, her experience at the Centre de Chirurgie Esthétique de L’Océan Indien, under the expert guidance of Dr Carpanen, has not only rejuvenated her appearance but has also reignited her zest for life. Her story serves as an inspiring example of how finding the right support, even in unexpected places, can lead to profound and positive change, rippling outwards to touch even her closest relationships.
