Last year, I decided to get a face-lift. It was a bit like playing Russian roulette, but it was also the best decision I’ve ever made.

Let’s be specific—it wasn’t really a face-lift. It was more like a neck-lift: I had my turkey neck tightened and added a chin implant to strengthen my jaw. Just about everyone is quick to judge plastic surgery, especially on a man. We’ve all seen people who end up looking a little scary. My goal, then, was not to have people see me and squirm but to see me and ask about my vacation.

You have to shop around for a doctor. This isn’t like finding a new dry cleaner—I needed someone I could trust taking a blade to my face. One surgeon kept talking about fixing my eyes; he was vetoed. Another had an employee who looked like a plastic-surgery experiment—a hard no.

I needed someone I could trust taking a blade to my face.

Finally, a friend recommended Dr. Dan Baker, who is the face guy in New York City. I knew he was the one the moment I met him. A good doctor turns away more business than he takes, and Dr. Baker doesn’t hesitate to tell people, “You’re not ready yet.” But he told me, “You will get an excellent result.” Having that assurance helped, because none of this is a guarantee. Trust me, it is fucking scary.

Now that it’s over, the thing that people tell me most is “You look really fresh.” My goal was never to look younger—I’ve earned what I’ve got—but rather to look better. And that procedure was just one tool alongside diet, exercise, and supplements. At 56, you have to be proactive.

Some people will be disappointed in me, and that’s okay. What I did is not for everyone. If your life doesn’t revolve around having your picture taken, why would you subject yourself to this? But the reality is that I do make my living by having my picture taken. Yes, it was expensive. The whole thing cost about the same as a year at a very posh boarding school, but I think I got my money’s worth. Now, when I’m brushing my teeth in the mirror, I think, Hey, you look all right.