I've spent $33,000 on cosmetic procedures at 65. It's been life-changing for my career and confidence.

• Susan DiLeo invested in cosmetic surgery to align her appearance with her energetic lifestyle.
• As a real-estate agent in NYC, she found that projecting the right image boosted her career success.
• Getting a facelift and other procedures helped her feel confident among younger real estate clients.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Susan DiLeo, a 65-year-old real-estate agent based in New York City. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I've worked in real estate in Manhattan for 14 years, which is about as competitive as it gets. You have to be good at your work, of course — but the image you project on the first meeting really matters.

I'm 65, so I'm not pretending I'm young, but I felt there were things about my face — the bags under my eyes, the skin under my chin, the wrinkles — that were making me look older than I actually felt.

I'm very busy. I have a lot of energy. I work out, I'm into health, and I'm very active. What I was seeing in the mirror didn't match how I felt inside.

Three years ago, at 62, I decided to do something about it

I really wanted it for myself, but I also knew it would benefit my work — and it has. It's given me a lot of confidence in an industry filled with younger people.

I've now had several procedures, including a near-full facelift, microneedling, laser treatments under my eyes, Botox, and what's called an eye snip.

All up, I've spent well over $33,000. It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

In New York real estate, image matters

There are brokers in their 80s who are still going strong, but there is a perception issue — especially when you're dealing with younger clients.

I have a long relationship with Columbia University. The medical school, the law school, and the general campus refer me to incoming professors and staff who are relocating and looking to buy.

A lot of the people I work with are younger than me.

I want them to feel confident that I know what I'm doing — that I understand technology, can figure things out, and am sharp. I worried that my face was aging me in a way that didn't reflect who I actually am.

If you're not good at what you do, you can look great, but you're not going to get very far.

My first procedure was a facelift

I first got a facelift — not a full one, but pretty close. It cost around $28,000. Annually, I spend about $1,500 a year on various upkeep treatments like Botox.

I chose my surgeon, Dr. Kwak, because he had done a rhinoplasty revision for one of my daughters. She'd had a nose job with another physician that didn't turn out well, and he completely fixed it. The work was beautiful. When I decided to do something for myself, I knew I wanted to go to him.

Since then, I've had microneedling, which cost about $3,000, and laser treatments under my eyes. For the laser, I requested general anesthesia because it's painful. Most people just use numbing cream.

I also get Botox, particularly in my neck. Most recently, I had an eye snip, where they remove a small amount of skin under the lower lash line to smooth wrinkles.

I was in and out of the office in about an hour and a half, awake the whole time. I've been happy with everything.

People assume cosmetic surgery is about wanting to look younger

For me, it wasn't that. It was about looking more like how I feel.

It's very empowering to look in the mirror, see something you're unhappy about, and realize you can actually do something about it.

Now, when I walk into a work cocktail party with people in their 20s and 30s, I don't feel out of place.

I feel confident, and confidence matters more than people like to admit.

I haven't been shy about it

I'm not ashamed of anything. If people ask me, I tell them.

I've had nothing but positive feedback. Sometimes I'll see someone I haven't seen in a while, and they'll say, "You look great." I joke and say, "It's an uphill battle — fighting age isn't for sissies!"

It's probably too big a statement, but it was life-changing for me — in both my career and personal confidence. It really gave me a lot more confidence, and that is the best thing.