Melissa Gilbert

About a decade ago, Melissa Gilbert was obsessed with staying young during her appearance on Dancing With the Stars as she attributed success to youthfulness. The actress recorded a significant achievement during the show as she lost substantial weight and was able to fit into a costume worn by Peta Murgatroyd—a DWTS professional who was more than twenty years younger than her. In a recent interview, Melissa disclosed a notable shift in her view on aging, stating that the significant change in perspective was hinged on her experience with multiple cosmetic procedures, which left her with regrettable results. Melissa Gilbert says her cosmetic procedures left her totally dissatisfied Instagram In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Gilbert disclosed that while participating in Dancing with the Stars, the looming prospect of reaching the age of fifty instilled fear in her. This anxiety prompted her to explore cosmetic procedures as a means of maintaining a youthful appearance. "I was approaching 50, and there was this panic of, 'This is it," she told the news outlet. "I've got to wring this out while I can.'" RELATED: Melissa Gilbert’s Son Dakota Is All Grown Up And Lives A Normal, Private Life However, the actress was disappointed as she conveyed her dissatisfaction with the outcomes of her body enhancement surgeries. "I literally looked like Carrot Top, the comedian. My hair was too red, and when I did Botox, I became the spawn of Satan with pointy eyebrows," Gilbert admitted. "I had no facial expression, which is anathema considering what I do for a living. It’s exhausting keeping up that kind of façade. I was very insecure." THICKER THAN WATER, Melissa Gilbert, 2005, © Hallmark Entertainment / Courtesy: Everett Collection Melissa Gilbert says she has now embraced her aging process Melissa shared she embraced aging after meeting her husband, Timothy Busfield, who also played a pivotal role in influencing and supporting her decision. "I embraced it, and when I would say, ‘I think I’m going to stop coloring my hair,’ he’d say, ‘Can’t wait to see what color it is,'" Melissa detailed. "'This is so exciting!’ When I said, ‘I think I want to get my breast implants taken out permanently,’ he said, ‘Do it!’" "It’s incredibly uplifting to be with someone who says, ‘I love you exactly the way you are.’It makes a big difference to come home to someone who sees me in sweats with no makeup on and my hair back in a ponytail and goes, ‘Oh, you are the most beautiful woman.' As opposed to someone who goes, 'I think you could lose a little weight,'" she added. "Or, 'I'm getting nervous about these lines around your eyes.' Which did happen in my past." Instagram Gilbert went on to clarify that since that moment, she hasn't felt the need for any beauty enhancements. "I don't color my hair anymore, I don't put any fillers or Botox in my face. I take care of myself to the best of my ability, but I am what I am. I am not going sacrifice my own well-being because someone expects me to be something they have in their mind," she confessed to People. "I wouldn't want to be younger, I wouldn't want to have to learn these lessons again. I like where I am. Happy in my skin, happy in my life."