Elaine Young: Star Realtor

Obituary: Elaine Young, Celebrity Real Estate Agent

It's hard to remember the exact day or year that Elaine Young came to my attention but I remember quite well the details. Young, who died last Thurs. (April 20) in Beverly Hills at the age of 71, was the real estate agent to the stars. In fact, she bought and sold so many high-priced properties that she became something of a celebrity herself.

But brokering deals over prized land was not the only reason Young was famous. It was her distorted face and her open declarations about the dangers of plastic surgery that garnered her attention in recent years.

When I saw her profiled on Entertainment Tonight, she talked about how going under the knife had devastated her. It began in the 1970s when she had loose silicone injected into her face to accentuate her cheekbones. The silicone didn't stay put though and, as it moved, it permanently disfigured her face and caused eye problems. She had more than 40 operations to correct the problem but they were largely unsuccessful. In the end, one side of Young's face looked like oddly moulded wax, a bit saggy and very sad. She died of cancer that originated in the region of the face where she had the surgery. (The doctor who operated on her committed suicide long before Young's death.)

Before the wretched surgery, Young, who wore her blonde hair in curls, was described as glamorous and ebullient. Her clients included Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Wonder. She was married six times. She appeared on television including 60 Minutes, was profiled in major publications such as Forbes and People and drove a Rolls-Royce convertible with the license plate "Elaine 7" to carry clients to some of the most expensive properties in Southern California.

The tag-line on her Web site still reads: "If you want to live in heaven... acquire a home or condo from Elaine Young."

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