Many people go to great lengths to enhance their appearance, which is why plastic surgery has become a widespread practice across the globe. However, these procedures don’t always yield the desired results and, in some cases, can cause permanent damage and disfigurement.
Such was the unfortunate reality for Elsa Patton, best known for her role on The Real Housewives of Miami. Featured on the show from 2011 to 2013, Elsa quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her sharp wit and vibrant personality. However, her extensive plastic surgeries left her nearly unrecognizable, drawing criticism from medical professionals. One plastic surgeon in Tampa, Florida, even remarked that there was “no worse case” of botched plastic surgery than Elsa Patton’s.
Little is known about Elsa’s early life, but according to Ancestry.com, she was born in Cuba on August 25, 1936. She was married to Donald Patton for over five decades until his passing in 2018. Elsa herself passed away the following year at the age of 84.
Nicknamed “Mama Elsa,” she and her husband had two children—Marysol Patton, who appeared alongside her mother on The Real Housewives of Miami and later in the reboot, and Thomas Anthony Jones. Marysol often spoke about her mother’s magnetic personality, telling Reality Tea, “Growing up, my mother always had people drawn to her—celebrities, influential figures—everyone wanted to be her friend.”
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In 2012, Elsa landed her own spin-off show, Havana Elsa, which chronicled her journey to launch a Cuban coffee business. “I love Cuban coffee… and now I’m going to have my own,” she said at the time, as reported by the Huffington Post.
Though Elsa never openly discussed her plastic surgeries, she once referred to her surgeon as “the man who ruined my face.” Her daughter Marysol later revealed that Elsa had an eyelid procedure in the 1980s that resulted in severe hematomas, leaving her eyes bruised for nearly three years.
Experts have since analyzed Elsa’s surgeries, with Facial Plastic Surgeon Benjamin C. Stong noting that it was “almost hard to even imagine” her original appearance. Dr. Farrior, a double-board-certified surgeon in Tampa, described her case as a “tragedy” in terms of judgment, ethics, and technique. “The real mistake was in choosing a provider who failed to say no,” he stated.
In 2013, just days before filming for the third season of The Real Housewives of Miami was set to begin, Elsa suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. Her health steadily declined over the years, and she passed away on May 13, 2019, following a prolonged illness.
Her daughter Marysol paid tribute to Elsa when she married Steve McNamara in 2021, holding a Mayan wedding ceremony led by a shaman. A source told Page Six that Marysol felt her mother’s spiritual influence in the decision, adding, “Elsa is still in charge!”
Andy Cohen, creator of The Real Housewives franchise, honored Elsa with a heartfelt tribute on Watch What Happens Live. “Throughout Real Housewives history, we’ve met many friends and family members, but few have left an impact as lasting as Elsa’s,” Cohen remarked.
Elsa Patton’s charisma, humor, and unforgettable presence will always be remembered. May she rest in peace.
