Katherine Heigl makes first public appearance since getting titanium discs implanted in her neck

Katherine Heigl is pictured in a neck brace at LAX as she blames ‘middle age’ for painful injury… after getting two titanium discs surgically implanted in her neck

Katherine Heigl stepped out for the first time since getting serious neck surgery.

The 42-year-old actress was seen as LAX on Friday to catch a flight out of Los Angeles with her sister Meg.

There was no hiding Katherine’s massive neck brace as she gingerly made her way from the car to TSA.

First sighting: Katherine Heigl was seen as LAX on Friday to catch a flight out of Los Angeles with her sister Meg, sporting a massive neck brace as she gingerly made her way from the car to TSA

The former Grey’s Anatomy star had traveled from her Utah home to undergo surgery for a herniated disc in her neck. 

She kept comfortable in a cream-colored turtleneck sweater, black leggings and black and white stiped Adidas sneakers.

‘I’m good. I’m going to be a new woman,’ she joked with a photographer after checking in for her flight.

Katherine blamed a recent neck injury that had left her in ‘excruciating’ pain on her age: ‘I’m alright. You know what, I guess it’s middle age. I don’t know. It’s so depressing.’   

Medical travel: The former Grey's Anatomy star,42, had traveled from her Utah home to undergo surgery for a herniated disc in her neck, blaming 'middle age' for the injury

Medical travel: The former Grey’s Anatomy star,42, had traveled from her Utah home to undergo surgery for a herniated disc in her neck, blaming ‘middle age’ for the injury

‘It was just out of nowhere, but I’ve had problems for, I want to say, a good 15 years. I just didn’t realize what I was doing, so I’m so relieved,’ she said about finally solving the long-running issue. 

The Firefly Lane performer kept her hair in a messy updo with the help of a green scarf and donned large black sunglasses to remain unrecognized as they walked through the airport. 

The siblings both kept on their face coverings as a precaution against COVID-19.

One thing she hadn’t considered is whether or not her new discs would set off the metal detector: ‘I don’t know. I should ask them that before I go through.’

Long-term problems: 'It was just out of nowhere, but I've had problems for, I want to say, a good 15 years. I just didn't realize what I was doing, so I'm so relieved,' she said about finally solving the long-running issue

Long-term problems: ‘It was just out of nowhere, but I’ve had problems for, I want to say, a good 15 years. I just didn’t realize what I was doing, so I’m so relieved,’ she said about finally solving the long-running issue

The star updated fans on her well-being via Instagram on Wednesday after undergoing the surgery.

‘Well…I am now bionic!! Two titanium disk now inhabit my neck and I can probably stand on my head for like hours…I’m not gonna try it just yet but give me a few months and I’ll blow your mind!!’ she shared.

She posted a photo of herself wearing a neck brace alongside some green balloons for St. Patrick’s Day and also shared an image of a x-ray which showed the location of the titanium discs.

Bionic: The star updated her fans on her well-being via Instagram after undergoing the surgery on Wednesday. 'Well...I am now bionic!! Two titanium disk now inhabit my neck and I can probably stand on my head for like hours...,' she wrote

Bionic: The star updated her fans on her well-being via Instagram after undergoing the surgery on Wednesday. ‘Well…I am now bionic!! Two titanium disk now inhabit my neck and I can probably stand on my head for like hours…,’ she wrote

No more 'excruciating' pain: The actress also shared a snap showing her post-surgery and another of a x-ray in which the two titanium discs she'd had implanted are visible

New abilities: I can probably stand on my head for like hours...Iu00BFm not gonna try it just yet but give me a few months and Iu00BFll blow your mind!!' she wrote alongside the images

No more ‘excruciating’ pain: The actress also shared a snap showing her post-surgery and another of a x-ray in which the two titanium discs she’d had implanted are visible

She said the injury was not the result of a specific incident and thanked the doctors for their expert care which had ‘saved me from the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced and blessed me with a new pain free lease on life!’ 

She went on: ‘Heading into surgery and hospital stays is always a bit scary and you guys could not have made me feel more comfortable or taken care of! Thank you thank you thank you!!’

Heigl was accompanied to LA by her musician husband, Josh Kelley. The couple, who married in 2007, are raising their three children on a ranch in Utah. 

Couple: Heigl was accompanied to LA by her musician husband, Josh Kelley. The couple, who married in 2007, are raising their three children on a ranch in Utah

Couple: Heigl was accompanied to LA by her musician husband, Josh Kelley. The couple, who married in 2007, are raising their three children on a ranch in Utah