Anyone had a mini facelift?

Parent Cafe
1

I would really like to take 10 years off. I think I look young for my age, but at 57 I see the decline and don’t like it at all. Every year something else ages on my face…haha.

I’d like to do something before it gets bad and noticeable that work was done. In the past 2 years I’ve gotten minor jowling. I really notice it when I don’t smile and in pictures. When I smile it goes away. My neck is also starting to love elasticity, but quite minor and not so noticeable yet. I guess I’m pretty lucky that I’m aging slowly.

However, sometime sooner than later, I’d like to have this done. I believe they don’t pull the skin back anymore, as it causes the windswept look, but rather it gets pulled up. I also wouldn’t want my lips to change form of any shape…I think that is a sign. It’s ok if my lips turn down a tad at the sides, pulled in line with the lips looks jokerish and fake.

Do, anyone have this done or contemplating it?

2

I had an eye lift…on one side only. Lipo on the jaw line. I do look better. At some point…in the next few years I will revisit to see if I want more done. The first procedure was expensive…wish that I had more done…it could have held me for more years. Going to have fillers soon.

…betcha no one would have thought that I had one…and/or being the first responder?

3

Nope. Not for me. Them wrinkles and bumps and sags are all mine, and I plan to keep them. I embrace my age.

4

@conmama - the only thing I’ve had done is BBL laser treatment, which is sort of a skin ‘refresher’. It evens out my skin tone (which is sun-damaged from growing up in the south) - the browns and reds. It also supposedly helps with fine lines, but that’s just an extra benefit; it’s the splotchiness of my skin that I don’t like. The one thing I notice the most is the disappearance of the browns; I am actually thinking about having my hands done as I’m starting to get more brown age spots. But I will stop at that. I’ve had all kinds of plastic and reconstructive surgery done since a baby due to a congenital birth defect and it has taken me years to accept how I look. In learning to accept, I decided it wouldn’t behoove me to not age with grace. In my work, I met many women, who in their dying days, would not let friends and family come see them because they weren’t ‘made up’ (because they felt like crap), meaning hair done, makeup applied, etc. They became so attached to how they looked, they couldn’t stand anyone seeing them less than their best. This made me SO sad - that’s when I decided I was going to accept how my face ages because I never wanted to be like that. It doesn’t mean I don’t use serums, etc. to keep my skin healthy; I just won’t undergo anymore procedures in a quest to keep looking younger or better than I am. I have a soon-to-be ex sister-in-law (so happy she won’t be part of my 2017) who is obsessed with plastic surgery. The god’s honest truth, she is 70 years old, and looks 40 - it is just gross. She takes selfies, posts them on FB and waits for all the compliments to come in, then responds with , “Thank you darlin’,” and “You’re so sweet.” And all I keep thinking is, she has spent her whole life only being valued for her looks (well, truth be told, there’s not much in the smarts department there), and now that she’s 70, she’s getting more desperate. As I got to know her over the 10+ years she was married to my brother, it became more and more apparent that she was on a never-ending journey that she’d never win. I decided looking my age was never a battle I was going to fight.

Now saying all this, I have no problem with people who have procedures for functional purposes, such as eye lid lifts for improved vision - that’s different story. I have two daughters and definitely want them to see that I can accept myself in all my imperfections, especially D2 who is trying to get into the film industry where looks can mean a lot.

5

Thank you for your story @teriwtt …I do understand your perspective and am sorry you have had to endure lots of surgeries.

I also agree being 70 and looking 40 is odd and something I don’t aspire, too. However, I don’t think there is anything wrong with plastic surgery to enhance one’s looks, if it’s done with restraint. No one ever says that children or adults should not endure years of braces…and most are just aesthetics. Same thing in my opinion, as it is with contact lenses. All these things are not our “real self” and no one insinuates that there is an obsession with looks when people, young and old, do this.

So why with the nip and tuck? I understand not wanting the procedures, they are invasive to various degrees. But if your head is in the right place, you know when to stop, you do your research…I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Growing old gracefully doesn’t equate doing nothing because you don’t want to. Orhers do, and it has nothing to do with not growing old “gracefully”. As I’m aging, to me that cliche has more to do with our mental outlooks and attitude. My hearing gets worse every year and I wear aids. I struggle sometimes. My DH says he forgets I wear them…why, because I don’t complain about the inconvenience and accept it. Having a happy attitude knowing our years are dwindling, life is changing and trying to find fulfillment and is growing old gracefully in my book.

To me and many others, having a little nip and tuck to make ourselves feel a bit better, turn back the clock 10 years and then stop thinking about it…has nothing to do with “gracefully”.

Actually, it’s kind of brave. And I understand it can be a scary and expensive thing to do. Plus, any surgery has risks.

If I had had to go through what you have, I wouldn’t want anything to do with plastic surgery either. I think your SIL is an extreme, and the far majority are not like her.

There are some things I refuse to do because it’s scary to me. A forehead lift for my sagging eyes…a Blepharoplasty won’t do it. After discussions with several surgeons, I decided nope…ain’t for me. When I see before and after pictures of those who have, I wish I was brave enough to do it. Dentist wants to put braces on my bottom teeth. No thanks, I’m fine. But I hate those little jowls, so why not? Sure, I can live with them and be happy in life. But I’d be a little happier without them.

6

I’m with you, @conmama. At 55, my neck has become saggy and my face just a bit too. I think about it but that’s as far as I’ve gone to date. Was checking this thread with great interest but it seems that, thus far, CCers aren’t keen on face lifts!

7

My dad who is in his late 70’s had an eye lid lift because he was having trouble seeing. I see that in my future at some point. Other than that I don’t think I will mostly because I’m scared it could go wrong…

8

I will be following this thread with interest. I’ve had fillers and botox for quite a few years, I’m 57 (yikes, that looks even older when one puts it into writing). My skin is in great condition but I am noticing the jowl sag accelerating.So far everything I’ve done has been subtle. Unless I were to actually tell someone, it’s really not noticeable.

I’m tempted to take it to the next step but the thought of actual surgery (not to mention the cost) has kept it in the ‘idea’ phase.

9

If you want to do something surgically, the older your skin gets, the longer the recovery is going to take, and the results may not be so good. Preemption is not a bad idea, according to some folks.

Personally, I am not going to do any elective surgery or lasers or fillers, but that’s just me.

10

Not eager for a facelift, but wonder if a laser treatment/peel is in my future. Pale skin, southern childhood. How much younger will I look after that, I wonder?

11

Botox and fillers scare me because I am afraid they would be done wrong and I’d had to live with it for months. I have recently started with a monthly facial and some serums; may graduate to a peel or microdermabrasion or even a laser as I have a lot of sun damage (blond blue eyed irish and always burn never tan) and rosacea, and have had lots of AKs and a basal cell removed from my nose with MOHS. The laser and even some of the peels can apparently remove some of these sun damaged layers, so it would be preventative for me. I think I would rather do one of those with a few days of recovery than another 4 weeks of Effudex–that was misery!

My eye doctor and my dermatologist have both told me that I will probably need my upper eyelids lifted in the next 10-15 years to help my vision; not thrilled about surgery especially near my eyes but I like being able to see!

12

My 68-year-old aunt had laser resurfacing and botox and OMG she looks 15 years younger. It was an amazing transformation

13

Botox is amazing, it takes 10 years off me, easily. I have got it done several times and have an appointment for it on Tuesday. There are always 50% off or so coupons on Groupon, and all are at well known and reputable places. Invasive face lift procedures, not so sure I would go there.

14

I had a bleph a few years ago, because my sagging eyelids were blocking my vision–33%, as it turned out–and I realized that I was holding my head back and constantly raising my brows in order to see.

I would not at all mind having some cosmetic stuff done, but there is no way I could afford it.

15

Just curious, do guys ever get mini or regular face lifts other than movie stars/ public figures?

16

Yes. I know many male lawyers who are not even attractive and who don’t seem vain who have gotten them. Seems surprising to me that they would feel the need to do it, but they do.

17

Both my sister and I told our brother to get his eyes done. He is considering it.

I may consider a mini face lift in the next few years.

18

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Yep, just worked a mini on a male patient the other day. My next shift will be a male tummy tuck.

Our OR mostly does minis on people who have already had full face lifts and now want some touching up.

19

Yes. men have work done.

20

@rockymtnhigh , my surgeon showed me before and after photos of a wide variety of people, including men.