Mini facelift at 41 before it gets worse?

[jowlymcjowlface]

Hi everyone - I'm 41 and fortunate enough to not have many lines yet, however it appears that in the last couple of years the lower half of my face has started to fall off . I've tried fillers twice now (with 2 different highly recommended drs) to build back in some "scaffolding" in the hope it would have an effect but I'm still really unhappy with how it looks - my mother at 70 still has no facial wrinkles but pretty bad jowls/neck and it looks like I am following in her footsteps. I'm seriously considering a "mini facelift" when this is all over - by my calculation even if it only lasted 5 years it wouldn't cost me any more than keep having the fillers which aren't working very well anyway. I don't really want to wait until the sagging is really bad to have it as my thinking is if I'm going to do it anyway I may as well get the benefits early on?

Has anyone done/considered the same at a similar age/for earlier stage jowls ? Can anyone recommend where to have it done (or alternatively have you had it done and regretted it)?

I believe ultherapy is the alternative, lasts a year or so and then top up.
I am seriously considering it as while I don't have major sagging they say the sooner you do it the better and you get better results.
I think a face lift is fairly drastic at your age .. I would try this first personally

You will never look like you used to. You are likely to experience a short lived happiness with your improved looks, followed by the same level of dissatisfaction that you feel now, and then the urge to have further surgery.

Have you considered that:

• We all get old - if we're lucky
• It's not the end of the world
• If you continue to make an effort you can easily be among the best looking in your age group
• There is nothing you can do with less wrinkles that you can't do with wrinkles
• You are going to get old and wrinkly some day, no matter what you do. Spend your money and effort on learning to accept the real you rather than fighting the inevitable.

There is life after wrinkles. There is sex after wrinkles. Sometimes better than pre wrinkly sex.

I was struck by the beauty of the young actors in Normal People, but couldn't really relate to the sex scenes because their bodies are like alien species compared to Mr Bishy and I. But Mr B and I are just fine. Thread veins, stretch marks, wrinkles, and yes, jowls and all.

You might not be ready for it, but I find Tricia of Look Fabulous Forever very inspiring on ageing well rather than anti ageing.

www.lookfabulousforever.com/living-the-life-more-fabulous

Ah I'm in totally two.minda about this which is if no help I understand but I see a mini lower facelift in my future. I'm only 37 but yoyo dieting and my mum's genes have played a role in the sag. But I would probably wait until my late forties.
The other part of me wants to make best of what I have and embrace life without obsessing over my looks too much. Tbh. I don't know which side will win out.

What @Bishybarnybee so eloquently said!

Katie price had a face lift and she looks bananas, she’s only 41 and has scaring all along her hairline

I think radio frequency is good for tightening the skin?

Or thread lifts are quite good these days. So not full on. I’m sure there’s one where the threads promote collagen production.

There is lots you can do and I’m pretty sure there’s some really good work out there that we can’t really spot! Yes also bad work too.

I’m with you though. I can live with a few fine lines and wrinkles but the jowls are a different story!!

Excellent post, Bishy

lab-lifeandbeauty.com/product/jawline-definer

I have been using one of these daily or at least 5 times a week since August and truly it has made a big difference to my jawline and jowls - I was fortunate and got it from QVC it was less than £100 but now out of stock. I use it over moisturiser and it beeps and switches itself off. You use gentle upwards movements - there are 2 or 3 different currents but I always use it on the red one - anti-ageing. I was expecting to send it back under the 30 day guarantee but it is fabulous

Ooh that looks good @pilatespeach

Is it LED plus micro current? I have a Nuface micro current device already. I think it makes a slight difference but you have to be very consistent.

Red light LED is good for collagen stimulation.

Bishy mid 50’s me loves you - so true.

Lifting and firming for the face & neck.
5 technologies in one device specifically designed to target the neck, jaw line, jowels and face, to visibly lift, firm and improve the appearance of your skin.
• LED light therapy Red, Blue and Green
• Micro-current
• Galvanic Current
• Thermal Therapy
• Massage

This is what it does - as I say I really rate it.

You just use it over moisturiser - anything with aqua in it - you don't need special gel that some machines require you to buy (think perhaps you have to buy gel with Nuface?)

Yes I have to use gel with Nuface so sounds easier with moisturiser.

I had a modified one stitch lift aged 54 as my post menopause jowls and neck were beginning to depress me. I was/am delighted with the results and 3 years later it's still holding up pretty well. Now considering a brow lift.

Bishy my much younger friend and I were chatting about ageing and we got onto the subject of Botox etc and was quite shocked I hadn't considered it. I said 'Honey, I still turn heads. The heads are just older '.
Actually I didn't say 'Honey' but I thought adding it made the sentence more dramatic

Noo take Katie prices face as a warning .. she doesn't look younger she looks weird !

I’ve heard it’s better to get these things done younger rather than older (perhaps to avoid the windsock look) but in fairness I know literally nothing about the topic.

@ImDillDandin this is exactly what @Bishybarnybee was going on about in her post. Once you start, you’re happy for a few years, then start looking for the next procedure, and the next and the next - always scrutinising your face finding another “imperfection” , when it’s actually just part of the normal ageing process.

This is me.

I'm 38, actual face not bad, started getting Botox at 30 as preventative but very infrequently and can definitely move forehead but from jawline down is another story!

Like a PP a mixture of yoyo dieting and genes as my mum is the same, very few wrinkles but terrible jowls (sorry mum) and she would look so much better if they weren't there.

Off to investigate that LED machine thing..

I prefer to pick battles I've a half decent chance of winning. Ageing is not one of them.

I think it’s hard to say without seeing your face - and possibly your mum’s as well . Although in principle I agree with Bishy, and I don’t think anyone should feel under pressure to look younger let alone have any procedures, I also don’t think it’s bad to think about it.

Jowls are ageing, and I’ve noticed on tv programmes like 10 years younger that for people with receding chins the work on the jawline/chin is incredibly rejuvenating to the face and that, along with dental work, seems to be the thing that objectively makes a very positive difference.

However, I think 41 is too young for anything surgical. I take your point about cost, but I think it might be wiser to continue with fillers and probably some other non-invasive treatments for a few years first. Treatments are progressing all the time, and even a thread lift is pretty invasive. It’s a bit of a one and done too - you might not love the results, and you might want to continue with fillers & other procedures anyway.

Also, the ‘problem’ is almost certainly not as bad as you think, and although it won’t get better by itself it might not progress as fast as you fear, either. I am pretty dubious about cosmetic procedures as a ‘preventative’ measure - why not wait til you’re 50, say, and reassess then?

I said to myself I’d have Botox in my 11s at 40 - I haven’t done it yet and I’ll probably be at least 45 before I even make it to a consultation at this rate! You know a lift is always an option in the future, so take it slowly.

Bishy mid 50’s me loves you - so true

Thanks LunaTheCat and Allnamesaregone.

Absolutely the most positive response I've ever had on mumsnet.

In fact, maybe the only positive response I've ever had on mumsnet.

I'm so used to expressing a view and being told I'm a twat, this has quite made my day.