Sagging face and 45. What would you recommend? (Unflattering anonymised photo attached!)

[Annoymousy]

I’m 45 and have lost volume in my face giving me quite deep circles under my eyes and lines from my nose to my mouth with marionette lines developing underneath. My pores are quite big and visible too.

I don’t get enough sleep - so that’s number one - but what else would you recommend?

Do collagen supplements actually work? Face massage?

I run, that’s my only exercise. Are things like yoga good for your face?! (All that upside down blood flowing etc).

What would a mini face lift do for me? Feels drastic but honestly, I’d love to lose those hollow eye bags forever!

Or expensive facials? A change of diet? I eat pretty well already. Lots of fresh food.

Help! I want to feel good about the way I look again!

Please excuse the absolutely awful photo!!

Can you share a pic of you smiling?

Before thinking of drastic treatment I would just look at what you can do in term of lifestyle/diet:

• don't smoke or drink too much alcohol
• make sure you get enough sleep
• drink enough water
• add vegetables/fruits to your diet and cut down sugar and processed food
• exercise a bit more
• use a decent face cream with sunblock everyday
• take a multivitamin every day.

Frankly I think you look fine as you are!

The cosmetic surgery industry just plays up on women's insecurities. I think the fashion for botox and other nonsense is ridiculous. People don't look good with ''plastic'' faces....better to have a few lines and look like you are enjoying/have enjoyed life than to look like a shop dummy as far as I am concerned.

I agree. Our faces are meant to change. We're also becoming influenced albeit subtly by filters which are used on just about every photo on SM or magazines/adverts.

Your face is nice and perfectly normal.
But, if you want to try something my Mum used to swear by Eve Lom facial exercises. I was skeptical but it did improve the jowl area and top lip wrinkles!

I need tear trough fillers , I never realised there was such a thing tbh

Your really think your skin looks fresh and clear.
You look lovely just as you are. x

What you you eat the most in terms of veggie food? And do you drink?

I did quite a bit of research, collated information from different people online saying what worked, tried things, researched them more in depth, used them, and saw a difference. Here's what I found best;

A liquid collagen sachet you just swallow. Online subscriptions available, around £40/month

MSM - something that depletes as we get older. Supplement, around 7 quid a packet.

Silica, B6 supplements

Vitamin C serum, The Ordinary is cheap and effective

Exfoliate using either a special cloth, Korean Italy, face loofa, brush, electric brush, or muslin cloth. Reveal younger skin.

Get a retinol subscription from skin+me or dermatica who will send you a tailored prescription for anti-aging.

Some months I skip deliveries or subscriptions and you can get some of the above ingredients cheaply. It can be expensive but you learn to prioritise what works for your skin.

You look great OP.

The ‘runner’s face’ thing can be partly to do with being outside loads - so wear SPF 50 and a cap. And partly due to losing to much fat. But I love running and refuse to give it up.

Id highly recommend Dermatica for Tretinoin.

I use a microcurrent device - the Foreo Bear for a bit of a lift and I do think it makes a little difference but you need to be consistent. Face yoga probably has a similar effect but I’m a bit lazy.

The eye area is particularly difficult to target. I did have tear trough fillers a few years ago and they were amazing - got rid of the hollow look for me. I haven’t felt the need to get them redone so I think fillers last a lot longer than they claim (and that maybe why people get overfilled).

I also love profhilo- but it’s expensive.

Not a fan based on what he's done to his own face.

Don't use these manual exfoliation tools on your face. They're awful and will give you broken veins. Use chemical exfoliation instead.

I just googled him, my God, I wouldn't let him anywhere near me!

I just googled him, my God, I wouldn't let him anywhere near me!

I could help doing the same. Dear God. It's horrific. Imagine that presumably a grand looking man, supposedly with expertise, did that to himself.

• couldn't

OP you look like an attractive woman in her 40s. You have a pretty face and nice skin! I wouldn't recommend changing anything.

You are the same age as me, and I think you look good. You have lovely smooth skin.

A thick blunt fringe worked for me! It knocked years off me and also hides a few wrinkles
Someone pointed out that I look older in the photos of my 40th, than I do at my 50th.
I've never had any cosmetic treatments but never leave the house without lots of subtle make up on!

Another fringe fan here.

Have you thought about swapping running for Bodyweight and strength training? They are much better for you and recommended once you're over 40, mainly because of bone health, and plus running puts pressure on joints, but also it's not great for sagging skin.

Just a thought!

I just looked at his Instagram (Darren McKeown) he's not a good advert for fillers he looks ridiculous.

You really don't look that bad, or as bad as you think, OP.

Not for surgery in my amateur opinion. Get a consultation, perhaps some cheek filler for a subtle lift (tiny amount). If you must go down the filler route.

I'm in agreement with pps saying OP doesn't need any fillers actually.

This may sound odd but I was obsessing about my face and wrinkles recently - I got a very short hair cut that I love and which finally suits me (only took 48 years!!).

I am far less bother now as I like how I look.

A good hair cut and colour can take years off.

Well, no one ever NEEDS fillers but the op has asked for advice and she's been given suggestions. No one is being nasty to her or saying she look horrendous (quite the opposite infact), so she's unlikely to come away from this thread feeling even worse.

I've just had a HIFU treatment (ultrasound, supposed to boost collegen) - the lady doing it said she was 54, but I'd have pegged her at about 40. She said this was the treatment she felt actually worked (I know, she would say that).

It takes a couple of months to show, so I don't know, but it's non-invasive, took 45 pain-free minutes, and cost me 80 quid with a groupon, so I figured it was worth a go (I've done prescription creams, frownies etc. and not had any dramatic change)