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Original poster

Having facelift surgery in 10 days - support and advice needed

394 replies

MerryForever · 05/03/2025 10:02

HI there,

I'm due to go for surgery on 15th March. Face and neck lift under local anaesthetic. I'm 53, medium weight, would like to be a bit lighter. I've had a horrendous few years personally and it's shown a lot on my face. I'm in a better place now and feel this will give me a boost to restart the 'new me.' I'd love to hear from anyone really as I haven't told many people I'm having it done as it seems so vain. My dd is very supportive though. I don't have a current partner.

Any tips from those who have had similar procedures? Or chats with anyone thinking of getting some work done. Or even haters who will tell me that looks don't matter and I should bin it off.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Original poster
MerryForever · 27/04/2025 02:31

TryForSpring · 26/04/2025 19:59

OP had the facelift some time ago, and certainly didn't describe it as painless.

Show quote history

Definitely not painless :)

OP posts:
rainbow231 · 27/04/2025 09:57

Surely people are unlikely to ask ‘have you had a facelift?’ even if they thought you might have? It would be incredibly rude so surely most would say something more along the lines of you’re looking well / been on holiday.

PoppyMeadowLover · 27/04/2025 11:11

MerryForever · 27/04/2025 02:25

Thank you - I had the surgery 6 weeks ago now. Agree with most of what you say except I think my recovery has been a bit more complicated. I’ve got quite a lot of tingling areas - one on the left which feels weirdly itchy, tickly. Nobody has noticed I’ve had surgery except people I’ve told but I’ve had v similar comments to you that I’m looking well etc.

Show quote history

Hi. Tingling is good. It means your nerve endings are reactivating. I still have tingling and my surgery has been a bit longer than yours. Its all good 😀xxx

Facelift101 · 27/04/2025 13:37

@HornyHornersPinkyWinky Thanks so much for checking in. It’s been a journey. I’m just over three weeks post-op and things defo changed at two weeks when I felt far less tired and wrung out. I still have swelling under chin but due to my face shape, it’s not really noticeable; bruising around eyes due to fat transfer taking an age and far more troublesome. Oddly there don’t seem to be any visible scars by my ears. All in all, it seems good and I’m pleased I did it but stand by earlier comments that recovery is underplayed and there does seem to be huge variance in protocol within the cosmetics surgery industry.

Original poster
MerryForever · 27/04/2025 15:37

rainbow231 · 27/04/2025 09:57

Surely people are unlikely to ask ‘have you had a facelift?’ even if they thought you might have? It would be incredibly rude so surely most would say something more along the lines of you’re looking well / been on holiday.

I have some friends who wouldn’t be afraid to ask if I’ve had some work done. I don’t think I look like I’ve had a facelift. It’s not like a pulled back mask or even how it looks after Botox or filler, it’s really subtle, just like everything’s the same but lifted up slightly. I can easily see how someone wouldn’t notice.

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryForever · 27/04/2025 15:46

Beautifulweeds · 26/04/2025 23:43

It's what u want to feel better so good for you! Just please make sure u read the reviews, sure u will have. Any surgery can have implications and if it's not necessary be careful.

I'm the same age but just don't have the time or finances or I may consider it. I know I'm not as young and pretty as I was and have accepted it. My family and friends see me for me, so any modifications wouldn't make any difference to how much they love me.

Personally, relationships are more important than how I look. Xxx

Of course relationships are more important than how you look!

I did this for myself, nobody else at all. I don’t see how it affects how I feel about other people.

OP posts:
wowwhataday · 27/04/2025 15:49

Love that you’ve taken us on your journey. It’s fascinating and inspiring. You look fabulous

Beautifulweeds · 27/04/2025 17:28

You're right, sorry I didn't mean it like that. Doing it for yourself as a boost is great and as I said I would consider it as well. I'm not the happiest about how I look at the moment but happy my loved ones just see me as me was my point I guess. Best of luck. Xxx

Original poster
MerryForever · 27/04/2025 17:35

Beautifulweeds · 27/04/2025 17:28

You're right, sorry I didn't mean it like that. Doing it for yourself as a boost is great and as I said I would consider it as well. I'm not the happiest about how I look at the moment but happy my loved ones just see me as me was my point I guess. Best of luck. Xxx

It really wasn’t just a boost for me. I’ve had a truly awful few years and am starting a new chapter and all I could see and feel in my face was tiredness and sadness. So I don’t care if I look a bit bruised and bumpy, so long as I don’t carry that weight on my face.

OP posts:
speyside · 27/04/2025 21:28

i had no idea you could do it under local i must say I would not have liked it u come out looking like a war victim face covered in bandages it is a major op

mumda · 27/04/2025 22:07

Lolopolo · 07/03/2025 14:42

All the posters giving negativity - OP had not asked for your opinion, but support and advice for her upcoming surgery. Can’t any of you read? Do you just like to jump on posts to unnecessarily comment because it makes you feel superior?

Be aware that surgery isn't the route to happiness.

CautiousLurker01 · 27/04/2025 22:11

mumda · 27/04/2025 22:07

Be aware that surgery isn't the route to happiness.

Show quote history

I think most people fully aware of that - but looking at the pain and trauma etched on your face can remind you how unhappy you have been, though, so erasing that can be psychologically liberating.

fairybower · 28/04/2025 02:31

Lolopolo · 07/03/2025 14:42

All the posters giving negativity - OP had not asked for your opinion, but support and advice for her upcoming surgery. Can’t any of you read? Do you just like to jump on posts to unnecessarily comment because it makes you feel superior?

Actually, she said in her OP:

Any tips from those who have had similar procedures? Or chats with anyone thinking of getting some work done. Or even haters who will tell me that looks don't matter and I should bin it off.

I hesitated to give my opinion, then, and as the operation had been and gone, thought there was little point in saying this. However, as many others on this thread are considering going down the same route...

I do think (and know from experience), judging from the pictures posted, OP could have got much the same lift effect with facial exercises and a few other small lifestyle-related things.

As it has been done, I really hope the numbness lifts and the full function returns. It seems to me a barbaric thing to do to one's one and only face.

Original poster
MerryForever · 28/04/2025 07:33

speyside · 27/04/2025 21:28

i had no idea you could do it under local i must say I would not have liked it u come out looking like a war victim face covered in bandages it is a major op

You don’t come out like a comedy person wrapped in bandages! It’s just a compression garment which fastens with Velcro that you can take on and off to wash and shower etc. using local anaesthesia and sedation is very common as it minimises the effects of general anaesthesia.

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryForever · 28/04/2025 07:37

fairybower · 28/04/2025 02:31

Actually, she said in her OP:

Any tips from those who have had similar procedures? Or chats with anyone thinking of getting some work done. Or even haters who will tell me that looks don't matter and I should bin it off.

I hesitated to give my opinion, then, and as the operation had been and gone, thought there was little point in saying this. However, as many others on this thread are considering going down the same route...

I do think (and know from experience), judging from the pictures posted, OP could have got much the same lift effect with facial exercises and a few other small lifestyle-related things.

As it has been done, I really hope the numbness lifts and the full function returns. It seems to me a barbaric thing to do to one's one and only face.

Show quote history

I’d be interested to know what those things are? I don’t know any facial exercises and all lifestyle tips are good to know. I do still have a face and I’d like to look after it.

OP posts:
HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 28/04/2025 08:34

fairybower · 28/04/2025 02:31

Actually, she said in her OP:

Any tips from those who have had similar procedures? Or chats with anyone thinking of getting some work done. Or even haters who will tell me that looks don't matter and I should bin it off.

I hesitated to give my opinion, then, and as the operation had been and gone, thought there was little point in saying this. However, as many others on this thread are considering going down the same route...

I do think (and know from experience), judging from the pictures posted, OP could have got much the same lift effect with facial exercises and a few other small lifestyle-related things.

As it has been done, I really hope the numbness lifts and the full function returns. It seems to me a barbaric thing to do to one's one and only face.

Show quote history

No facial exercises, or face creams, or special diets are going to get rid of excess skin, or restore facial fat loss.

Original poster
MerryForever · 28/04/2025 11:38

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 28/04/2025 08:34

No facial exercises, or face creams, or special diets are going to get rid of excess skin, or restore facial fat loss.

Show quote history

I don't think they could possibly have made the same difference as the surgery but if anything helps further, I'd love to know about it.

OP posts:
AprilF00L · 28/04/2025 16:09

MerryForever · 31/03/2025 16:55

Here’s a scrappy before and after duo. Same make up, same place and time of day.

Wow, fabulous. You must be so pleased. They have done what you asked. Nothing extreme just taken several years off you. You must feel great about the results.

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 28/04/2025 21:49

Facelift101 · 27/04/2025 13:37

@HornyHornersPinkyWinky Thanks so much for checking in. It’s been a journey. I’m just over three weeks post-op and things defo changed at two weeks when I felt far less tired and wrung out. I still have swelling under chin but due to my face shape, it’s not really noticeable; bruising around eyes due to fat transfer taking an age and far more troublesome. Oddly there don’t seem to be any visible scars by my ears. All in all, it seems good and I’m pleased I did it but stand by earlier comments that recovery is underplayed and there does seem to be huge variance in protocol within the cosmetics surgery industry.

Thanks for the update, I’m glad you’re feeling better.
Yeah, it seems like a much longer recovery than I would have thought previously.

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 28/04/2025 21:55

MerryForever · 28/04/2025 11:38

I don't think they could possibly have made the same difference as the surgery but if anything helps further, I'd love to know about it.

Show quote history

OP, I would recommend getting a good skincare routine going. You could look into tretinoin via a subscription service, and also things like vitamin c serum, niacnamide etc.

These will help give your skin a real glow, and the tretinoin over time helps to build collagen. But it’s a slow process and you need to be consistent with sun protection aswell.

Also, in office procedures like lasers and peels should help preserve your results over time.

TryForSpring · 28/04/2025 22:51

I do think (and know from experience), judging from the pictures posted, OP could have got much the same lift effect with facial exercises and a few other small lifestyle-related things.

Don't leave us hanging, @fairybower... what exercises and what small lifestyle-related things? I'd be delighted if I could bypass gruelling surgery and get OP's results an easier way. Please spill!

Motorroller · 28/04/2025 23:08

I feel like facial exercises are the new reiki.

Original poster
MerryForever · 29/04/2025 05:29

Motorroller · 28/04/2025 23:08

I feel like facial exercises are the new reiki.

What ARE they?

OP posts:
Motorroller · 29/04/2025 07:27

MerryForever · 29/04/2025 05:29

What ARE they?

Show quote history

It’s the ‘facial yoga’ you see on social media. I can imagine it’s mildly good but suddenly it seems that people are selling lessons in how to qualify to sell lessons in it, if that makes sense.

Jeezitneverends · 29/04/2025 08:39

Hi OP, just seen your thread for the first time, and your honesty is refreshing. I have similar facial issues due to massive weight loss, and life experiences very much showing on my face. I don’t have the means for surgery, but I’m glad you did it for you, and you're looking great-I hope it’s part of a fab new chapter in your life!

I’m off to book more fillers for my marionettes till my lottery numbers come up….😂

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