Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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
MerryForever · 29/04/2025 21:17

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 28/04/2025 21:55

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.

I have no idea where to start! I just use a No7 face wash and moisturiser …

OP posts:
HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 02/05/2025 07:12

MerryForever · 29/04/2025 21:17

I have no idea where to start! I just use a No7 face wash and moisturiser …

It depends in how much time/effort/money you want to invest.

If you’re interested in upping your skincare I recommend starting with an SPF during the day for protection, and a retinol product at night to improve your skin over time.

AquaFatball · 30/05/2025 13:45

Hi how did your face lift go. Are you pleased with the results. Where did you go to have it. ?
I'm looking into surgery abroad. Had my eyes done a d very happy with that. Nit more anxious about the face though.

Janhen · 12/06/2025 10:35

I’m looking for a cosmetic surgery for a lower face lift in uk. I’m struggling to know how to know how good a surgeon is. Any advice?

MerryForever · 12/06/2025 21:10

Hello! Just had my 3-month post surgery check in with the surgeon although I’ve seen him every 2 weeks so far.

I have no regrets and it’s changed my confidence enormously in so many ways. The process has been really hard though - I know lots of people online are supposedly up and wonderful and back at work really quickly but I wasn’t. I’ve had a long recovery with lots of ‘tweaks’ as my surgeon calls them. He said today “You’re not there yet.”

tweaks aside, I definitely look ‘better’ but I don’t look like 20 years younger or probably even 10. It’s amazing to me how few people I know have actually noticed a change! My daughter really sees it but I saw my brother last week for the first time in 6 months or so and he didn’t say a word. I still have lines on my forehead and around my mouth.

OP posts:
WhoInvitedHer · 12/06/2025 21:14

I think it’s easy to forget how you looked prior to the procedure. I am 6 weeks out and there is a real improvement but I dont feel it’s drastic. However I am happy. I look fresher and my jawline and neck are much improved. Still swelling and varies within the day. Tight and numb at the sides of my face but overall happy and glad I had it done. I’m nearly 63 and don’t think I would want to do it again

wowwhataday · 12/06/2025 22:39

Thank you for the updates. Very helpful and insightful on different aspects

TryForSpring · 15/06/2025 16:44

Thank you for your honesty, @MerryForever. It's been a very useful reality check for me as I know that I could not manage all you have described. I hope that you continue to feel more comfortable and enjoy the results.

MerryForever · 29/07/2025 04:08

Coming up to 5 months now! I’m still numb along the sides of my face but not painful. I’ve got the two areas of adhesions on my cheeks still so having a follow up procedure in mid-September. Very glad I had it done. In hindsight now I wish I’d had my neck and forehead also done as they do look different to my face but not a lot.

OP posts:
Brummumm · 29/07/2025 08:37

Hi - I'd love to see a photo now - you sound much happier.

Gardenbumblebee · 29/07/2025 08:53

Hi Op, glad to hear you're making progress.

I'm considering a deep plane face lift but was always put off by having to go under GA so its interesting to read you had yours with LA. Do you think the type of anesthetic you have makes a difference to healing and results? I imagine the surgeon has to be far more gentle during a LA compared to being able to really get in there when you're out cold!

MerryForever · 29/07/2025 10:14

Gardenbumblebee · 29/07/2025 08:53

Hi Op, glad to hear you're making progress.

I'm considering a deep plane face lift but was always put off by having to go under GA so its interesting to read you had yours with LA. Do you think the type of anesthetic you have makes a difference to healing and results? I imagine the surgeon has to be far more gentle during a LA compared to being able to really get in there when you're out cold!

I really didn’t want a GA. I don’t know if it makes a difference to the results but I don’t think the surgeon would do it if they couldn’t make it work. I had sedation and local anaesthesia and it was a 7-hour op and I remember virtually nothing at all. Apparently I was chatting a lot which is a very weird thought that I might have been rambling on with half my face peeled off … probably best not to think about it!

OP posts:
MerryForever · 29/07/2025 10:24

Brummumm · 29/07/2025 08:37

Hi - I'd love to see a photo now - you sound much happier.

Here you go - I’m shit at doing these photos but this is me just now, in my office, no make up.

Having facelift surgery in 10 days - support and advice needed
OP posts:
TheOliveFinch · 29/07/2025 11:47

Your jawline looks lovely now

AprilF00L · 29/07/2025 12:09

Wow what a change from your before photos. You must be delighted. Your skin is looking fab too.

ConstitutionHill · 29/07/2025 13:46

Looking good, very fresh. Do you have a before pic?

MaidenGarret · 29/07/2025 16:27

Do you mind me asking how old you are @MerryForever? I think your results look great, but I’m wondering if that’s because you are considerably younger than me (approaching 59).

MerryForever · 29/07/2025 17:29

ConstitutionHill · 29/07/2025 13:46

Looking good, very fresh. Do you have a before pic?

There are some on here from the day of surgery then a week after and maybe another time in between? You can look at media on the thread and find them.

OP posts:
MerryForever · 29/07/2025 17:31

MaidenGarret · 29/07/2025 16:27

Do you mind me asking how old you are @MerryForever? I think your results look great, but I’m wondering if that’s because you are considerably younger than me (approaching 59).

If you find my before pics you’ll see. I’m 53. But I think the results are quite natural. I still look at least in my 40s, not less than that.

OP posts:
MerryForever · 29/07/2025 17:32

ConstitutionHill · 29/07/2025 13:46

Looking good, very fresh. Do you have a before pic?

Check in the media files, there are some there.

OP posts:
MerryForever · 29/07/2025 17:33

AprilF00L · 29/07/2025 12:09

Wow what a change from your before photos. You must be delighted. Your skin is looking fab too.

That might be a trick of the photo. I think my skin looks very dry and my pores are big. I’m utterly rubbish at skin care. Would love some tips.

OP posts:
GarlicLitre · 29/07/2025 18:03

It's restored the definition of your lower face. Mine's very nearly completed the somewhat crinkly slide from cheek to mid-neck, minimally interrupted by a barely discernible jawbone! Even if had the money and underlying good health, I doubt I'd put myself through what you've done. I understand why you did, though - changes to the face are a lot to come to terms with, inevitable as they may be.

I have, perforce, taken a different approach to it: philosophy and different makeup, basically. I look my age and, these days, it registers as older than my age since so many other women have tweaks and procedures. I've got views on this, but those relate to bigger issues than one woman's choice to roll back time through surgery.

Re your recent questions:

There are cheap apps for facial exercises. Just pick one with stacks of good reviews, and do the exercises. I don't do any nowadays, but did them throughout my 40s and would say they made a difference. I also had one of those electro-stimulating machines (makes your face muscles twitch) and think it was helpful, even if the only real effect is in stimulating blood flow. Probably unwise to try one while you have adhesions, though.

The single most important skincare is high-factor SPF all the time.

I get a tretinoin cream from Monderma, it's an online prescription service. It's one of only four substances that have been clinically proven to improve skin: the others are niacinamide (vitamin B3), hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. The tretinoin cream comes with niacinamide already in.

Everyday skincare products with niacinamide, HLA, vitamin C and factor 50 are readily available. You don't need to spend much or do anything complicated: in fact, if using tretinoin, you shouldn't use skincare products with miracle ingredients as they could interact adversely with the tret.

Some people swear by LED light therapy, particularly infra-red. There is some evidence for its effectiveness, but you shouldn't need to be thinking about this until your new face starts to show signs of wear.

Gettingbysomehow · 29/07/2025 19:34

Looks great. I.m 63 and off to Nords clinic in Lithuania to have a deep plane face and neck lift and a lower blepheroplasty in the new year. My sister lives over there and it's highly recommended. Can't wait.

isitme111 · 29/07/2025 20:38

You look fab OP, thanks for the update photo. I would love to get my wrinkly neck done but I'm too worried about something going wrong and the recovery time!

MerryForever · 30/07/2025 02:55

Gettingbysomehow · 29/07/2025 19:34

Looks great. I.m 63 and off to Nords clinic in Lithuania to have a deep plane face and neck lift and a lower blepheroplasty in the new year. My sister lives over there and it's highly recommended. Can't wait.

I’ve heard really good things about that place. Good luck!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread