Can I reduce my wrinkles at 56? No idea where to start!

[JustwhenIthought]

I’m 56 and have always liked my body - but not my face. I had bad acne in my teens and twenties and was self conscious about recessed chin, thin hair (helped by pregnancy and hrt)and sticky our ears (now fixed).

now in middle age the pressure is a bit less as the pressures of being young are over and I feel a bit more able to embrace my face.

but I have wrinkles and I don’t use anything except the Boots protect+perfect range.

i work, so I’d be glad even of a temporary boost for meetings.

what I’d like most is for my eyes to look more youthful but I’ll take all and any advice.

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Trying photos!

I'm the same age as you OP and your lower face pic I would have put at someone early 40's.

So no advice just going to lurk here for tips.

Nuclear option is face-lift, as its the only real solution that works.
Other than that, botox in forehead to soften lines. Fat grafting for under eye hollows. Gravity is coming to get us all though, so I'm afraid you really do have to come to terms with ageing. Even a face-lift can't restore a youthful look. Get some peels, tret and spf and don't look in the mirror!!

I was going to say the opposite, she looks a lot older than 50s like a smoker.

I think you’re fine and lovely as you are. I’m 56 and to hell with it!
But since you are not happy I’d like to suggest getting your brows tidied up a bit.

Smokers usually have more pinched skin with lots of small wrinkles around the mouth. I don’t see that at all.

A tiny bit of Botox in the ‘11’ lines would make a huge difference I reckon.

I don’t think you look older btw - that post was a bit mean and I don’t think the facelift suggestion was very helpful either as it’s a bit drastic and probably outwith most folks price range, I imagine.

I’m 61 and in the last few years my neck and arms are really showing my age so be grateful for any tips anyone has!

Laser, microneedling for skin quality, a facelift won’t change the skin quality.

Lots of lasers now available that don’t have significant downtime, you would need several sessions over months if you go for one with less downtime. Just go to a really reputable place associated with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist, rather than a beauty salon.

Also trifecta for ongoing maintenance.

A Blepharoplasty is about the only thing to open up eyes and it makes a huge difference to the whole face. Can be done under local anaesthetic.

I’m afraid I also thought you looked older, I’m sorry op , I’m the same age and am in better condition, I’m not sure how else to phrase that, but I’ve had work, as well as a high focus on a healthy lifestyle

what I’ve done, I’ve had fillers round my nasio Labial folds and marionette lines, and minor Botox in two places in my forehead, so it still wrinkles, just less so.

my eyebrows are tidy and shaped , yours need doing, and my skin is in good condition, I use retinol, hyralonic acid and moisturiser. Yours looks dull, I’m sorry, your lips look dry and I’d wonder if you were maybe carrying some extra weight, or if you smoke,/drink/consume enough water/exercise.

it starts from within, so if your lifestyle isn’t healthy, I’d focus on that, get some good skin care, if you’re carrying extra weight loose it, if you drink, smoke etc reduce or stop and consume enough water and ensure a healthy diet,

you don’t need tweakments like me, but if you have a healthy lifestyle it shows.

What a ridiculous and dramatic list!
@JustwhenIthought you look great. Moisturise, hydrate and smile 🥰

Not helpful? I didn't command she get it done and I did specify that it's the nuclear option.

Fucking hell! It's neither ridiculous nor dramatic. Moisturiser won't do a single thing to diminish thr signs of ageing, which is what the op asked about.

well that alone isn’t going to do it to be fair, going from one extreme to the other there,

That seems unnecessary and unhelpful.

Botox is great for a fast fix - I think it can knock 5 years off! I only tried it once and really want to do it again. It was so quick and just not a ‘big deal’ like I panicked it might be. Absolutely no one noticed but in the following months did receive lots more compliments than usual about looking well.

Outside of that, retinal (not retinol) or tretinoin plus SPF to protect against the sun (makes skin extra sensitive to it). It will take 3-6 months to see these benefits and you can go up in strength when your improvements plateau. These two approaches are not extreme but highly effective. Stay well hydrated as this helps keep skin superficially plump. Oh and sleep 8+ hours a night.

Can i ask , do you wear make up ? You would be amazed at how much better you can look with some make up. If you go into boots you can get advice and a free make over. I like No7, its a great price and looks good on mature skin

I’d say you do look older around the bottom of the face but the forehead not too bad. Forget about water and smiling, in our fifties we need more than that. Retinol, decent skincare, makeup, Botox and a healthy lifestyle are all vital. For me anyway. Do you smoke? Drink to excess? These things shown on the face.

Op, I don’t think you wish injectibles, but if you do go there, don’t just get Botox, it will look ridiculous. You need to do the whole face, or you end up with one half of your face rejuvenated and the other still as it was. The whole face needs to be treated holistically to ensure a balanced cohesive look.

when younger its fine, as the lower face hasn’t sagged, but when we age, then Botox alone looks bad . And if you do do Botox then you need a light touch and avoid a frozen shiny forehead,

sorry to add, if having Botox, also have fillers in lower face to ensure balance.

fillers can be done stand alone and are generally very very natural looking done right,

I’m not sure you took these photos from the most flattering angle, @JustwhenIthought!

Obviously wrinkles can be magicked away, but I’d be more inclined to concentrate on refining the structure and texture of your face and neck first.

Why not try maybe three months of professional facials with lots of massage and lymphatic drainage to move things around. You’ll probably see a softening of lines and reduction in any areas of puffiness. And then you can proceed from there.

And also have your eyebrows tinted and shaped. That alone would lift your expression.

I’m replying to someone saying she looks early 40s when she doesn’t in the slightest. It’s helpful because OP wants to do something to feel better about herself.

I agree with you, but I’ve noticed in quite a few threads , some posters feel it’s better not to be honest and it’s rude to be, I feel if someone’s asking for help, then honesty is best.

sayinf wow you look nearly two decades younger is not remotely helpful,or honest.

Hey OP, I am 57 and having similar lines and sagging 🫠, I have been using rosehip oil for around 3 months, apply generously morning and evening, my skin is plumper and smoother and has a bit more glow to it, it’s only about £8 from Amazon, worth a try maybe.