Wikipedia states that; “The history of antiaging pursuits goes way back to ancient Egypt where they used herbs and remedies to promote beauty and longevity.” Some of these are quite bizarre. “They included drinking, eating or injecting substances such as gold, testicles and transplanting monkey gonads ” to encourage antiaging. Definitely not for me!

As we age, aging of the face and neck is inevitable. As our skin loosens we see deep folds around the mouth, “crow’s feet” around the eyes, our jowls become more noticeable, we may have a double chin and the skin around our neck is filled with wrinkles ( turkey neck). It’s just no fun to look in the mirror anymore. My own reflection was beginning to show the visible signs of aging. Creams and lotions were not doing the job for me. Because a face lift is a serious medical procedure, I was reluctant to even consider that route. Then I heard about a mini face lift, where the recovery time was less than a full face lift and the procedure was less invasive. My goal was to have a fresh youthful look and to address those tell tale signs of aging I could see developing in my neck and face. I just wanted to look better and younger. I made an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in mini face lift surgery. He explained and demonstrated for me how he could enhance my appearance by reducing the droopiness and sagging around my jowls and tightening the wrinkles on my neck. By simply pulling back and up on the side of my face with his hands I got a good idea of what I would look like when it was done. He explained how he would lift, reposition and remove some facial skin and showed me where the incisions and sutures would be. He also discussed my recovery time and what results I could expect. He explained that the surgery would not change me; it would simply make me look the way I did years ago. I needed to get a clean bill of health from my primary physician before we could proceed. This was my answer to that big age eraser I mentioned earlier. I was excited and ready for the transformation.

The surgery itself took about an hour. I wore comfortable clothing and had no IV’s or general anesthetics. A local anesthetic was administered. The procedure was done in a specially equipped suite at the doctors office in a comfortable reclining chair. My doctor conversed with me through out the procedure. I didn’t feel a thing. I was able to walk out of the office the same day pretty much on my own ( I was not able to drive). The first 2 days were a bit uncomfortable. I did have some strange looking bruising. I am very fair skinned so the bruising looked worse than it felt. By day five I was feeling good but didn’t look too good because of the swelling and bruising. It was important to follow all the post-op instructions and precautions in order for my surgery to be successful. Within two weeks I was feeling myself again and was able to resume many of my normal activities. Results vary from patient to patient. Having a realistic expectation and being patient with your progress is very important.

In today’s world there are many wonderful ways to accomplish antiaging such as eating right, exercising, using creams and lotions, taking medicines and having surgeries. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons more and more people over the age of 50 are turning to cosmetic surgery to maintain their youthful appearance. Face lifts, laser skin resurfacing, BOTOX treatment and eyelid surgery are some of the solutions seniors are undergoing to look more youthful. In my personal pursuit of antiaging I chose surgery, a mini face lift. I would recommend it to anyone who is feeling the ravages of old age. It is not only uplifting for the face but the psyche as well. The results were remarkable and the downtime was minimal. I used to look in the mirror and pull my cheeks back to see what I would look like if I didn’t have all of that sagging and droopy skin. I don’t have to do that anymore. I can see the difference every time I look in the mirror. It has taken years off my face. I have maintained my youthful appearance for years to come and I am extremely happy about that. At 67 years old I feel like I did at 50. It was truly an “uplifting” experience in every sense of the word. An amazing transformation!

Here are my before and after pictures so you can judge for yourself!

If you are considering a mini face lift, and your health and skin are in good condition and you are just beginning to see the effects of aging in your face, I recommend that you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in mini face lifts. It is the best antiaging choice I have ever made for myself.

Are you thinking about a facelift? Scared? Too expensive? There is an alternative that might interest you. In 7 days, Facialwizard will make you look younger.