It seems like many women I know have had “work” of some kind done, and Botox and fillers are also popular. I am just curious if others are seeing the same thing, or if you’re willing to say what you have done, and if you’re happy with results.
I have done nothing, except tried retin-a, and I’m considering not using that any longer.
I feel like I look older than my age (more wrinkles than I see on others when I look around). I’m not sure I could do a facelift, but I have thought about it.
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Plastic surg, botox, fillers etc are just not a thing in my social circle (Midwest, urban, educated, wealthy) so I experience no pressure to do any of it. No pressure to stay thin either. No pressure makes aging a lot easier.
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I think people aren’t talking about it. I’ll admit to trying fillers three times, but they never worked for more than a few weeks, so not worth the money.
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I haven’t done any of these things either, but in my area (suburban Chicagoland, educated, affluent, sports centric) many people (men included) have done Botox and fillers (cheeks, lips). Some facelifts, and increasing as my peers reach mid-50s or so, and those with facelifts just never look ‘right’ (like themselves, let alone better) again (IMO). Far fewer than average overweight people here too.
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I had my droopy upper eyelids done. My mom has the same issue and it now affects her vision. I got tired of people saying to me— you look tired— so I figured why wait. My eye doctor gave me a name of an ophthalmic doc who did the procedure. I’m happy I did it but wish I’d gone to a plastic surgeon because I don’t think this doc did a very good job.
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I have never done Botox or fillers, however, I have twice had ICON similar to (fraxel) laser.
The first time, three years ago, I had astonishing results. I recently had a repeat treatment… This time, the results were less ‘astonishing’ but that is because the first time the results were so dramatic due to aging, damaged skin. I would wholly recommend this non-invasive treatment, which does not require frequent upkeep.
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I live in a rural area, and don’t know anyone who’s done anything like this. I decided a very long time ago to celebrate the fact of my aging. I’m pleased to say that now that the rubber is meeting the road – I’m 61 – my outlook is holding. I look at my wrinkly neck, and unlike Nora Ephron, I think “Wow, that’s so cool!”
I have seen one person fpr whom cosmetic work/skincare looked great. I’ve seen scores that look much worse – fake, barbiedoll-like. Shudder.
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Thought about it. Went to a recommended plastic surgeon, and that visit completely turned me off. It started with a ‘sales’ consultation - at which time, assistant pointed out all sorts of issues I never thought I had, and how to correct them (fillers, Botox, inserts, lifts, you-name-it). Yeicks. No thanks.
I do have the droopy eyelids that affect vision. They also make me feel tired when physically I’m not. Still debating that. I decided to only do so with an occuloplastic surgeon, and there are few. Had two consults. First one told me that I qualify for Medicare coverage (due to vision), but that their office would not do it for me, and recommended either a full facelift (elsewhere), or a brow lift (scar atop both brows). No thanks.
Second consult recommended blepharoplasty (and seemed totally surprised by the first consult), but I was so disappointed with their office for a list of other reasons, and decided to not return.
I also went to a plastic surgeon regarding a potential scar revision on my face. The office staff all had work done - and it showed.
No thanks.
Still considering blepharoplasty , if I can find a good fit. Eye MD cautioned to wait after any cataract surgery however, explaining that it involves fulling lifting upper lid during surgery, which can negatively affect blepharoplasty.
There’s a long earlier thread on CC about eyelid surgery if you’re considering that.
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I am 61. A few years ago, a couple of months before my S’s wedding, after a consultation I scheduled an appointment to have fillers added above my lip, since the lines there are pretty prominent and bother me. I’ve never smoked, by the way. They were also going to slightly increase my top lip, since it’s disappearing with age.
Unfortunately, the day before the appointment, my father died (he was on hospice and was in his 90s so this wasn’t tragic) but as a result I canceled the appointment.
I never had it done - Covid came soon after this, and I have also moved twice since then (we move every 2 years for H’s job). I am still thinking about having it done.
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I started Retin A in the summer and like it. Not thinking of more right now but one reason is my eyesight is going so I can’t see the wrinkles well.
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I don’t have any friends who have talked about this, but I do see discussions on the local FB pages asking for recommendations for places to get fillers, etc so I think it is more common than I realize.
My old dermatologist retired and one thing I liked about her practice was that the only posters she had up were about skin cancer and melanoma (I have melanoma). The new practice unfortunately offers a lot of products and services like Botox and that turns me off but I doubt you can find a derm who does not do this, it must be such a cash cow for them.
I frequently say Never, but I suppose, for very special occasion (wedding etc) I might do something very temporary.
My mom had the droopy eyelids and finally did have that done because it was interfering with her vision and as a result was not considered a cosmetic procedure.
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My DH had blepharoplasty probably 20 years ago. He’ll be 70 in couple of days. His eyelids drooped and it was covered by insurance because one blocked a lot of vision. We think it was allergy related. It was not a shock nor looked weird after the first week.
I am about as low maintenance as I can be re face stuff. But last year I got fillers for the (-) below my lips going down to my chin. When my mom was in the memory care, she constantly had food drooling down into those grooves. They also made both of us look like we were very frown-y. The fillers just well, filled in those groves and hopefully they will stop them from growing as I age.
Also due to Mom having two little antenna sticking out of her eyebrows while the rest was bald, I got eyebrows tattoo on. First I got the microblade which looked pretty natural, like I’d used a pencil, but only lasted a year so I got talked into straight up tattoo. They are REALLY dark and obvious. Better than what I would have looked like from Mom’s example though. And I wouldn’t do pencil every day so less maintenance in the long run.
edit to add, kind of a good thing I got the filler… the dermatologist biopsied a dark spot on my temple that a prior dermo had tried to freeze off. Found squamous cell carcinoma so I had that surgery done, too.
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I had a bursted blood vessel on the cheek that made me worried because it would not go away. Went to the derm who said it was just a hematoma (phew) and can be “burned off” with a laser. $300. No insurance coverage. As an alternative, he suggested a different, whole face laser treatment that would take 3 sessions ($1,000) and would clear up age spots as well. I decided what the heck and went with the latter. I have no regrets! The hematoma was gone quickly, and the spots visibly faded away. Botox? Injectables? No thanks.
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I do botox every 6 months and iI’ve had my eyes lifted. Many of my girlfriends have have had face lift and most of them look great. Its a 2 week process and I am not sure if I am up for it.
D1 is in her mid 30s and she gets botox. It really takes a lot of fine lines away.
I also use red light on my face regularly to tighten it. The red light is FDA approved.
This is all on top of night and day cream.
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Funny - you say you doubt you can find a derm who doesn’t do this stuff. My derm does not. He would suggest someone to me if I wanted to go in that direction, but their office does not. They also don’t encourage any particular brand of moisturizers, etc., and don’t sell any from their office. When I had a bad allergic reaction to some eye cream, he did give me the name of two eye creams that tended to work well for people with sensitive skin.
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I had whole face laser as well, also, no regrets! Three years ago, I had two sessions, this time around just one.
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I’d love to get just my eyes done. Every time I see my eye doc, I ask if my vision is being impacted. I wish he would say yes.
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I’m in Los Angeles, so everyone is doing something. I have not had any work done. I’m a teacher and need my face to move, lol. I think I look younger than my age and younger than most of my friends. Most women I know who do fillers end up overdoing it and it’s not a good look. I think after a while they forget what they looked like before and just take it too far. Same things with eye lashes, when women start doing lashes it’s pretty, after a while they look like caricatures. With Botox it seems like when you freeze one area of your face, your face moves and wrinkles in unexpected places. Overall, unless done very subtly, it doesn’t look right.
I should add, i religiously color my hair, use expensive face creams, wear make up every day, etc… so I’m definitely not without vanity.
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I haven’t done anything, and I doubt I will. OTOH, my 30-something D has been doing Botox for several years. Apparently, her friends also do it (they don’t want What the Flip lines in their foreheads!). I never say never, but I just don’t see myself doing anything. Eyelid lift, if I ever need it, would probably be all I’d consider.
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Every time I go for an eye exam they ask if I’m ready to have my lids done because they are supposedly affecting my vision. Not that I notice so no thanks.
BTW I worked for ophthalmologists for many years and one of them was an excellent lid surgeon. He did several a week so had done thousands over the course of his career. The other doc in the practice has no interest in doing lids and never did. Both were board certified cornea specialists. My point being that you don’t necessarily have to go to a plastics doc to get a good result.