REAL-LIFE STORY
Time to Battle Ageing Discover how a facelift can have natural results and turn back the clock Visible signs of ageing are a common concern that we all eventually suffer with. Although it is impossible to stop it completely, there are ways to improve the skin sag, wrinkles and other signs that come over the years. There are many non-surgical solutions from injectable treatments to skin tightening devices, however, for those searching for a permanent result, cosmetic surgery may be the answer. For 53-year-old Katherine, having a more youthful but natural appearance was her top priority, so she saw consultant plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon Mr Muhammad Riaz to find out what surgical options were available.
Finding the perfect surgeon Katherine had always felt that she looked younger than her age, however after reaching 50 she started to become more conscious about her ageing and believed her face was becoming “saggy.” She had received non-surgical ‘facelift’ procedures with aesthetic devices previously, but it was a slow process and she wanted to see results sooner. She says, “I began to think to myself that I should take the plunge and look for a more permanent solution. I did some research and came across an interesting article which listed the top facial surgeons in the UK, which gave me a good starting point. I went quite far down the road with another surgeon and thought they were a great candidate, however, after more research, I found they did more body surgery and I wanted someone who was really focused on the face.”
After checking the General Medical Council register and the surgical associations (see p.67), Katherine chose Mr Riaz. “I had heard about Mr Riaz on the grapevine as a couple of people I knew had been to see him and had said how great he was. I looked at his website for around 18 months and couldn’t find anyone else who had such subtle, natural results. His reviews were amazing, so I booked to go and see him and as soon as I did, I instantly knew that I wanted him to do my surgery!” explains Katherine.
An extensive consultation After contacting Mr Riaz, Katherine had a video call with him before an in-person consultation. Katherine reflects, “The in-person consultation was around an hour and a half. Mr Riaz spends a lot of time looking at you and analyses every aspect of your face. I know many women who are very specific about what they don’t like about their faces, but I asked Mr Riaz ‘What would you recommend?’. I thought the surgery would focus more on the bottom half of my face, but Mr Riaz said I would benefit from surgery focusing around my eyes as well the upper part of my face.” Mr Riaz recommended Katherine underwent upper and lower blepharoplasties (a procedure to remove excess skin to enhance or create an eyelid crease), cheek and temple lift, extended ‘R’ face/ neck lift (Mr Riaz’s signature technique which has limited surgical steps, leading to minimised downtime, swelling and bruising) and neck liposuction. She notes, “I still wanted to look like me, but just
Before
After
Katherine before and three months after upper and lower blepharoplasties, cheek/temple lift, extended ‘R’ face/neck lift and neck liposuction. After photo shows a rejuvenated and youthful appearance
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