Exclusive:
Fitness fanatic Gary, 64, was fed up with his ageing face letting his buff body down so he decided to undergo cosmetic facial surgery which finally left him looking as young as he feels
It took just three hours to take ’20 years off’ this man’s face during a procedure in which he was awake the whole time.
Looking good and keeping fit was a top priority for 64 year old Gary Fox. He exercised almost daily to ensure his body was in the best physical shape it could be for his years. Although he felt great and full of life, when he looked in the mirror he felt let down by his ageing face which was exhibiting the ravages of time much more rapidly than his body.
“From the neck down, I’m in decent shape,” he says. “I ice skate nearly every day and lift weights – but my face wasn’t matching the rest of me.” So, Gary decided it was time to address the imbalance and spent a year researching his options.
An increasing number of people are choosing to travel abroad for cosmetic surgery, swayed by the cheaper prices countries such as Turkey offer, as well as the added bonus of a mini break in the sun. However after much consideration, Gary opted for Signature clinic in Manchester thanks to their “transparency” and before and after testimonials from previous satisfied clients.
In June 2024, under the hands of Dr Sherif, Gary underwent a full facial rejuvenation, which involved upper and lower blepharoplasty – an eyelid treatment – with a full face and neck lift. “I thought that I looked so bad that whatever they did couldn’t make it any worse,” he says on his nerves beforehand. “So, I wasn’t exactly worried, but the results were better than I could ever have imagined.”
The operation took three hours and he was conscious throughout, which did concern him slightly. “It’s obviously a bit scary, as I was awake through the entire procedure,” he reveals. “But I felt no pain throughout it, just a little discomfort in my neck, and Dr Sherif and the whole team put me completely at ease.”
Following the procedure, he received regular calls from the clinic to check everything was going as planned and there were no issues. Although it takes half a year for the desired results to be seen fully, a thrilled Gary began to see improvements immediately, as did those around him.
“I started seeing results within a week, and I was made up!” he says. “At the time of the surgery, I was told it takes six months for the full effect – and that’s exactly right. Every day, I’m amazed at how much better it gets. My friends say I look like I’m in my mid-40s. I definitely don’t look almost 65 anymore! Thanks to Dr. Sherif and the brilliant team, I finally look as youthful as I feel and it’s made an enormous difference to how I see myself in the mirror.”
According to Signature Clinic, which is the UK’s largest cosmetic surgery provider, there is a growing appetite for both surgical and non-surgical enhancements for men and women. One of the biggest rises has been seen in blepharoplasty, which Gary underwent. In the past year the clinic carried out more than 3,300 procedures which reflects its increasing popularity among those yearning for a more youthful look. Another popular option among men is gynecomastia surgery, which helps with excess breast tissue. This treatment accounted for 19 per cent of the clinic’s procedures. Other high-performing procedures included face and neck lifts.
Dr. Carlo Debbas, a plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Signature, said: “It’s clear that there has been a recent shift in the types of cosmetic surgery treatments that people are now prioritising, and that men are also feeling more confident in seeking out procedures that will help to boost their confidence and wellbeing. More than ever people are investing in longer term procedures, with a move away from aesthetic procedures that perhaps don’t have as many lasting results.”
He adds: “Facelift procedures have advanced significantly over the last decade, with techniques now offering natural-looking results that enhance a person’s features rather than drastically changing them. The focus is no longer on creating a completely different look, but on helping individuals appear more refreshed, youthful, and confident in their own skin.”
Gary, who is now glowing with confidence just months after his treatment and says he wishes he’d done it sooner, comments: “I think for men now it’s become a lot more socially acceptable to have work done. This was the only facial surgery I’ve had, and it was worth every penny.”