Woman, 48, Opens Up About Her Facelift Journey

Embracing a surgical refresh to restore self-confidence

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:47pm

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A 48-year-old beauty journalist and brand consultant shares her experience getting a facelift, including the physical and emotional challenges, as well as the transformative results that have left her feeling more confident than ever.

Why it matters

As more women in their 40s opt for facelifts, this story provides a candid look at the motivations, expectations, and recovery process, highlighting how a surgical refresh can impact one's sense of self.

The details

The author consulted with four surgeons before choosing Mark Murphy, a facial plastic surgeon in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to perform a deep-plane facelift, deep neck lift, brow lift, and fat transfer. She underwent the procedure along with a close friend for moral support during the recovery process, which involved swelling, limited mobility, and emotional ups and downs, but ultimately resulted in a more youthful, refined appearance that the author is thrilled with.

  • The author is 48 years old.
  • The facelift procedure took place approximately 3 months ago.

The players

Mark Murphy

A facial plastic surgeon based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, who performed the author's facelift procedure.

Elizabeth Chance

A facial plastic surgeon in Charlottesville, Virginia, who estimates that women in their 40s make up 30-35% of her patients, up from about 10% a decade ago.

Andrew Frankel

A board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills who notes that younger patients in their late 30s and 40s tend to need more psychological support post-surgery.

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What they’re saying

“The key for me is not the patient's age; it is their anatomy, their goals, and their desire for a result that is elegant, feminine, and entirely undetectable.”

— Elizabeth Chance, Facial Plastic Surgeon

“Perhaps because they are more certain of their need for the surgery”

— Andrew Frankel, Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

“Your surgery was 70 percent aging and 30 percent genetics”

— Mark Murphy, Facial Plastic Surgeon

What’s next

The author plans to continue her recovery process and embrace her refreshed appearance with confidence.

The takeaway

This story highlights how a facelift can be a transformative experience, not just physically but emotionally, as women in their 40s increasingly seek surgical solutions to restore their sense of self and self-confidence.