Press Articles

Fiona Meiklejohn hated the signs of ageing that were starting to show on her face. So she did what an increasing number of British women are now doing - she had cosmetic surgery.

But after spending more than £2,500 on a facelift and suffering a few weeks of looking and feeling like she had gone 12 rounds with Lennox Lewis, Fiona found that few people noticed any difference.

"Those who knew about it said there was a subtle difference, but then people are so terribly insincere you can never tell if they are telling the truth", says the 43-year-old photographic library manager.

The fact is, for a lot less money and pain she could have achieved a far more dramatic improvement in her appearance. As our pictures show, careful make-up and styling can take off more years than the surgeon's knife. So can losing a few pounds if you are overweight. And as Brigitte Bardot has shown, the glow of a new love affair can work wonders.

Since 1985 inquiries about cosmetic surgery in Britain have risen by more than 800 per cent. Only this week a survey by Gallup showed one in five would like to go under the knife, despite the risks of general anaesthetic and excessive scar tissue from poorly performed operations. Surgery may have prolonged the careers of some Hollywood actresses but for many people it is not the panacea they may believe.

Top cosmetic surgeon Anthony Erian says he turns away more than half the people who walk into his Harley Street consulting rooms looking for a new image.

"If they are doing it to please someone else or save a marriage I tell them I won't do it," he says.

"Many people would be better off spending a smaller amount of money on a new hairdo or a relaxing holiday. A person's basic character cannot be altered by surgery. But subtle changes in physical looks can have psychological benefits."

Grace Taylor, 56, went to Erian for a facelift and to have lines around her eyes smoothed out. The change may not be dramatic but Grace was "delighted".

However some people may find surgery has little effect: "People with short necks will not benefit as much from a facelift as those with long necks", says Erian. "Nor will those with a receding chin because whatever you pull, there is nothing to hook it on to."

A comparatively cheap make - over, on the other hand, can improve every face. Becky Wallam and Andrea Carpenter achieved dramatic results with a £95 make - over by the stylists at Cover Girl International.