A 64-year-old fitness fanatic decided to undergo extreme cosmetic surgery so that his face matched his fit physique - and his mate's reaction was priceless. Gary Fox exercised almost daily to ensure his body was in the best physical shape it could be for his years. Although he felt amazing and full of life, when he looked in the mirror he felt let down by his ageing face which was showing the natural ageing process much more than the rest of him.
"From the neck down, I'm in decent shape," he told the Mirror. "I ice skate nearly every day and lift weights - but my face wasn’t matching the rest of me." So, Gary took the plunge and spent a year researching his cosmetic options. He eventually decided on the Signature Clinic in Manchester because of their transparent before and after testimonials from previous satisfied clients. After consultations he opted for upper and lower blepharoplasty - an eyelid treatment - combined with a full face and neck lift.
In June 2024 he underwent the complete facial rejuvenation which took three hours under the expert hands of Dr Sherif and he was awake throughout the entire procedure. He shared exactly how it felt to go under the knife with just a local anaesthetic, saying he was initially concerned about being in pain as his face was transformed. "It's obviously a bit scary, as I was awake through the entire procedure," he explains. "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." He continues: "I thought that I looked so bad that whatever they did couldn't make it any worse. So, I wasn’t exactly worried, but the results were better than I could ever have imagined.".
The clinical team called him regularly to see how he was, especially in the first two weeks post-surgery. They checked in to make sure he was feeling ok and asked lots of questions, which Gary says was "really reassuring". Although the desired improvements take six months to be fully achieved, he says he noticed a difference almost immediately. "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, which can be done safely under local anaesthetic for suitable candidates.
