She’s a motor-biking, music-loving mum-of-two who prides herself in keeping fit and looking good.
But when Sarah Sleet hit 60 she decided that it was time to give nature a ‘helping hand’ and went under the knife for facelift and neck lift surgery.
A member of a women’s motorcycle group The Tribe and owner of both a Ducati Monster and a Harley Davidson Street bike, Sarah, who lives in Solihull, said: “I wanted to look like I feel – young! I live life to the full, I love going biking and in my spare time I help promote various rock and pop bands.
“The skin around my neck has lost its elasticity and, for want of a better term ‘gone saggy’. If I could have tightened it up with exercise or skin creams then I would have but, unfortunately, none of these would work and I was left with the option of surgery or saggy skin!
“I work very hard to keep in shape and look good so when I reached 60 I thought ‘why not?’ And began researching the procedure and the surgeons who carry it out.”
Sarah, who in the past worked as a mechanical engineer and is now in property management, met with Consultant Facial Plastic Surgeon Mr Samuel Mattine at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, near Birmingham West Midlands.
She said: “I’m not ready to grow old just yet. I’m a very enthusiastic amateur beautician but I had nothing in my ‘armoury’ that could tighten the skin around my neck so I chose to have the operation. It was my 60th birthday present to myself.
“Mr Mattine understood my problem immediately and talked me through what the operation would entail. He also showed me pictures of other women he had carried out similar surgery on. Most of all, he managed my expectations and also advised that by acting now the changes would be less noticeable and more natural looking.”
Mr Mattine explained: “As we age our skin begins to lose elasticity and facial tissues lose volume which eventually results in deep wrinkles and sagging skin in the midface and jawline. There can also be deep creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth extending down to the chin as well as sagging skin in the neck.
“Nowadays people are looking for a ‘less is more’ effect when it comes to cosmetic surgery. That is to say they want to look different – but not to the extent where everyone can immediately tell they have had work done.
“I have developed a comprehensive face and neck lift technique where I reshape and tighten the cheeks while enhancing the jawline definition and reducing wrinkles from the nose to the corners of the mouth. At the same time, I treated the jowls and neck area, tightening the skin and giving Sarah a much more youthful look.
“Once the initial swelling and bruising has passed then, as Sarah will tell you, she has the look she wants without anyone being able to tell she has had surgery.”
Sarah, who recently celebrated her 61st birthday, said that her recuperation had been helped by her own beautician skills.
“I don’t intend to let nature run its course without a fight,” she joked. “I take my health and my looks very seriously so if I have to pay for a device to help me achieve that then so be it. I eat well, have never smoked and I stay out of the sunshine as much as possible – keeping your skin at its best takes time and effort.
“Looking good helps me feel good. It isn’t about vanity it is about self-esteem. I didn’t have the surgery without researching it thoroughly and I have to say I am absolutely delighted with the results.”
Read the full story showcased on the Spire Hospital Website
