Caroline Mercer* | Full Facelift
“It has really boosted my confidence”
Twenty years ago, Caroline Mercer* underwent a “highly successful” mini facelift. Now, two decades later and facing a new chapter in her life—recently separated after a 30-year marriage and beginning divorce proceedings—she found herself reassessing her personal and emotional priorities.
As someone who runs her own business and mentors younger professionals, Caroline became increasingly aware of how her appearance affected her interactions.
She said: “I was particularly bothered by my prominent nasal folds, and I felt I looked sad all the time.
“I wanted to retrieve the last 10 years of my life. I always exercised, saw a dermatologist, and looked after myself. This was the beginning of taking that next step.”
Caroline’s mini facelift was performed by Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Mr Baljit Dheansa. Curious whether Mr Dheansa was still in practice, she looked him up and booked a consultation to see her options against her budget.
“I had a thorough assessment and was presented two options: a partial or a full facelift,” explained Caroline. “We talked about where the scars would be, which made me anxious, but Mr Dheansa gave me all the information, including what could go wrong, as surgeons should do. Then he left it with me to make the decision.”
A second consultation helped Caroline finalise her choice and address remaining questions before she booked a full facelift at The McIndoe Centre. The surgery was performed in the morning, and she stayed two nights at The McIndoe Centre, following postoperative instructions carefully.
“The only thing I hadn’t planned for was how difficult it would be to eat on that first day,” she said. “I couldn’t even eat toast and had to stick to soft food. After that, I just had to be careful when I ate.
“The main thing I needed to do was sleep upright and not bend over, which was fine. I didn’t have excessive bleeding, swelling, or any infections. It was a fairly smooth path to recovery, and I healed pretty well.
“Before and after the operation, Mr Dheansa was always open to consultations. I had three follow-ups. He was extremely reassuring and always available. He always had the time to explain everything.”
“The McIndoe Centre functions extremely well. It’s the staff that make it. They couldn’t have done more for me and were all very professional. I found everything very comfortable and always felt safe and secure."
Caroline Mercer*
“I’m so pleased I had it done as it has really boosted my confidence. My nasal folds have disappeared, and much to my surprise, I now have cheekbones and dimples, which is a huge bonus.”
Mr Dheansa added: “I try to make continuity of care and understanding a patient’s concerns an important part of my practice. This helps me to identify the best approach with my patient, which then ensures that they get the best possible result.
“It is always good to see the impact of well-planned surgery and even more so when patients return to have further treatment as we build on the positive results we have already achieved.”
*Patient name has been changed for confidentiality purposes
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As a nationally recognised hospital of excellence in plastic, reconstructive, ophthalmic and maxillofacial surgery, we have demonstrated ourselves to be: effective, responsive, caring, safe and well-led. Recently rated ‘good’ by the CQC, we are committed to treating our patients and each other with kindness, respect and dignity resulting in life-changing outcomes.
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