Did Iulia Albu have a facelift? Yes, and she talked about it openly

What did Iulia Albu say about her facelift?

She announced it in a social media post in July 2026, with photos from different days after the operation. Her words were quoted by the Romanian daily Libertatea and by A1.ro, which noted that she was 44: “No gatekeeping here, girls. I decided it was time for a deep plane facelift. My face hadn't even dropped and yes, I could have lived without it, BUT I WANTED IT NOW. I don't want to look different, I don't want bigger lips or changed features.”

She also described the recovery in her own words: “Today I'm taking you with me into my story, no filters, no ‘I've had nothing done’, no nonsense. The procedure was only the first step; it was followed by a personalised protocol of drips and treatment. I had some harder days, two of them, but on the whole I'm very lucky, I'm healing fantastically.”

That is all we rely on here. We do not guess at the details of her operation, and where this article explains facelift types and recovery, it describes the operation in general, not her treatment.

Why her openness stands out

Iulia Albu asked her followers a direct question: why do more and more public figures have this operation while almost nobody talks about it? She chose to talk, and to show the recovery day by day instead of presenting only the final result. For many people who are considering a facelift, that is more useful than any before-and-after picture: it shows that the decision can be calm and personal, and that recovery is a process with easier and harder days.

Her reasoning is worth noting too. She did not want new features or a different face; she wanted to keep her own. That matches what a modern facelift is designed to do: lift tissues that have started to descend and restore contours, not change who you are.

How a facelift is done today

A modern surgical facelift works deeper than the skin. The surgeon lifts and redrapes the skin, redistributes fat in the cheeks and lower face and — the key step — lifts and secures the SMAS layer of muscle and fascia, treating the cause of sagging rather than its surface. A deep plane facelift, the term Iulia Albu used, is one of the variants of this deep work. The operation is done under general (inhalation) anaesthesia, with incisions hidden along the hairline and around the ears. City Medical Centre offers four main options:

The surgeon chooses the option and the scope at the consultation, after assessing the changes in the face and neck, not on the basis of a celebrity story.

Who is a candidate and how to prepare

A facelift is usually considered from 40 with marked loss of firmness, and in some cases from 35. Typical reasons are a blurred jawline and jowls, loose neck skin, a double chin, deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines, drooping brows and a tired look, and the wish for a lasting result. City Medical Centre lists these contraindications: age under 30, acute skin inflammation, pregnancy and breastfeeding, severe cardiovascular disease, blood clotting disorders, cancer and decompensated diabetes.

• Tell the surgeon about every earlier treatment — fillers, threads and other procedures help the surgeon plan realistically.
• Mention chronic conditions at the consultation, so they can be taken into account before a date is set.
• Plan time for recovery: rest in the first days matters as much as the operation itself.

What recovery looks like

Iulia Albu spoke of two harder days, and that fits what patients usually experience: the first days are the most demanding. In general, the first 7–10 days are for rest, a compression bandage and reduced physical activity; tightness and discomfort are eased with prescribed medication. Swelling and bruising fade in 2–4 weeks, and the first clear changes appear after 3–4 weeks. Full recovery takes about two months, and the final look settles in 3–6 months. The operating surgeon follows the patient for a year.

1. Day of surgeryGeneral (inhalation) anaesthesia; you stay in the inpatient unit under 24/7 monitoring.
2. Days 1–3Rest and a compression bandage; tightness and discomfort are eased with prescribed medication.
3. Days 4–10Rest continues and physical activity stays limited; the bandage is worn as instructed.
4. Weeks 2–4Swelling and bruising fade; the first clear changes are visible after 3–4 weeks.
5. About 2 monthsFull recovery.
6. Months 3–6The final look settles; the surgeon follows you for a year.

A facelift at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre in Moscow performs surgical facelifts only, and patients from Bucharest can start with an online consultation. The first consultation is free: the surgeon examines you, suggests the option that fits and explains every step. A facelift starts from $2,400; the full circular facelift is priced on request. The price includes combined inhalation anaesthesia, a stay in comfortable rooms with 24/7 monitoring and meals, personal support before and after surgery, and a year of follow-up by your plastic surgeon. In-house 0% instalments are available. More details are on the facelift page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Iulia Albu or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of a woman who chose to talk openly about the procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Did Iulia Albu have a facelift?

Yes. In July 2026 she wrote on social media that she had decided on a deep plane facelift and shared photos from her recovery. Libertatea and A1.ro quoted her words.

Why did Iulia Albu decide on a facelift?

She said her face had not dropped and she could have lived without it, but she wanted it now. She added that she did not want to look different, did not want bigger lips or changed features.

What is a deep plane facelift?

It is one of the variants of a deep facelift, in which the surgeon works below the skin in the deeper layers of the face instead of simply tightening the skin. Which technique suits a given patient is decided by the surgeon at the consultation.

How long does a facelift last?

A surgical SMAS facelift usually gives a result of 7–10 years, and the full circular facelift up to 10 years.

How much does a facelift cost at City Medical Centre?

A facelift starts from $2,400; the full circular facelift is priced on request. The price is given after the free consultation.