FaceliftUnited States5 min read
Did Vicki Gunvalson have a facelift? Yes, and she showed the result herself
The Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson had a facelift on 5 May 2018, after deciding that years of fillers had left her not looking like herself. She spoke to Us Weekly about the decision and the result. Here is what she said, and what a facelift involves for anyone considering one today.
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The main points in 30 seconds
- Vicki Gunvalson had a facelift on 5 May 2018, after years of fillers left her not looking like herself.
- She told Us Weekly that after all the fillers, she looked in the mirror and barely recognized herself.
- Gunvalson said her skin now looks baby smooth, with no wrinkle, no divot and no fillers.
- She said she chose a surgical facelift and had the fillers removed, rather than adding more.
- At City Medical Centre, SMAS, face/neck, brow and all-inclusive facelifts start from $2,400.
Key facts about the procedure
- Main healing2 months
- Final result3–6 months
- AnaesthesiaGeneral
- Pricefrom $2,400
Profile
Vicki Gunvalson
- Country
- United States
- Who
- Reality TV star
- Year of operation
- 2018
- Quote source
- Us Weekly, 27 July 2018
What did Vicki Gunvalson say about her facelift?
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, published in July 2018, Gunvalson explained what led to the decision: “I had a lot of fillers in my face and I didn't feel like it was me anymore… by the time I was done I looked in the mirror and was like 'I don't even look like myself.'” The operation itself was performed on 5 May 2018.
On the result, she said: “Now my skin looks baby smooth. I don't have a wrinkle, I don't have a divot and I have no fillers. I look like was 40 or 35.”
This is what we rely on here. Gunvalson did not describe the specific surgical technique beyond calling it a lower face-lift, and we do not guess at further detail. Everything below describes a facelift in general, not her specific treatment.
Why her story is useful
Gunvalson's account describes a situation surgeons see often: years of injectable fillers can gradually change a face until a person feels they no longer look like themselves, even though no single treatment seemed drastic at the time.
Her decision to have a surgical facelift, and to remove the fillers rather than add more, reflects a different approach — working on the deeper tissue that causes sagging instead of adding volume on top of it.
Her satisfaction with the result, described in her own words as skin that looks “baby smooth,” matches how a SMAS facelift is meant to work: by lifting the tissue layer under the skin rather than only filling or smoothing the surface.
Facelift abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
How a facelift is done today
Modern surgical facelifts work on three levels. The skin is lifted and redraped and the excess removed; fat in the cheeks and lower face is redistributed; and, most importantly, the SMAS layer — the muscle and fascia under the skin — is lifted and secured. Working on this deeper layer treats the cause of sagging rather than only its surface, which is why the effect lasts much longer than a skin-only lift. The operation is done under general (inhalation) anaesthesia, with incisions hidden along the hairline and around the ears.
SMAS facelift (mid and lower face)
- What it addresses
- Jowls, sagging cheeks, double chin, deep nasolabial folds
- Price at City Medical Centre
- from $2,400
Lower face and neck lift (SMAS)
- What it addresses
- Chin, jowls and loose neck skin
- Price at City Medical Centre
- from $2,400
Endoscopic brow and temple lift
- What it addresses
- Drooping brows, forehead and frown lines
- Price at City Medical Centre
- from $2,400
Full (circular) facelift
- What it addresses
- Forehead, temples, mid and lower face and neck together
- Price at City Medical Centre
- on request
A SMAS facelift typically lasts 7–10 years, and a repeat procedure can be done after that if the patient wishes.
Who is a candidate and how to prepare
A surgical facelift is usually recommended from age 40 with marked sagging, and in some cases from 35. Typical reasons:
- a blurred jawline and jowls;
- a double chin or loose skin on the neck;
- deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines;
- drooping brows and a heavy look;
- a wish for a long-term result rather than repeated injections.
Contraindications include acute skin inflammation, pregnancy and breastfeeding, severe cardiovascular disease, blood clotting disorders, cancer and decompensated diabetes. If you have a chronic condition, tell the doctor at the consultation; the surgeon then decides the scope of surgery and explains every stage.
What recovery looks like
For the first 7–10 days you need rest, a compression bandage and reduced activity. Discomfort and tightness in the first days are eased with medication prescribed by the doctor. Swelling and bruising fade in 2–4 weeks, and the first clear changes are visible once the swelling goes down, after 3–4 weeks.
Full recovery takes about two months, and the face reaches its final look within 3–6 months. The operating surgeon follows the patient for the whole first year.
How recovery after a facelift usually goes
- Day of surgeryGeneral (inhalation) anaesthesia; you stay in the inpatient unit under round-the-clock monitoring.
- Days 1–10Rest, a compression bandage and reduced activity; tightness is eased with prescribed medication.
- Weeks 2–4Swelling and bruising fade.
- Weeks 3–4The first clear changes become visible as the swelling goes down.
- About 2 monthsFull recovery.
- Months 3–6The face takes on its final look; follow-up continues for the first year.
A facelift at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs surgical facelifts only, including for patients from Los Angeles. The first consultation is free: the surgeon assesses the type and degree of ageing, suggests the right option and names the final price, with no hidden extras. SMAS facelift, lower face and neck lift, endoscopic brow lift and the all-inclusive facelift start from $2,400; a full circular facelift is priced on request.
Planning the procedure from your city? Read more: Facelift in Singapore, Facelift Surgery in El Paso and Facelift Surgery in Adelaide.
The price includes combined inhalation anaesthesia, a stay in the inpatient unit with 24/7 monitoring and meals, personal support before and after surgery, and a year of follow-up by your plastic surgeon. More details are on the facelift page and the page for patients from Los Angeles.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Vicki Gunvalson or her treatment. We quote her only because she spoke about the procedure openly.
Frequently asked questions
When did Vicki Gunvalson have her facelift?
The operation was performed on 5 May 2018, and she spoke about it publicly that July.
Why did Vicki Gunvalson have a facelift instead of more fillers?
She said years of fillers had left her feeling she no longer looked like herself, so she chose a surgical facelift and had the fillers removed instead.
How long does a facelift last?
A surgical SMAS facelift usually lasts 7–10 years. A repeat procedure can be done after that if the patient wishes.
How much does a facelift cost at City Medical Centre?
SMAS facelift, lower face and neck lift, endoscopic brow lift and the all-inclusive facelift start from $2,400. A full circular facelift is priced on request after the free consultation.
When can I go out after a facelift?
The first 7–10 days are for rest with a compression bandage. Swelling and bruising usually fade in 2–4 weeks, and full recovery takes about two months.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Us Weekly, 27 July 2018
Considering the same operation? Get a free consultation
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