“I’m Honestly Terrified”: 28YO Gets A Facelift, People Are Questioning Reality

For as long as humans have been around, we’ve chased beauty, sometimes at shocking costs.

Centuries ago in Europe, people smeared lead on their faces to achieve that pale “aristocratic” look, so common it became known as the Venetian curse. In Ancient Egypt, toxic minerals were brushed across eyelids in the name of allure, and by the early 1900s, women were literally dusting their faces with radium-infused powders just to sparkle a little brighter.

Today, beauty treatments have evolved and are generally much safer thanks to medical research. But our obsession hasn’t gone anywhere. Recently, one woman revealed online that she had a facelift at just 28, sparking fierce backlash over harmful beauty standards and the physical risks involved.

Scroll down to see how the internet reacted and weigh in with your thoughts.

One woman recently opened up about her beauty treatments, revealing she’d already had a facelift at just 28

Young woman before and after facelift at 28, highlighting changes in facial appearance and skin texture.

Image credits: hotgirlenhancements

The news spread quickly, sparking heated debates online

Young woman in a black dress smiling and holding paws with a dog, symbolizing people talk about women facelifts harm.

Image credits: jenunhinged

Among the backlash were fears over the kind of example this could set

Text discussing the impact and harm of women who get facelifts at 28 in the context of societal expectations.

Text discussing opinions on women who get facelifts at 28, addressing societal views and potential harm.

Text discussing the harm and effects of getting a facelift at a young age on the body and overall health.

Text explaining the harm of facelifts at a young age, focusing on skin thinning and the need for revision surgeries.

Text about the psychological harm of women who get facelifts at 28 and the emotional impact of surgical changes.

Text expressing concern about young women viewing facelifts at 28 as normal or a good idea, discussing harm.

Image credits: jenunhinged

@jenunhinged you don’t peak in your 20s unless you believe the lie that being young and fuckable is your highest worth. a facelift at 28 won’t save you from a system built to make you feel expired. #beautymyth#agingtruth#feministperspective#cosmeticsurgeryculture♬ original sound – Jen 🎀🐍🎀

Beauty treatments and surgical enhancements are becoming more and more popular among younger generations

Woman getting facial assessment from doctor, illustrating concerns about women who get facelifts at 28 years old.

Image credits: nensuria / freepik (not the actual photo)

When I was a teen in the 2010s—which really doesn’t feel that long ago—the beauty world felt completely different. Aging skin wasn’t even on our radar. The only “anti-aging” products we knew were creams we saw in ads, and even those seemed like something for much older people.

We weren’t exactly skincare-savvy either. We’d buy whatever cheap products promised quick fixes: harsh scrubs that left our faces raw, toners that stung with alcohol but claimed to banish acne. Looking back now, it makes me cringe.

SPF? That was for beach holidays. Glycolic acid and retinoids? Never heard of them. To me, any obvious cosmetic tweak meant Botox, and filler was only for plumping lips.

Then came the first beauty YouTubers. My classmates devoured their tips, and Instagram slowly started shaping how we thought about skincare and makeup. Information became easier to access, but so did endless new trends telling us what we “should” be doing to look good.

Since then, the pressure has only intensified.

Today’s younger generation is diving into beauty routines far earlier than we ever did. Gen Alpha, for instance, begins experimenting with skincare, makeup, and fragrance at just eight years old, half the age their millennial and Gen X counterparts started, according to a 2024 Ulta Beauty report titled Generation Joy.

And it’s not stopping at serums and face masks. Aesthetic and surgical procedures are following the same pattern.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports that Botox and other neuromodulator use jumped 73% between 2019 and 2022. Even teens are getting on board: injections for those under 20 rose by 9% from 2022 to 2023. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery says 75% of surgeons have noticed a spike in clients under 30.

Facelifts, once considered strictly for middle-aged patients, are also becoming more common. Traditionally, nearly 60% of facelift patients in 2023 were between 55 and 69, according to ASPS. But younger groups are catching up fast: patients aged 20–29 and 30–39 each saw a 7% increase last year, while the 40–54 group grew by just 3%.

So what’s happening? Did people in their 20s suddenly start aging overnight? Not exactly.

Experts say many younger clients aren’t chasing youth, they’re chasing different features. Dr. Jonathan Zelken, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California, told CNN that some of his patients in their 20s and 30s “want sharper jaw lines, sharper cheeks, sharper brows.”

He explained: “It’s not a rejuvenation strategy. It’s a beautification strategy.”

Emily Cipryk, the woman who recently caused an uproar online, is a perfect example. Speaking to CNN, she explained she underwent a plane mid-facelift, a procedure that lifts tissue and skin around the corners of the eyes and cheeks.

“I really wanted to enhance myself, just to feel good about myself again,” she said.

During her time working in financial technology during the pandemic, Cipryk spent hours on Zoom calls, constantly staring at her own face. “I partied a lot, from university until my late 20s, and it caught up with me… I just didn’t look good,” she added.

Her transformation involved six surgeries in one go, including a blepharoplasty, lip lift, rhinoplasty, and partial buccal fat removal. Cipryk says she’s “very happy” with the results.

But the trend raises big questions: Is this a sign of progress in personal empowerment, or a worrying step toward making extreme beauty procedures the norm? Are we learning to feel good about ourselves, or just finding new ways not to accept what we see in the mirror?

It’s a conversation that’s hard to ignore, and one that makes me uneasy about what might be next.

Commenters urged society to normalize women getting older without shame

Social media comment questioning what people actually lift when women get facelifts at 28, sparking discussion on harm.

Comment from Lisa advocating mandatory therapy before plastic surgery in a discussion about women who get facelifts at 28.

Comment on social media about women who get facelifts at 28 discussing harm and beauty perceptions.

TikTok comment by RosiePosie about poverty, highlighting conversations on women who get facelifts at 28 and related harm.

A social media comment discussing women who get facelifts at 28, highlighting natural feature growth and harm concerns.

Comment discussing the paradox of women getting facelifts at 28 to look their best despite being at their peak.

Comment expressing that aging is a privilege, responding to people talking about women who get facelifts at 28 and the harm discussed.

Comment from Vanessa sharing her views on young women who get facelifts and discussing the harm related to facelifts at 28.

Comment discussing how buccal fat removal can age women and may go out of fashion, related to women getting facelifts.

Comment criticizing surgeons offering facelifts to young women, highlighting ethical concerns and potential harm.

Social media comment highlighting how facelifts and surgery are normalized among young women at 28, sparking discussion on harm.

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Comment discussing the importance of facial fat for a youthful appearance and the harm of facelifts at a young age.

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Comment on cosmetic dermatology work mentioning a patient in her 50s getting her first facelift and discussing age concerns.

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Image credits: elysiaberman

Having a facelift at that age not only creates harmful expectations but can also pose serious physical risks

Text about cosmetic surgeries and skin care risks for young women discussing harm of facelifts at 28.

Text about people discussing women who get facelifts at 28, debating the harm and risks of such procedures.

Text about people’s opinions on women who get facelifts at a young age and the potential harm of early facelifts.

Gloved hand holding a Botox vial with needle, illustrating cosmetic procedures related to women getting facelifts at a young age.

Image credits: Laura Villela Beauty Designer | Brasil / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt discussing Botox use since age 28, skin texture, rosacea, and prevention of deep-set lines treatment.

Text excerpt about facelifts, emphasizing facelifts as a last resort after other treatments for skin care.

Text message discussing opinions on women getting facelifts at 28, emphasizing concerns about harm and age appropriateness.

Text explaining why people should wait before getting facelifts, highlighting the difficulty of redoing the procedure.

Text discussing the effects and challenges of facelifts on women focusing on tissue reduction and scar tissue complications.

Text from a person advising that facelifts should be one-time procedures and there is no preventative facelift option.

Text about skincare advice including retinol and sunscreen to prevent sun-related aging and skin damage.

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Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Text about non-permanent face-lifting devices that stimulate muscles for a lifted appearance with regular use.

Text about light therapy benefits for skin, mentioning collagen stimulation and acne treatment with daily use.

Text excerpt discussing opinions on women getting facelifts at 28, highlighting concerns about preventative facelifts and aging.

Text about the effects of aging and the acceptance of the natural aging process discussed in relation to women getting facelifts.

Text discussing skin elasticity and advice on maintaining it to avoid harm related to women who get facelifts at 28.

Text image with message encouraging embracing aging naturally instead of facelifts for women at 28, discussing harm concerns.

Woman with facelift markings on her face holding a mirror while a professional in blue gloves prepares for cosmetic surgery procedure.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt discussing the harm and opinions about women who get facelifts at 28, with skincare advice included.

Image credits: elysiaberman

@elysiaberman Big sister hard truths about cosmetic surgeries because if some of you guys don’t chill out, you’re gonna look like Jocelyn Weinstein at 45. #facelift#deepplanefacelift#plasticsurgery#skincare#aging#antiaging♬ original sound – elysiaberman

Commenters agreed there are plenty of ways to keep skin looking good without resorting to such harsh surgery

Comment discussing limits and risks of getting facelifts at a young age and its potential harm to future procedures.

Alt text: Social media comment discussing the effects and concerns of getting facelifts at a young age, highlighting facelift harm.

Comment by Sheree Michelle expressing criticism of doctors and injectors for performing facelifts on 28-year-olds, highlighting harm concerns.

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Comment from Violet discussing non-surgical options to combat early signs of aging before considering a facelift at 28.

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Comment discussing concerns about women who get facelifts at 28 and doubts about the age being suitable for the procedure.

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Social media comment about Gen Z women getting facelifts and cosmetic procedures, raising concerns about harm.

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