'After going overseas for a facelift at 37, there was one comment I got more than any other.'

When you think of cosmetic procedures such as facelifts, chances are you think of someone in their fifties or sixties.

But in an era where celebrities seem to be ageing backwards with 'undetectable' cosmetic procedures, and cosmetic procedures are becoming more advanced than ever before, more and more young people are getting a head start on preventative surgery as a means to alter their top cosmetic concerns.

Take Kim Haberley, for example.

At just 37, the Australian hairdresser made the bold decision to undergo a facelift in Türkiye — and she's been openly sharing every step of her journey on TikTok and Instagram.

Her candid and relatable posts quickly went viral, sparking a wave of engagement and conversation around ageing and international cosmetic surgery.

And yes, it's interesting as hell to see what really goes on behind the scenes.

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So, you know what we did? We sat down with Kim to get the lowdown on her experience after flying overseas for a facelift.

The decision to undergo a facelift.

A thing you need to know: the decision to undertake a facelift procedure is not something you do willy-nilly. It's a serious procedure with some very real complications.

So, what made Kim, a 37-year-old, want to go through with something so hectic?

Speaking candidly to Mamamia, she said she simply began to notice "excess skin" and a "pocket of looseness" around her jowls and double chin, and felt like her reflection didn't match how she felt inside.

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And as someone who has a significant online presence (she has over 300k followers on TikTok), she told us, "It was probably the fact that I'm just always seeing my face on the camera."

"I'm on TikTok seeing my face a lot. I'm educating around the world. So, I'm always in front of the camera... it was just starting to be a little bit more consuming," she explained.

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Before the procedure, Kim said she had been taping her face when going out (the face-tape trick we tried here on You Beauty podcast!). But temporary fixes weren't cutting it anymore.

"It wasn't about looking younger for others, but feeling confident in my own skin," she explained.

While most people associate facelifts with an older demographic, Kim's reasoning for doing it in her thirties actually makes a lot of sense.

"The younger you are, the better results you can get and the more natural-looking results you'll see," she said.

"You don't have to stretch so much of your skin when you're older, and you won't see that really classic 'pulled' kind of look.

"I don't want to wait until my face is literally falling off and I'm so unhappy with my appearance to then have to try and get it snatched back up. When I'm 50 or 60, I want to be drunk in my garden. I don't want to be worried about getting a facelift."

The procedure.

Like many Aussies looking for cosmetic procedures (ahem... hey, hair transplants and veneers), Kim found that Türkiye offered world-class surgery at a fraction of Australian prices.

But for Kim, finding the right doctor wasn't just about scrolling through before-and-after pics on social media or getting a bargain. She did serious homework before committing. (As you should).

"The difference with my doctor is he's doing two facelifts a day, five days a week. The doctors here are doing two a month maybe," she said, highlighting the experience factor that swayed her decision.

And the post-surgery care? Next level. "My doctor ensured a minimum three-night stay in the hospital, seven-day care with a nurse afterwards, and his post-op includes LED light therapy and oxygen chambers," Kim explained.

"For me, he already seemed more advanced in his way of thinking when it comes to the recovery process."

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One major selling point? Her Turkish surgeon offered something called "scarless facelifts" — a technique Kim said Australian doctors told her didn't exist when she consulted with them.

In terms of the financial side of her facelift journey, Kim revealed the significant investment she made in her appearance, sharing that it cost her around 19,000USD — which works out to about $30,000AUD — for a deep plane facelift.

In Australia, facelifts can run upwards of $50,000 depending on the surgeon and specific techniques used.

"When you factor in the experience level of the surgeons there and the comprehensive aftercare, the value becomes clear," Kim explained.

"Plus, I was able to include my flights and accommodation in my overall budget planning."

The recovery.

As we mentioned before, anyone thinking a facelift is just a quick nip and tuck with a bit of discomfort needs to think again. It's important to remember a facelift is an extremely serious procedure with many potential complications.

"I wasn't prepared for the pain," Kim shared.

"This was excruciating for three days. I honestly thought I was going to die from the pain and I was worried that it was never going to go."

Kim after the facelift procedure. Image: TikTok/@iambohoblonde.

However, the bounce-back was quicker than expected. Despite the horror movie-worthy pain in the first few days, she told us she was surprised by how quickly she recovered.

"My mum was like, 'This would take me six months for the swelling and bruising to go.' But mine lasted around two-and-a-half weeks, and I'm back at work. I've got swelling, but my bruises are completely gone. I was on the treadmill five days later," she shared.

However, when we asked if she'd recommend the procedure to others, Kim didn't hold back: "Day three, I was talking to my mum and I was like, 'I would never ever recommend anyone do this. You just can't live through this. I would never ever do this again'."

With that said, she doesn't regret her decision one bit.

"I don't regret that I've done it because I know that I'm going to be so much more confident in the coming months. I am really happy that I was strong enough and confident enough to go through with it because I know that I'm going to be happy."

Kim after her facelift procedure. Image: Supplied.

And for those wondering if this is the start of a lifelong cosmetic surgery journey? Kim's answer is clear: "By the time I'm 50 or 60, I'm going to be happily just ageing naturally."

The commentary around her decision.

Instead of disappearing for a few weeks and returning online with a refreshed face, Kim decided to document every piece of her procedure and recovery journey, sharing the ins and outs of the procedure with her followers.

"I really couldn't have just come back three weeks later with a completely different face," she told us. "I think it would be more of an uproar and affect my authenticity, which is essentially my brand. I've always been very honest and open with my followers and subscribers. I've never hidden anything from them."

There was also the desire to be the guide she never had: "I just wish that when I was looking at this, I had seen just a normal girl documenting every bit of it so I knew what to expect."

Kim before and after her facelift procedure. Image: Supplied.

But then came the comments.

In one video, someone wrote, "Stop being so vain. You are not even old. Why do you need a facelift? No wonder everyone is so insecure in this society."

Another comment read, "Ahh man, I felt so sad for your mum. I hope I'm never in this position — taking care of and healing my beautiful little girl because she thinks she needs to change herself this badly. Hope you're okay."

Among the thousands of reactions to her videos, where many suggested she was "too young for a facelift," Kim said it was the accusations of body dysmorphia that really hit hard.

"The whole body dysmorphia thing couldn't have been further from the truth for me," she said. "I don't have body dysmorphia. I'll come on camera with no makeup. Those kinds of comments really sucked because I know that's not the truth."

Touching on the commentary around her mental health, she shared: "I actually had to meet these criteria here in Australia. For the two consultations, I had to fill out a mental health check to see if I'm even fit for the consultations. I did two of them and passed both."

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Backlash aside, being open about her facelift actually boosted her professional presence.

"I was really surprised at all the positivity and support," she shared.

Kim before and after her facelift procedure. Image: Supplied.

"I think sharing this has shown people that it can be a normal procedure for someone who is normal and just wants a little refreshment," she said.

"You can't tell me there's not a 30-year-old girl that sat in the car mirror and pulled her face up a little bit and was like, 'Oh, that would look good.'"

If you want more on Kim Haberley's facelift experience, follow her on Instagram @iambohoblonde and TikTok @ismbohoblonde.

What are your thoughts on facelifts? Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Supplied.