For decades, Francesca – now 63, from Wales – was at ease with her looks. ‘I married young at 19 and have always been happy in my own skin,’ she recalls. ‘To me, real beauty comes from feeling comfortable in who you are.’

As such, aesthetic procedures were completely outside her world. In fact, she felt a strong aversion to the entire concept of cosmetic work.

‘I was never someone who had any interest in aesthetic treatments, in fact, quite the opposite. I’d seen so many examples of cosmetic work that had gone too far: overfilled lips, faces that no longer looked like themselves. I was always very clear that it just wasn’t for me,’ she says. ‘I imagined growing older gracefully, accepting the lines and changes that come with life.‘

This happy, predictable life path, however, was shattered in 2023, when Francesca was widowed after forty years of marriage. The loss left her navigating an entirely unfamiliar existence on her own in her sixties. ‘For the first time in decades, I was on my own, but still wanting a future, and perhaps even someone to share it with. I also started to consider whether or not aesthetic treatment would give me more confidence.’

The choice to seek such treatment was not an easy one, however. Francesca’s longstanding fear of looking artificial remained a major hurdle. On the other hand, she was deeply bothered by a deep vertical line above her top lip that became the focal point of her self-consciousness. Francesca explains: ‘Every time I looked in the mirror, my eyes were drawn straight to it. Looking back, it was probably far more noticeable to me than it was to anyone else, but that's often the way with the things we're self-conscious about.

‘It wasn't about wanting to look younger or look like somebody else,’ she recalls. ‘I simply wanted to soften something that affected my confidence. I still wanted to look completely like me, just the best version of myself. I never wanted to look different. I wanted to look like me on a good day.’

Her search led her to Dr Sabika Karim, the founder of Skin Medical, who was recommended by a friend that worked in the industry. ‘She reassured me, saying, ‘She’ll never suggest anything you don’t need and she’ll take things gently”’ says Francesca.

‘I had my first consultation in July 2024, and I was incredibly nervous, so much so that I brought my friend along for support. From the moment I met Dr Karim, I felt at ease. She has a calm, gentle manner, very understanding and reassuring. There was never any pressure, and everything was explained clearly.”

After Francesca was widowed, she lost three stone – though she felt this left her face looking hollow which led her to explore getting filler. Pictured before, right, and after

Dr Sabika Karim, the founder of Skin Medical, has noticed a massive increase in mature patients wanting subtle enhancements

With trust established, Francesca decided to proceed with the treatment in July 2024. She says: ‘I went ahead with a small amount of filler. Despite my anxiety beforehand, the experience was far easier than I’d imagined. I had no bruising, just a little swelling that settled after a few days. It cost £400 and took very little time.’

‘The result genuinely surprised me. It was incredibly natural. The line above my lip softened, my marionette lines were less visible, and my lips looked ever so slightly fuller, even though they hadn’t been directly treated. I still looked like myself, just fresher.’

More than just a physical improvement, this subtle change had a profound emotional impact. ‘I felt better,’ says Francesca ‘And that feeling came at a time in my life when I really needed it.’

With her self-confidence restored, Francesca found it easier to move on with building a new life for herself. Reflecting on this period, she explains: ‘The past few years for me have been about rebuilding. In the beginning, I travelled a lot, perhaps trying to fill the emptiness. I briefly tried a dating app, but it didn’t feel right, so I stepped away.’

Her initial experience with online dating was challenging, forcing her to reflect on her willingness to date after four decades of marriage. Francesca says: ‘I simply wasn't ready. When you've spent over 40 years with someone, it's impossible not to compare people, even though you don't mean to. You're meeting complete strangers and hoping one of them might eventually become someone you could care about, but at first all you have is an online profile, a few photos and a handful of messages. I found it quite hard to get past that stage.’

‘I also had a few disappointing experiences. One man looked nothing like his profile photos, another was perfectly pleasant but we had nothing in common, and I even had someone who simply didn't turn up for a date. I remember thinking that a quick text to say they'd changed their mind would have been the polite thing to do! There were also a few conversations that I chose to end because they became inappropriate quite quickly.

‘I know online dating works for lots of people, but at that point in my life it just wasn't the right experience for me. It felt emotionally draining, so I decided to step away and concentrate on rebuilding my life, spending time with friends, volunteering and trying new hobbies instead.’

Focusing on her own growth instead, Francesca adopted a policy of saying 'yes' to new adventures. This led her to throw herself into volunteering, taking up salsa dancing, and enrolling in a metalwork course. She even worked as a television extra (notably landing a role on the BBC drama Casualty). In addition, Francesca assisted her son in managing his business, auditioned for a reality television show and spent five days in a French chateau helping on a high-fashion shoot.

While rebuilding her social calendar, Francesca also addressed her health and fitness. She transformed her diet and joined a gym, committing to an intense workout schedule five days a week. The results were dramatic: she lost three stone, and felt fitter, stronger and more energised than she had in decades. Annoyingly, her physical success introduced an unexpected side-effect: three stone left her face looking hollowed and fatigued.

Before and after Francesca's treatment, which cost £2,000. The results were immediate and natural, with one acquaintance telling her she looked 'well-rested'

‘I knew losing weight would probably change my face as well as my body because, unfortunately, we don't get to choose where the weight comes off,’ says Francesca. ‘Even so, it never made me question my new healthy lifestyle because I felt so much fitter, stronger and happier. The only downside was that I lost quite a bit of volume in my face, which made me feel I looked more tired than I actually felt.’

Francesca recalls how, in early 2026 after an evening spent with close friends, she returned home and felt a sudden wave of loneliness. That very night, she made a bold decision: she booked a solo trip to Greece and resolved to give dating one final try, this time with a happier life already established. She soon connected with a wonderful man, and as they built a relationship, she began to consider her sense of self-worth. ‘I started speaking to someone genuine, and we connected,’ says Francesca. ‘That made me reflect on how I felt about myself, and I realised that confidence, however you find it, really does matter.’

This newfound clarity brought her back to Skin Medical in March 2026. This time, she consulted Dr Karim on how to address the loss of facial volume from her weight loss. Dr Karim suggested a subtle treatment plan: using small amounts of dermal filler to restore natural shape and contour to her cheekbones and jawline, while gently softening the lines around her mouth.

The treatment, which cost £2,000, was a success. The results were immediate and natural. Soon after, an acquaintance described Francesca as looking ‘well-rested’, a compliment she accepted with delight, as it proved the work was seamless.

Francesca is far from alone; Dr Karim notes a massive increase in mature patients seeking subtle enhancements: ‘I am seeing a lot more people who are turning to aesthetic treatments later in life, in their 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s in order to address changes that have occurred as part of the natural ageing process, as well as due to weight loss and the loss of volume that it can result in.’

For Francesca, her treatments have never been about trying to look like someone else. Instead, they represent an investment in herself after a period of intense grief. Having rebuilt her life from scratch and embraced a future of adventure and romance, she believes that feeling comfortable in your own skin is the ultimate form of beauty. ‘We only get one life – and we deserve to live it feeling as good as we possibly can – not focused on the past or the future, but present and content in who we are,' she says.