Caroline Stanbury had always been the kind of woman who wore her life on her sleeve—or in this case, right on her face for the world to see. As a star of The Traitors season 4 and a darling of reality TV from Real Housewives of Dubai and Ladies of London, she’d built a brand around being uncensored, raw, and real. So when she decided to undergo a deep plane facelift in November 2023, it wasn’t just a cosmetic choice; it was a bold statement, a vulnerability she dared to share. At 48, Caroline felt the weight of time in ways that filler and Botox couldn’t erase. She’d started those treatments at 26 to fix a wonky eyebrow and plumping lips that never quite looked right, but over the years, they just made her face rounder and heavier. “It was like my jawline kept puffing up like an overfilled balloon,” she recalled later. Dissolving the fillers was step one, but the math hit her: yearly costs, maintenance, and still looking “unnatural” while married to a younger husband, Sergio Carrallo. She didn’t want women her age—or any age—to stare in the mirror and feel like they were fading. This facelift wasn’t about vanity; it was about reclaiming her confidence, showing that aging doesn’t have to whisper—it can roar back. Through her podcast “Uncut and Uncensored,” she’d promised authenticity, and if she censored this, what was the point? She chose to vlog her journey, letting Sergio film every bruise and bandage, turning it into a gift for others. Millions of women scroll past filtered perfection; Caroline wanted to show the real road to rejuvenation, no shortcuts. Her initial revelations came in August 2024 interviews with People, where she peeled back the layers, explaining how other procedures fell short. She laughed about her early Botox days, admitting it was addictive but ultimately ineffective. “I looked at celebrities aging gracefully and thought, why not me?” Sergio, her rock, wasn’t thrilled at first, but he supported her, knowing it was her call. The surgery involved repositioning deep tissues via the SMAS system, sculpting her midface, jawline, and neck, plus eyelid trimming—all at the hands of Dr. Steve S. Kim. Caroline envisioned the booklets surgeons hand out, filled with 80-year-olds turned 60, but she wanted a relatable tale from someone like her. By sharing hers, she hoped to demystify it, inspire laughter, and normalize the struggles. The vlog kicked off post-op, with Sergio teary-eyed as he wheeled her out, her face a map of bandages. And Thanksgiving rolled around, Caroline’s “NEW FACE, NEW ME” post beaming through the healing fog. It was empowering, a testament to her grit, and a reminder that true beauty comes from embracing the process, imperfections and all.
Diving deeper into why Caroline opted for this transformative procedure, she opened up about the emotional crossroads she faced. She wasn’t chasing eternal youth for Sergio or social media; this was personal. At 48, staring into mirrors that reflected a face she’d altered year after year with fillers, she saw weariness. “My lips went weird, and the roundness—I just kept adding more,” she confessed. It felt like pumping air into a tire that never held, only to watch it sag again months later. The cost wasn’t just monetary; it was time, energy, and self-judgment. She’d see younger women or her peers on screen, wondering if they judged her edges. Sergio, 16 years her junior, never pressured her, but the thought lingered: what if she could match the vibrancy she felt inside? Dissolving the fillers was cathartic, like shedding old skin. But the inevitability of aging loomed; fillers are temporary bandaids, not cures. That’s when the facelift idea sparked—a one-time overhaul to reset the clock. She researched voraciously, understanding the deep plane approach: lifting not just skin, but muscles and tissues to create natural, long-lasting lift without that “windswept” look. Emboldened by her experiences in TV, where authenticity sells, she chose to document it. “If I’m uncensored in my podcast, why hide this?” she reasoned. It wasn’t for likes; it was for the quiet messages from women saying, “Me too.” She’d seen so many celebrities pivot to surgeries later in life and thought, why wait? Her age became her strength, proving facelifts aren’t just for the 50s or 60s—they’re for when you decide it’s time. The procedure, performed by Dr. Kim, involved meticulous work: lifting the SMAS for jawline definition, neck tightening, and eyelid rejuvenation. It was as much mental as physical, a brave leap into vulnerability. By choosing to share, she humanized the process, turning a solo fight into a community story. Fans thanked her for the honesty, and Sergio, though nervous, stood by, knowing her happiness was his too. It was a Modern Woman moment—taking charge, challenging norms, and emerging renewed, not perfected.
The surgery day arrived in November 2023, a pivotal point where reality met her resolve. In the operating room, under Dr. Steve S. Kim’s skilled hands, the deep plane facelift unfolded. As defined by medical standards like those from the Mayo Clinic, it goes beyond traditional lifts by accessing and repositioning the deeper layers of facial tissues and muscles. Caroline chose this advanced technique for its ability to create a more natural rejuvenation, lifting the midface, jawline, and neck while tightening the skin via the SMAS system. Add in the eyelid blepharoplasty to remove excess skin, and it was comprehensive—her face, essentially, getting a structural overhaul from the inside out. Sergio waited anxiously, his role as videographer turning him into an emotional witness. Post-op, the vlog captured raw vulnerability: Caroline, unable to speak, wrapped in bandages, managing even talking with difficulty due to the facial coverings. Sergio’s tears flowed freely at the sight of his beloved wife suffering, her face a canvas of pain. “This was one of the hardest moments of my life,” he sobbed in his caption, describing her agony as heart-wrenching. He surprised her with a “Get Well Soon” balloon and an Erewhon smoothie, inspired by Hailey Bieber, trying to lift her spirits. “Oh my God … I love you so much,” he murmured, his voice breaking as he saw the extent of her recovery. Walking to the car, arm-in-arm, he shielded her from the world, acknowledging the sleepless nights and relentless pain. “We didn’t sleep, and she had a lot of hurt,” he recalled, his pride mixing with exhaustion. For Caroline, those early days were a blur of swelling and discomfort, but she pushed through, knowing the endgame: a refreshed her. By Day 14, Thanksgiving, she unveiled glimpses of her “NEW FACE,” proclaiming gratitude for the journey. It wasn’t just about looks; it was survival, a testament to their bond. Sergio, ever the supportive husband, wrapped it up sweetly: “We’re crazy for this, but she’s happy, so am I.” The vlog became therapy for them both, a shared burden that strengthened their marriage.
Sergio Carrallo’s presence in Caroline’s facelift journey adds a layer of heartfelt intimacy that makes the whole experience so human. As her younger husband, he was her constant, filming the ups and downs despite his initial reluctance. “I was against it, but I supported her because she wanted it,” he shared earnestly, his Spanish-accented English laced with love. Watching her struggle post-surgery broke him; seeing bruises and bandages where his vibrant wife usually smiled was overwhelming. Yet, he channeled that emotion into action: helping her eat, managing pain, and capturing honest moments for the vlog. “She’s suffering so much—it’s hard,” he admitted, tears streaming as he recounted those first nights. His surprises, like the balloon and smoothie, were small acts of tenderness in a storm of recovery. Arm-in-arm to the car, he became her protector, whispering encouragements. By the end of the vlog, he glowed with pride: “I’m so proud of her; we came through crazy times!” This wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about perseverance. Sergio embodied real masculinity—vulnerable, supportive, not heroic in grand ways but in daily devotion. For Caroline, his tears weren’t weakness; they validated her pain, reminding her she wasn’t alone. Their dynamic, born from love and compromise, humanized the process. He didn’t want her to change, but seeing her joy post-swelling made it worthwhile. This shared ordeal reinforced their union, turning a personal decision into a marital milestone. Fans loved Sergio’s raw affection, his honesty a breath of fresh air in a filtered world. Through his eyes, we saw the facelift’s toll, not as vanity’s price, but as a couple’s triumph.
Scarring and recovery fears were at the forefront of Caroline’s mind as she navigated her new reality. She got candid in interviews, admitting the scars were everyone’s burning question. The longest, behind the ear, healed slowly but ended as a faint red mark, easily concealed by makeup. “The body heals incredibly,” she marveled, a blend of awe and relief. Unlike before-and-after pics of model reconstructions, hers was real-woman recovery: swelling that ebbed gradually, scars that faded over time, and a look that felt earned. She shared tips like patience and care routines, emphasizing that while bruising lingered, the results were worth it. By January 2025, TikTok fans raved about her natural lift, praising how she avoided the over-done look. “These comments make me so happy,” she beamed, with Sergio cuddling her in bed, his arms a loving embrace. Scars weren’t blemishes; they were badges, stories etched in skin. She discussed bruising honestly—no sugarcoating—and how makeup hid what remained. Her body’s resilience amazed her, turning pain into power. Readers and viewers drew inspiration, seeing that facelifts bring beauty but also healing wisdom. Sergio’s support shone again, his touch a reminder of their bond. The journey taught her that imperfections are okay; beauty lies in confidence. As scars lightened, so did her concerns, replaced by pride. This phase wasn’t cosmetic; it was transformative, proving time heals, and love insists.
Wrapping up her chapter, Caroline offered sage advice for women pondering facelifts, drawing from her lessons in ways that felt deeply personal. On her 2025 podcast episode of “Uncut and Uncensored,” she counseled friends asking, “When is too young?” She was told to wait till 50s, but at 48, she’s glad she didn’t. “It’s about your signs, not age,” she explained, joining Dr. Garo Kassabian for insights. The plastic surgeon reinforced: timing varies; assess visible changes, try non-surgical like Botox, fillers, or radio frequencies first. Facelifts are options for when those fail. Caroline’s story emphasized choice—surgical for deep work, non for maintenance. She spoke of cost-vs-benefit, self-love over comparisons, and the role of partners. Sergio’s support was key, yet she stressed it’s hers. Sharing her vlog aimed to prepare others, showing realistic expectations. Cars now conveyed the process’s reality, debunks myths. Thrilled by results, she thanked fans, empowering women to decide boldly. Her journey became a blueprint: research, consult, recover with love, emerge confident. At 49 now, she glowed, encouraging authenticity. Scars faded, love grew, proving facelifts aren’t endings—they’re new beginnings. Servo’s pride echoed hers, a team victory. This advice wasn’t preachy; it was lived, relatable, humanizing aging choices. Women everywhere thanked her, finding voice in her vulnerability. The deep plane facelift wasn’t just surgery; it was self-discovery, shared generously.
