Do you have questions?
Need additional advice? No problem! Ask our team of experts. We'd love to hear from you.
Podcast episode 30: Plastic surgeon Barbara Craggs on ageing gracefully
In this episode, we welcome plastic surgeon Dr. Barbara Craggs. We reveal the three most requested aesthetic treatments and talk about the impact of social media. We also discuss the role of bioidentical hormones, strength training, and supplements. An open and honest conversation that shows beauty doesn’t stop at menopause - it can evolve into greater strength and confidence.
About Dr. Barbara Craggs
Dr. Barbara Craggs is a plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeon. She works at Sint-Vincentius–Maria Middelares Hospital in Deinze and also runs her private practice.
Her patients are mainly women, who come to her for medical reasons or aesthetic concerns.
Aging gracefully
Dr. Craggs says she can now better empathize with her patients as she grows older herself. Most women are realistic and simply want to age well. Still, social media often creates unrealistic expectations.
“Social media spreads a lot of misinformation. As doctors and healthcare professionals, we must ensure everyone has access to accurate information,” says Dr. Craggs.
The three most popular aesthetic procedures for women
- Eyelid surgery
- Breast augmentation or reduction
- Tummy tucks and liposuction
Plastic surgery and menopause
During menopause, your body changes. You lose firmness, and your skin and fat begin to sag. The face transforms from a V shape to an inverted V shape. Dr. Craggs: “You can first correct that with injectables. If that’s no longer enough, you can opt for a facelift or surgical tightening of the jawline. For many women, the neck is also a particularly challenging area.
It’s important that the overall appearance remains harmonious. Years of Botox can sometimes cause a mismatch between the upper and lower face - smooth on top, sagging below. “In that case, it’s better to reduce or pause Botox to restore balance,” says Dr. Craggs. “Or you can treat the lower part of the face to redistribute volume.”
What about aging hands?
Amandine points out that facelifts can create stunning results, but the hands sometimes give away one’s age.
Dr. Craggs: “Everything you can do for the face can be done for the hands. Prevention first - daily SPF 50 - then treatments like CO₂ laser for pigmentation, fillers, and biostimulators. Combining these ensures your hands age as gracefully as your face.”
The effect of bioidentical hormones
Bioidentical hormone therapy helps the skin age more slowly during menopause - fewer wrinkles and less sagging. Of course, lifestyle also plays a major role. Smoking and sun exposure are the biggest culprits. Exercise is essential too, ideally a mix of cardio and strength training to prevent osteoporosis.
Amandine: “Bioidentical hormones also help prevent osteoporosis and support mental well-being. Unfortunately, many women are still afraid to use them.”
Aesthetic treatments for flabby arms
Those dreaded “bingo wings” - are they inevitable? Dr. Craggs: “If you don’t gain significant weight, your arms won’t get heavy. Some women are genetically predisposed to looser skin under the arms. Exercise can tone the muscle but won’t tighten the skin."
"If it really bothers you, you can consider surgery - a combination of liposuction and skin removal. But that does leave a large scar.”
Plastic surgery vs. acceptance
Dr. Craggs doesn’t accept every patient request. She always tries to understand the motivation behind it. “A breast augmentation to save a relationship is not a good idea. If a patient is being pressured by a partner or struggles with low self-esteem, that’s a red flag.”
Sometimes she suggests alternatives like changing clothing style. “Many older women look fantastic without Botox, fillers, or surgery. They feel good in their own skin and know what they want.”
Ultimately, it’s about self-acceptance. “And don’t forget: nobody’s perfect, not even the people you follow on social media.”
Recovery time after surgery
Dr. Craggs is active on social media herself, sharing accurate information to counter widespread myths. Online, it can look like plastic surgery fits between two parties, but that’s far from reality. These are real operations under anesthesia, and recovery can be demanding.
“Your body truly needs time to heal,” says Dr. Craggs. “Sometimes, you even need multiple stages. For many people, that’s a shock in our ‘quick-fix’ culture.”
The role of healthy nutrition
Nutrition also plays a big role in slowing skin aging. But many people no longer have time to cook healthy, fresh meals. On top of that, vitamins are often lost during cooking or storage, and our soil contains far fewer nutrients than 50 years ago.
“As a result, even people who eat healthily and avoid processed foods can still have deficiencies,” explains Dr. Craggs.
Supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle
Amandine agrees: “Healthy food alone isn’t enough anymore, since our needs have changed."
Stress affects vitamin B12, which is linked to women’s energy levels. Vitamin D and folic acid are also crucial.
"If your needs are higher, taking supplements can help, but they never replace healthy food and exercise. It’s all about balance.”
Insentials menopause supplements
-10%
Menaupose
(Peri) Menopause Pack
The complete 360° approach
Contributes to weight reduction⁸
Add to cart
€191,50
€172,35
€172,35