What's your body bill? The astonishing sums spent by four women to hold back time

Add to My Stories Share Unlike their mothers, who had to grow old gracefully, women in their 40s and 50s are spending more than ever on expensive beauty regimes and painful cosmetic surgery.Yve Wallace, 51, lives in Whipsnade in Hertfordshire with her partner. She has two grown-up sons and works in sales and marketing.
She says: My 50th birthday was a huge turning point for me. I started looking at celebrities like Lulu and Helen Mirren who never seem to age, and realised that its now perfectly possible to erase the years from your face.

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Big spenders: Yve Wallace, far left, Carol Corby, left, Sandra Hunt, right, Traci Walker, far right Big spenders: Yve Wallace, far left, Carol Corby, left, Sandra Hunt, right, Traci Walker, far right

Its not just celebrities who are scrutinised, its also ordinary women like me. Almost every woman I know takes care of her skin and hair, and is desperate to look young. I also lost a stone and a half recently through going to the gym, watching what I eat and walking. Its all too easy at 50 to let the weight creep on, and excess weight is so ageing.In my job, I have to look young and energetic, so theres even more reason to take care of myself. No one these days wants to look like a grey-haired granny.
Sometimes it does become exhausting - in previous generations women gave in and embraced middle age, wearing A-line skirts and woolly cardigans, but you just cant do that today and be taken seriously.
My relationship recently went through a bumpy patch and I became aware that my partner was beginning to look at younger women, which made me realise that I need to keep looking young and sexy.

Surgery saviour: Yve Wallace has had Botox around her nose, and two differen! t types of filler in the lines on her face

Hes about my age, and I do think it is unfair that men dont feel this pressure about ageing, although they do still want to keep their hair and look slim.Ive had Botox around my nose, and two different types of filler in the lines on my face. Before those procedures, I felt I looked tired, but now I look refreshed and dewy.
I do have to save up to afford all these treatments, but, to me, its money well spent. I earn a reasonable amount, and I am not lavish in other areas of my life as this is my priority. Its my money, and I dont see why I shouldnt spend it on myself.

Housewife Carol Corby, 50, lives in Northamptonshire with husband Nigel, a 50-year-old businessman. They have two grown-up children and three grandchildren.
She says: Last year I had my breasts enlarged. Ive always thought about having it done, but approaching 50 gave me the push I needed. Its such a landmark age for women, and I think most of us feel its now or never.

Sculpt and shape: Carol Corby and Sandra Hunt have both had breast enlargements

I booked myself in for the operation with Transform and I was in and out in a day. When I recovered I was able to wear the clothes Ive always wanted. Im a size 8 and very body conscious, but until now Ive never had the confidence to wear tight-fitting styles.
I very much had the operation for me, rather than my husband, who had his reservations, but, thankfully, is now just as pleased as I am.
Hes proud of how young I look and he is happy to pay for it all. Besides, he has the benefit of having a beautiful wife at social occasions.
I take a great deal of pride in the fact that I look good, and I know this keeps our marriage vibrant and happy.
With divorce so rife, long and happy marriages are becoming less and less common, and I think that

Painful peel: Traci Walker has laser treatments on her face twice a yearif both partners not just the wife work to stay in shape then you keep that vital spark alive and dont sink into frumpy old age. Looks are even more important to me now that the children are grown up, because my husband and I now have much more freedom and time to socialise, so I want to walk into a room and feel great.
We have a wide circle of friends and were always out and about. My friends all look amazing but my husband says I am the most beautiful, which is flattering.
We go on exotic cruises, giving me a great opportunity to wear all the lovely clothes I now have the figure for.
I always like to have a tan because it makes me feel so much better, so I use sunbeds a couple of times a week, even though I know I probably shouldnt. I adore clothes and will happily spend 200 on a lovely evening dress.
My husband buys a lot of my dresses, too, and, luckily, he has fantastic taste.
Traci Walker, 47, lives in Birmingham and is a health clinic manager. She is single and has no children.
She says: As I entered my 40s I started to despair of my looks. I hated the way my skin had become crepey and was losing its tone. I have a good complexion, but gravity was taking its toll and I was especially worried about the lower part of my face.
Everything was beginning to droop around my jawline and mouth and my lips had thinned, too.
When I decided to start having non-invasive treatments I wanted to have as much done as possible Botox, fillers, laser treatment and a chemical peel on my skin.
I also have a rehydration treatment injected into my skin to plump it up. Now, as I approach 50, I feel fantastic about the way I look.
Before I had all these treatments the amount I spent on various creams and lotions and potions probably kept whole department stores afloat but now I dont need to spend as much.
I pay for all of it myself from my salary and savings. It do! es mean I have to go without other luxuries, but I would rather invest in my skin and figure as I feel a million dollars.

Make-up magic: Carol Corby spent 3,200 on beauty treatments in the past 12 months

Im naturally a redhead so I dye my hair darker every eight weeks I also get my eyebrows and eyelashes tinted regularly. My nails and waxing I do myself, but I do have regular pedicures.
I love to look glamorous lip gloss and high heels have become my trademark.
Id love to have a successful relationship but thats not the reason behind my beauty expenditure. I am doing this for myself. Yes, there are a lot of beautiful single, younger women out there, but women of my age have a lot to offer, too.
Men dont tend to notice wrinkles or a few extra pounds other women do, though. Im guilty of this, too, and automatically look to see if a woman is lined, or overweight.Being slim and young-looking with smooth skin and glossy hair is the ultimate source of pride an achievement.Divorced mother-of-three Sandra Hunt, 51, lives in Nottingham and works as a retail manager.
She says: Women my age have never looked better. In previous generations getting old was something you just had to deal with but, thankfully, we dont have to.Perhaps I am desperately trying to cling to my youth, but now there are treatments and technology to hold back the years, why shouldnt I take advantage of them?

People cant believe Im in my 50s. Ive helped my looks along with cosmetic surgery - a breast enlargement which last year took me from a 34C to a 32F, and regular Botox and filler injections to get rid of lines and wrinkles, because I want to look as glamorous as possible.
The lines on my face were making me look angry and tired. I feel young inside and I want my face and body to reflect that.
The catalyst for all this was my very traumatic divorce last year, after 14 years of marriage, ! which to tally shattered my confidence and made me conscious of my age and looks.
Now Ive got to pick myself up and get back into the dating game, and to do that I need to look as good as I possibly can. Many men want younger women, so we have to compete with women in their 30s, and that piles on the pressure.
Paying for all these treatments is a squeeze because Im not wealthy, but the feel-good factor makes it worthwhile. Id rather not dine out or buy expensive clothes than deny myself my beauty treatments.
Besides, I see this as an investment in my career too, to keep me looking presentable and healthy.
I also look after my physical health Im a member of a gym, go salsa dancing, and on long walks with friends at least two or three times a week. My beauty regime consists of cleansing, toning and moisturising, and I have weekly nail, massage, pedicure and waxing sessions.
In terms of clothes, Ill spend up to 180 on a dress because I enjoy wearing lovely evening clothes. I like to look after myself.
The way I look is so important at this stage of my life because Id like to find a lovely man and settle down. I dont think this is my last chance, but I want to give it everything Ive got.