My skin and facial muscles have started to sag. I don't really have wrinkles, but I do have sever Marionette lines. My cheeks are sunken and my eyes look hollow. I've heard and talked to doctors about several lasers and fillers, but realized that at the end the tab would cost as much as a facelift, considering that I'd have to go back every year for more fillers and more laser treatments. They say though, that I'm too young for a Facelift. Any advice?
Although you are a bit young, it sounds like you have a fair amount of facial aging - more than most 40-year-olds. If you have severely deep nasolabial folds and jowls that are significant, then a facelift may be the best thing for you.
You are quite perceptive about the cost of fillers and the need to continue them. I am of the philosophy that sometimes a little bit of both (surgery and filler) can keep you looking rejuvenated without looking overdone with either!
Hello Amarine,
Based on your description of things and the fact that you have already consulted with Surgeons who have not recommended a Facelift, I am going to assume that your anatomy (skin, jowls, neck to jaw ratio, etc.) is not favorable for even a mini-lift or S-lift. So heed their advice and wait until it is time when your anatomy will be more favorable for a Facelift that will give you results worth having.
Now as far as your severe marionette lines, sunken cheeks and hollow eyes - well you sound like a great candidate for autologous fat grafting. The fat is easily harvested from your belly or thigh, spun down and purified and then carefully injected into all the areas that you are concerned about.
Extra fat is frozen and stored so that additional injections can be done after the first ones to get you a very natural look and improvement in all your areas of concern. Even your sagging skin will improve since volume replacement with fat will restore a youthful contour to your face.
If your cheeks are very sunken due to "weak" cheekbones than a cheek implant should also be considered.
Hope this helps and Good Luck!
Dr. J
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