Saggy skin around mouth! Is a face-lift my only option? (Photo)

You have early aging changes around the mouth which are due to tissue relaxation and not predominantly loss of volume. Therefore, a maximum correction that looks most natural will be a facelift in which the deep plane is dissected and repositioned. This technique repositions the overlying subcutaneous fat and skin in a truly natural way that does not look tight.
Regarding filler or fat, the latter is generally my preference since it’s more natural and longer lasting, but it requires greater downtime. Both can soften the lines, if done well, without producing a chipmunk look. But they have significant limitations, which is why physicians tend to overcorrect.  Microneedling will provide subtle skin tightening, which may or may not be enough to make a meaningful difference. However, it is safe and well tolerated. Perhaps the combination of filler or fat and microneedling would give you enough improvement to be satisfied, but it would only be a partial solution. If a facelift would produce an improvement that is major, I would put the improvement from filler and microneedling at the modest range — and they’d be temporary — while the benefits from a facelift should last 10 years or more.

Hello,The answer to your question really depends upon your vision of what you want to look like. Many women would be happy to look like you do now. I do understand you concerns and have performed  facelifts on patients' in their 40's. I also performed a revision facelift on a 36 y/o woman because she was still unhappy with her result, see the link below. You have many options, surgical and non-surgical depending upon your desired end result. This is the value of a face to face consultation. Sincerely,Dr K

If you feel that your face does not reflect how young you feel on the inside, a facelift may be the solution to help you look and feel younger. During your consultation, your doctor will evaluate your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure. Based on this evaluation, he/she will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. Your doctor should make sure you have a full understanding of what results to expect.Always insist on a board certified surgeon!
#drright #facelift

You look great but have some early deepening of your marionette lines (lines running down from corner of mouth), nasolabial creases (lines running down from base of nose), and mild jowls.  You could buy some time with some conservative fat grafting to the nasolabial creases, marionette lines and the pre jowl sulcus (area between the chin and jowl).  Microneedling can work for some fine lines but I think you would be disappointed if you tried to address the areas I have pointed out with this procedure. 

you can camouflage your nasal labial creases and other depressions with filler such as Voluma which lasts two years but must be done by a very experienced injector. This will not remove the excess skin but will only camouflage the area. Save your money for a facelift to remove excess skin when you are ready.

If you knock on certain door, you are going to get what you ask for even if it is not the right thing.  Your issue is not likely to be improved by a facelift.  I personal do not think you need a facelift at this point. However, as you can tell from the posts, when you ask for a facelift, that is what you are going to get.  I personally think the punishment should fit the crime. Issue around the mouth can be addressed with perioral hyaluronic acid filer.  In particular you need volume in the chin area.  You would also do well with a full face chemical peel.  Do your homework and don't get an over aggressive facelift that you don't need.  

Thank you for your question and pictures. Your pictures show to me you would be a good candidate for a local anaesthetic facelift Most of my patient want a facelift however do not want the downtime associated.  The Concept Facelift is the procedure I perform, which combines the latest surgical techniques with the use of local anaesthetic to dramatically reduce the risks associated with traditional facelifts, while significantly reducing the bruising and downtime of your recovery, from months to a matter of days. The lower facelift would lessen the marionette lines, however does not remove.  These can be soften even more by chemical peels or laser treatments.If you have lax facial skin, lost volume and feel that you have jowls and wrinkles on your cheeks and you look tired when you're not then the concept facelift can help improve your appearance. With concept facelift you will look natural and fresh just like the way you feel inside. There are no bandages, drains and hospital stay but with lasting results of traditional facelift techniques it fits with today's age.What are the benefits of a local anaesthetic facelift?Minimally invasive as it is a short scar faceliftThere is minimal bruising and swelling, especially when compared to traditional faceliftsAs the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, you can go straight home following the procedureFull recovery in a matter of days rather than monthsSignificantly less risk than Facelifts performed under general anaestheticFresh, youthful and long lasting resultsPlease make sure you find a reputable and qualified plastic surgeon who can assess you properly to give you a realistic idea of what outcome you can achieve.  All The Best 

Remember that facial aging , beginning in the fourth decade involves more than just gravitational effects.  Dental changes can contribute ( bone loss around the jaws after extractions) and fat atrophy are major culprits here.  Replacing volume around the mouth will help to disguise this for a while but ultimately you will need to surgically address this with some form of lift appropriate for your age and fat grafting

Funia15,
Thanks for your question and picture.  You look great for your age!  You could easily do nothing and still look how many people want to look after they have had something done.  If you do want to pursue improvement in the area around your mouth, then laser resurfacing and micro needling can help with the skin, and fillers can be used to fill in areas that are getting hollow so that they do not catch shadows and make you look like your marionette lines are deeper than they are.  Good luck!

I would try fillers and micro needling before I ventured into a facelift for you.  Fillers have become commonplace due to the fact that in able and talented hands, they can revitalize your look in a very natural way.  In poor hands however, the results can be awkward to say the least.  Look for someone who has photos that show the kind of finesse you expect from an artist.  
And in your case, micro-needling would be a very effective addition to the picture.