When you get a face and neck lift should the jowls end up in your lower face causing your face to look super fat? 3 months p.o.

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  I am very sorry to hear about your concerns and dissatisfaction with your facial rejuvenation procedures.  It is really impossible to make any assessment of your concerns without pictures.  Front and side pictures with your head in a neutral position would be helpful.  In general, facelift should not necessarily make your face look more fat, unless there may have been fat injected into the face at the time of the procedure for volume restoration.  There may be some swelling that is still present postoperatively that could make your face appear more full than normal.  If it is due to persistent swelling, then that should improve with time.  It can take up to several months for all of the swelling to resolve following facelift.  Another thing that can make the lower face appear more fat is prominence of the buccal fat pads.  These fat pads sit lateral to the corners of the mouth and can give the appearance of "chipmunk cheeks" in some patients.  The buccal fat pads are not routinely addressed in facelift surgery.  However, they can be addressed through a simple procedure called a buccal fat reduction that involves a small incision inside the mouth through which the prominent buccal fat can be removed, and provide improved shape to the lower face.  I would strongly encourage you to voice your concerns to your primary surgeon and see what they recommend to help improve your satisfaction with the results.  It may simply require some additional time to allow things to heal and swelling to resolve.  I hope this is helpful.  I wish you the best in your recovery.

Redistribution of facial and neck skin is a large part of facial rejuvenation surgery.  Having a detailed discussion with your surgeon regarding your results is the best thing now 3 months out from surgery.  Your swelling has likely resolved by this point.  Although long-term results can take up to 4-6 months to be fully visible, your results at 3 months are a pretty good idea of what things are going to look like.  Have an open discussion with your surgery about your concerns and come up with a plan together.

Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry that your results have not been what you anticipated. Unfortunately after 3 months you have largely reached your long-term results and it sounds as if a revision procedure may be needed.  Typically your jowls are corrected as part of the muscle tightening portion of the procedure and should me smooth, accentuating your appearance and not making your lower face look “fat.”  Talk to your surgeon about your concerns.