Nasolabial and marionette lines after facelift, necklift and fat grafting. What can I do to improve my appearance? (Photo)

Face lifting surgery repositions sagging skin, improves jowls,
softens marionette lines and the nasolabial folds. If you look at your pre-operative
photos and compare it with you results, there may be some improvement. You must
also recognize that at the two-month point, there will be some degree of
swelling that may be present. With any surgical procedure, swelling can be a
factor of how these areas look for six months to a year.



Nasolabial folds and marionette lines may look prominent
because of the depth relative to the adjacent height. The two
elements of facial aging: sagging where there is loosening of skin and support
tissue, which was addressed with your facelift procedure; the other part of the
equation is volume loss, where bone, muscle, fat, skin and soft tissue resorbs.
I’ve always observed in women that the
lower third of the face has a significant amount of volume loss resulting in
loss of lip definition, vertical lines, and mesolabial or marionette lines
become deeper. There is indentation of the mandibular notch which makes the
jowls looks more prominent.



You can probably have a strategy with your doctor that could
both address volume loss, but wait until swelling has resolved. In my practice,
I let my patient understand volume loss after a facelift by having them hold
the mirror and I lift the face. Then, I point out to the patient that the
mesolabial folds are improved but there is still some depth. I tell them that
we evaluate because when we change the whole architecture of the face, the
perception of the face changes. I think that there will be options that will
help you look even younger than your age as you already expressed. So talk to
your doctor and express your concerns and I’ll think you’ll find solutions that
will be satisfactory to you. I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of
luck, and thank you for your question.



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A thorough facelift disassembles the nasolabial fold. However this is a feature that is generated by facial expression and will emerge as time passes. Postoperative recurrence is treated by fillers.

Thank you for the photo.  You do still look swollen but from what can be seen in the photo your results look good.  The folds look softened and natural and the fullness is a more youthful appearance.  Time will improve the result as the swelling goes down and it is hard to predict this early how it will look.  The face should have some contour and definition to it to produce a natural youthful look.  Overfilling or a flattened look gives the face an unnatural appearance.