33 years old, jowls, sagging neck bands: am I suitable candidate for a facelift? (photos)

Question

I am 33 years old and feel depressed because the way i look. I dont smoke, have a good skin care routine but noticed that after 30 my face started to sag..completely lost my whole midface, having jowls, sagging neck bands which makes me turkey neck of course, malar bags under the eyes..i am so scared that if i look like that this young how its gonna be much later.. i just cant wait until i turn 50. I have had one consultation with a doctor who said my face is tight enough yet but i dont see that

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Thank you for submitting your question and photos. Mini facelifts are ideal for reducing the early signs of aging you describe, such as mild skin laxity and slight jowl formation. This procedure can revitalize your appearance by removing jowls, tightening your skin, and angulating your jawline.
In addition, RF microneedling can increase collagen production and restore the neck skin’s elasticity. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon. They will be able to suggest the best approaches to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question and answers. A mini facelift is a great option for many people. The recovery & downtime is very minimal.  There is no real definitive age where people have to get surgery, it really depends on your anatomy and skin integrity.  Everyone is different. There are never any guarantees of course with any procedure whether it is surgical or nonsurgical in nature. I'd recommend not getting into the mindset of thinking the jowls or neck skin will be 100% gone with a mini facelift or neck lift as this might lead to disappointment.  However, it will be a vast improvement to what you have now, and it will look better than it would have looked without the surgery.   A mini facelift would address the lower area of your face including the neck and jowls.  While this will give you a better look, you may benefit from a neck lift as well.  It is always best to consider that an area will be improved and discuss how much with your plastic surgeon.

Surgery is not for everyone. In today's day and age, there are many nonsurgical options to consider although surgery usually gets the most improvement specifically of the neck and jowls.

I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of mini facelifts and neck lifts but also offers all the nonsurgical options such as injectables and laser treatments. Go over your concerns with them and make sure above all, you walk out of there with several options and an idea of the pros and cons to each of them as well as realistic expectations.

I hope this helps. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.  Have a great day.

Derek Fletcher, MD · Answer

An in person examination to assess your facial volume, jaw line and neck is critical. However, based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from micro fat grafting of the tear trough, cheek, pyriform aperture and pre jowl sulci to address volume loss of the midface and anterior jaw line. I do not think you need a face lift. Careful assessment of your platysma muscle and the structures deep to it are necessary to determine if you would benefit from a neck lift. The vertical bands demonstrated in your photos are the edges of your separated platysma muscle. In some instances, a neck lift with platysmaplasty can correct early platysmal bands. You do not have extra skin, so your operation could likely be performed through a single incision under your chin. Thank you for your question.

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

There is not an absolute age when facelifts should or should not be performed. It really has to do with how someone is aging and what options they have at any given time. In general the younger one is when they get a facelift the "better" the results because the tissues are generally better and the aging is not as severe. On the other hand the earlier someone has a facelift the ore likely it is that they may want to do it again sometime later in their life.

Seung Ki Youn, MD · Answer

Hello;-)With over 10 years experience, V.LIF has a reputation for excellence in Korea.We do not perform all the plastic surgeries at V.LIF.We are face&neck lift specialized plastic surgery clinic.Our surgeons dedicated soley to only lifting field. So they have high knowledge and experience with lifting surgeries.
As you age your bone shrinks and also due to gravity your skin and SMAS layer sags and it creates nasolabial folds on your mid face and jowls&marionette lines on your lower face. Also, your neck muscle called platsma gets weaken and seperated, thus resulting in saggy and wrinkly neck.
Maybe droopy double chin can be caused because of the separted muscles, but to know exactly we will check your condition in real if you are willing to come to Korea to get facelift.
To smooth out your nasolabial folds and jowls and saggy part under your double chin.We recommend to get a mini facelift + platysmaplasty which is tightening the muscles to make a defined and chiseled jawline:)
V.LIF's Mini Facelift means lifting partial part of your face considering individual condition.We devide face into 3 parts. 
1. Mid face2. Lower face3. Double Chin+Jawline.
Depending on your face condition(How much your skin is sagging and loose), we recommend how many parts you will need to elevate.
Mini facelift at V.LIF is not a short lasting facelift elevating just your skin layer with minimal incision which is performed at other clinics.It's not a mini facelift with minimal incision which is performed at other clinics.V.LIF's Mini Facelift is a long lasting surgery which lasts more than 5years-10years(depending on the scope) 
We dissect wide range of SMAS layer and cut off retaining ligaments which is essential and excise saggy skin

33 years old, jowls, sagging neck bands: am I suitable candidate for a facelift? (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Facelift at an early age

Answer: Facelift at an early age

Answer: From V.LIF Plastic Surgery in Korea

Answer: From V.LIF Plastic Surgery in Korea

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Everything you need to know about Facelift

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33 years old, jowls, sagging neck bands: am I suitable candidate for a facelift? (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Facelift at an early age

Answer: Facelift at an early age

Answer: From V.LIF Plastic Surgery in Korea

Answer: From V.LIF Plastic Surgery in Korea

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.