Early 30s facelift. What are the best options?

Question

What would be the best options for tightening the lower face, defining the jawline, and making the face more heart shaped on a 30 year old?

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

An examination or at least photographs of you would be helpful to determine what treatments might be of benefit to you to improve your lower face and jawline.  It would be unusual for someone in their early 30's to be a good candidate for any type of facelift.  There are some non-surgical skin tightening treatments that could lead to some improvement though.  These would include radio frequency treatments such as Fractora and FaceTite.

Dilip D. Madnani, MD, FACS · Answer

I general, facial fillers with some Noninvasive Device for skin tightening will be your best option. Pictures will help further explain

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question.  If you can start seeing early signs of ageing therefore the skin around the jawline creating slight jowls.  You would need to be examined to see whether there was enough laxity to justify surgery.  I would suggest that you may have to wait a few more years until the signs have developed more.  You could look at fillers to create more of a heart shaped face and definition around the jawline if you wanted a temporary solution.  All The Best

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Photographs and a formal evaluation are needed to determine the best solution for you. Generally speaking, FaceTite can internally tighten the skin in the lower face and neck. After all the skin has been heated and contracted, we shape the neck with liposuction to give definition and remove stubborn pockets of fat. In one quick treatment, we can tighten skin, remove fat, and contour the lower face, jawline, and jowls with only a weekend of downtime.Keep in mind that combination approaches will give you a more significant improvement as opposed to a single procedure. I recommend getting a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Tom D. Wang, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi columbiabound, thanks for your question.  The age range for most candidates having lower face/neck lift is >40 years.  It is relatively uncommon, though not unheard of, for patients to undergo this procedure at an earlier age.  The procedures which may be more helpful for younger patients such as yourself may including liposuction of the lower face/neck area to help tighten and better define that area, along with perhaps some augmentation of the cheek/malar region.  This combination can definitely help convert a "square" face into one that is more "heart-shaped" in appearance.  Hope this helps!

Michael J. Yaremchuk, MD (license resigned) · Answer

Thank you for your question. A few photos would be most helpful to better identify your concerns. Briefly, jaw line definition is related to two features - the underlying skeletal structure and how the skin and soft tissues drape over that skeleton. In younger patients, the jawline can small relative to the rest of the face because the jaw bone (mandible) is deficient. In these cases, augmenting the jaw brings definition. If patients desire more precise augmentation or have underlying asymmetries in their bone, a custom implant can be the best solution. Conversely, if jawline definition is lost because the overlying skin and soft are loose, a face and/or neck lift can remove excess tissue and re-drape the skin so that the underlying skeletal definition is more evident.Best of luck!

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, non smiling photos of your face from the front and side would help in the evaluation.  I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  The reality is, there are many different ways to perform a facelift from incision length, incision placement, level of tissue dissection (skin only, SMAS, Deep Plane, Subperiosteal), different degrees of tissue undermining, how to lift and support (imbrication versus plication of the SMAS layer), how much excess skin to trim, is excess fat going to be reduced and finally will the overall shape of the face be made more feminine or masculine (while avoiding the over pulled, windswept appearance).  Price is determined by the reputation, location and experience of the Facelift Surgeon.
 In my humble opinion however, there are some basic requirements that must be met in order for a facelift to be "effective", yielding "aesthetic pleasing" and "naturally attractive" results.  These include: 
 1. Some type of incision either curved around the front (preferred) or straight in front of the ear.  This is how excess skin is removed which is not possible with an incision behind the ear alone.  If you have so little excess skin on the face that "none" needs to be removed you are not a candidate for a facelift in the first place.
2. The facelift must address correction and softening of the "jowls" using a long lasting and effective technique.  If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
3. Facial shaping must be combined to properly shape the cheeks, chin, jaw line and lips for feminizing or masculinizing the face as the case may be.
 If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
My most popular SMAS facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision SMAS facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection less bruising and swelling rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
proper SMAS Imbrication technique
no incisions within the hair no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.
Hope this helps.

Early 30s facelift. What are the best options?

Answers (7)

More Lower Facelift Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (7)

More Lower Facelift Questions

Can someone have a facelift done if they are being monitored for Afib?

I have sleep apnea. The gasping kind. Could I still be a candidate for a Lower Face Lift?

I have early 30s jowls. Is a lower facelift the best option for me? (photos)

The lower half of my face is saggy and has no definition. How can this be fixed? (Photos)

What's the difference between an extended neck lift vs a lower face lift?

How often does a cheek dimple happen with a neck/lower facelift?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS