Facelift or Liposuction for Small Mouth and Wide Face?

If you want to improve your contours, you may want to consider fillers. Injectable fillers can help add volume where you find is deficient. However, if the jawline is your concern, you may want to consider Botox to relax the masseter muscles.

It is important to work with your anatomy. Dramatically changing functional and critical anatomic units such as your mouth is dangerous and may lead to untoward complications. If you see a board certified plastic surgeon you can plan a facial rejuvenation approach that is unique to your desires and your anatomy

Thank you for your question. I would caution about trying to make dramatic changes to the face structure, and recommend seeing a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and evaluating your concerns. You may have good options, and then again, you might want something that is unrealistic. Be examined, and be given a list of alternatives. Just be ready to have an open mind of the alternatives. I hope this helps.

Facelifts are for restoration of soft tissue in the aging face. Liposuction is removal of excess fat in unwanted places. I don't know whether you are candidate for liposuction but you definitely are not a candidate for facelift.

Yes, some surgeon will do facelifts on anyone.  A face lift will not make your mouth larger.  A personal consultation with an ethical surgeon will help identify you issues, concerns, and options for addressing these concerns.  Sometimes the best options don't actually involve surgery.  Please keep an open mind as you explore your options.

As a 20 year old if you can find someone willing to perform a facelift, RUN. Further, a facelift should not change the mouth or distort the corners of the mouth in any way so it would not be expected to create a pleasing change for you. Likewise, liposuction is used to enhance the neck and jawline but would not change or improve the shape/ size of your mouth. We have alot of options to improve facial shape. It would be very helpful if you were to post some photos of the area that concerns you the most. It would help provide more specific answers to your question. I hope this information is helpful.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

Without the benefit of photographs I would advise against facelift surgery. As a general guide, a face lift should not widen and distort the mouth - an outcome that we consider rather undesirable.

I would strongly recommend you to see a facial cosmetic surgeon to discuss options to improve your facial balance.

In general, a facelift should not be used to change the shape of the mouth. And your young age is another reason a facelift should not be considered.  I would visit a surgeon and discuss your concerns in person in order to get the best options. 

Pictures would be very helpful in order to give you the best advice.  First of all, I would doubt that at your age of 20 that you would be a candidate for a facelift.  When a facelift is performed on older people, it can help to turn up the corners of the mouth a bit, but it really would not make the mouth wider.  I can't really give advice for treatment options without seeing pictures of you or seeing you in person.  

Dear Jessie,

thank you for your question.  A facelift does not widen the mouth, so this is not the answer.  Also, sugery to widen the mouth is available, but is usually restricted to patients with a very small opening do to trauma and scar tissue, because the scars from the surgery are noticable.  There is a possibility of an oral appliance that can be fashioned to wear at night if you truly have a very abnormally small mouth opening.  You might consult with an oral surgeon.

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD