I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift? (photos)

Question

Hi, I am only 24, but over the past 2 years I've developed jowls and a droopy, bottom heavy face with marionette lines and nasolabial folds. If I lie down on my back, my lower face looks lifted and significantly better. Similarly, if I use my fingers to pull back/upwards in front of my ear, I can lift the sagging and I look much better and more youthful. Would I be a candidate for a facelift? I'm considering filler but I'm not sure it will give me as much lift as I need.

David K. Isaacs, MD, FACS · Answer

A facelift will be a lot of surgery for little benefit at this time.

You can slim down your face and rejuvenate your appearance by considering the following: 
1. Buccal fat removal
2. Chin implant or fillers
3. Lip Lift
4. Neurotoxin for the masseter muscles
5. Neck and jawline liposuction
6. Radiofrequency tightening (e.g. Profound)

I would not use fillers unless they are done sparingly and I would not perform threads; in general they are not cost effective, have short-term effects, and have limited meaningful improvement.

Sergei Kalsow, MD · Answer

Hi, you have a little extra skin, but not enough to warrant a facelift, especially at 24.  I recommend less drastic measures, such as fillers, ultherapy, microneedling, etc.

Kian Karimi, MD, FACS · Answer

I would recommend a combination of treatments that would meet your aesthetic goals. If you are looking for non-surgical options to maintain a youthful appearance then a full-face Novathread lift would be good to consider. Novathreads are dissolvable polydioxanone (PDO) threads that signal the body to stimulate collagen production and also provide a temporary lift in the desired area. This treatment will reduce the appearance of your nasolabial folds and even lift your jowls. In my experience, I have seen results last anywhere between 6-12 months, however, results vary. Additionally, I believe you would be a great candidate for a buccal fat removal procedure to aid in slimming your face. As we age, the fat in our face deteriorates and can lead to a person appearing hollow or gaunt. Thus, I would only recommend removing around one half to two thirds of the buccal fat compartment in order to provide an elegant slimming effect without having to worry about being too hollow. 
Notably, filler is typically used to address volume-loss in specific areas of the face. I believe that filler would not achieve the concerns that you’ve described above as it does not actually lift areas where it has been placed.
At this time, I would not recommend a surgical face lift as you may not be anatomically suitable for it. Going forward, I would recommend you to complete multiple in office consultations with board certified facial plastic surgeons to discuss your ideal aesthetic goals. This way, they can better assess your face and create an ideal treatment plan for you. Best of luck! Kian Karimi MD, FACS

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

The simple answer is no you do not need a facelift.

There are a variety of procedures, both non-surgical and surgical which can be utilized to achieve these various goals. Fillers, Botox or Dysport, micro-fat grafts, chemical peels, a skin care program, lasers, skin tightening, and surgical lifts are some of the methods that are used to achieve a cosmetic improvement. Each has advantages and disadvantages as well as limitations of what they can achieve. The best technique or combination of procedures depends on desired outcome, individual anatomy, underlying medical health, and extent of aging. There is no one approach that is ideal for everyone.

Keep in mind, that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of each procedure may not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with who has all of the modalities of treatment available. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Facial rejuvenation needs to be individualized. What would be an ideal approach for one patient is not necessarily the same for someone else. Based on the examination and discussion at the consultation, you should have a better understanding of the various options that can achieve the best cosmetic result for you.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

S. Darrell Lee, MD · Answer

Look into FaceTite By Inmode RF Assisted Lipolysis that tightens and decreases excess fat where needed, we also combine liposuction to help debulk under the chin or Jowl area. Morpheus8 then is used to help with skin tone and firming the skin and neck area. Also you may consider Botox in the masseter muscle that can also help to slim the jawline.

I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift? (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift?

Answer: I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift?

Answer: Look into FaceTite & Morpheus8

Answer: Look into FaceTite & Morpheus8

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Everything you need to know about Facelift

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I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift? (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift?

Answer: I'm only 24 years old - Do I have enough sagging for a facelift?

Answer: Look into FaceTite & Morpheus8

Answer: Look into FaceTite & Morpheus8

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Everything you need to know about Facelift

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