36, early laxity and mid face sagging - Am I too young for a mini facelift? (Photos)

Being 36 years old is definitely not a barrier to having both upper and lower blepharoplasty combined with a facelift (whether mini or full). Age is not the sole factor in determining candidacy for surgery; what matters more is the condition of the skin, tissue quality, and the specific anatomical changes present. Early laxity and sagging that cannot be adequately addressed with fillers often respond better to surgical intervention, which provides longer-lasting and more natural results. Combining eyelid surgery with a midface-focused facelift can offer both functional and aesthetic benefits. A thorough in-person evaluation of the facial structures and skin quality is important, but age alone should not be seen as a limitation for these procedures.

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

At this point, you are too early for facelift procedures. I would focus on skin quality and start doing procedures to stimulate collagen like laser work or RF microneedling. You could potentially think about upper eyelid work (upper blepharoplasty) to excise some excess hooded eyelid skin. This will give you a more youthful/awake and refreshed look.

A minifacelift addresses primarily the jawline, and your jawline looks pretty good. You do have small fat bags under the eyes with some flattening of the cheeks and area around them. Filles can only do so much, but fat transfer can add more volume to these areas to improve their appearance. This can be combined with lower eyelid surgery to further enhance the result. Be sure to see a facial specialist for consultation.

I recommend an extended brow lift. This will decrease the vertical height of the forehead, lower the hairline, pull up the eyebrows and smooth out the peri-orbital wrinkles. You may also need a blepharoplasty at the same time.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

I appreciate your concerns and the fact that fillers are not addressing your mid face issues, mini facelift may be an option for you.
My favorite technique is the MACS short scar Mini-Facelift. Developed in Europe, it is the ideal approach for the younger patient, not ready for a full facelift, or patients who desire a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time. It addresses both the mid face area (especially the jowls) as well as the neck, if needed. I have performed this procedure on patients in their early 30s with great success, allowing them to abandon fillers every few months. Come see me or another board certified plastic surgeon in our area to explore the best options for you. Best of luck.