Skin around mouth, folds and sagging. 38 years old.

Dear Claudia78Thank you for your question. There are many different types of Facelifts surgeons perform, so make sure you do some research and find a board certified surgeon who has the right type of procedure for you. I have pioneered the Concept Facelift. This is a revolutionary technique where I perform the facelift under local anaesthetic, which minimises swelling and bruising and the down time is only 1 week post surgery. The procedure address the SMAS muscle as well as the skin so the longevity is as good as a traditional facelift. Unlike a Traditional Facelift procedure the patient does not require any drains or bandages and it is a walk in - walk out procedure. The Concept Facelift addresses the lower face, smoothing out any lines and removing the jowls. Many of my patients combine the Facelift with a Neck lift as this gives fantastic results. 

A person’s age is best guessed by the appearance of their face. If you feel that your face does not reflect how young you feel inside, you may be a candidate for a facelift. During your #consultation, your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, your board certified plastic surgeons will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. In doing so, he or she should be sure to have a full understanding of what results you expect. If you are not a #candidate, your surgeon can make other suggestions to address your concerns and objectives.

Patients who desire facial rejuvenation that is affordable, quick, and effective should consider the Lite-lift™. Like the Life-Style™ facelift, this is a modified facelift, individualized for each patient, that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. These procedures are not "Thread-lifts" or "String-lifts". We do not use the "barbed" sutures employed in these other lifting operations. The Lite-lift™ uses longer lasting techniques that are discussed below. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.The best candidates for #LiteLift are non-smoking patients 35-60 years old with early changes of the lower face and the neck. But whose skin has elasticity with well defined bone structure. Older patients who cannot or do not wish to have a longer operation or general anesthetic can be improved with a Lite Lift™.

A common complaint in women as they age is sagging skin and facial folds. This is due to: 

gravityenvironmentfacial movementsdecreased cellular turnover of the skin 

The muscles and skin of the cheeks, neck and jawline can lose elasticity, firmness and tone. This can lead to sagging and drooping of the lower face, making individuals appear tired or unhappy. 

An excellent way to combat these concerns non-surgically is with a liquid facelift. This treatment combines dermal fillers with skin rejuvenation in order to brighten and tighten the skin, while filling in facial folds. Dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane add volume to wrinkles and facial folds, typically lasting 6 months. Relaxers such as Dysport or Botox reduce deep set facial folds by relaxing the muscles causing the facial lines. 

Skin resurfacing can be done with radio-frequency or laser energy and improve the tone and texture of an aging face. 

Facial plastic surgery is also an option that will tighten the skin around the jowls and neck. A consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon is the best way to determine the best course of treatment based on your individual needs. 

Without in-person evaluation or set of photos it is impossible to give you good advice. However, based on your description and your age it seems that most of your problems could be treated with injection of soft tissue fillers. In some cases (deep Marionette lines at the corner of the mouth) direct surgical excision may help. You would benefit from consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon with good reputation in facial rejuvenation including fillers and/or surgery. Good luck.

Easiest fix for perioral lines is a filler hyaluronic acids work well Restylane, Juvederm among others. However if there is a sagging of the skin a facelift may fix it for an extended period versus the six month fix from most commercial fillers. See a board certified ASAPS plastic surgeon in consultation that has the full knowledge and capabilities to do you service. Good luck...