I had a habit of gaining 60-70 lbs during my several pregnancies. I'm naturally pretty thin and my skin does not like that fluctuation! :) Help. I am all about aging gracefully, but my neck skin is so saggy compared to the rest of my body/face :( I've been self conscious about it for about 10 years! What are my options? Filler? Skin tightening treatment? Lower facelift or neck lift, maybe? Thank you in advance!
Answer: When to get a facelift I see the loose skin you are talking about, and your skin has been through a lot to warrant a procedure. You appear to have too much loose skin to consider a noninvasive procedure such as Ultherapy or microneedling with RF to tighten the skin, and I do not think you would be happy with the results, which are minimal compared to what surgery can produce. There are many things that contribute to ageing of the face: genetics, sun exposure, smoking, weight gain and weight loss, diet, exercise, etc. One person might have signs of ageing at 40, while another 40-year-old might not have any of these signs. As a board certified plastic surgeon who regularly performs facelifts and neck lifts, I am often asked “am I too young for surgery?” Certainly, younger skin responds very well to surgery, and having the procedure (with your specific anatomy) at 40 will give you a very long-lasting result. If you came in at 70 with very loose skin and jowling, an additional factor of loss of skin elasticity and integrity due to age would be present, since older skin does not respond as well as younger skin. I would absolutely study the results *very carefully* of whichever surgeons you are considering. I am unfortunately often consulted to help revise subpar facelifts and neck lifts that leave patients with visible scars easily seen, some with “railroad track” scars caused by quick and messy closure techniques, staples, inappropriately wide suture material etc. Make sure that the results of the surgeons you are contemplating illustrate patients who look extremely natural postoperatively, not pulled or fake. One note about this: if the SMAS (the submuscular aponeurotic system) and the skin on top are treated as one unit (which happens in quick, inexpensive surgery), you will see the telltale signs of “bad” surgery, such as pulled corners of your mouth and the dreaded “wind tunnel” look. I would suggest having a few consults with board certified plastic surgeons. Keep in mind that no two answers will be exactly the same! In the end, it is truly up to you to decide when it’s right for you to move forward.
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Answer: When to get a facelift I see the loose skin you are talking about, and your skin has been through a lot to warrant a procedure. You appear to have too much loose skin to consider a noninvasive procedure such as Ultherapy or microneedling with RF to tighten the skin, and I do not think you would be happy with the results, which are minimal compared to what surgery can produce. There are many things that contribute to ageing of the face: genetics, sun exposure, smoking, weight gain and weight loss, diet, exercise, etc. One person might have signs of ageing at 40, while another 40-year-old might not have any of these signs. As a board certified plastic surgeon who regularly performs facelifts and neck lifts, I am often asked “am I too young for surgery?” Certainly, younger skin responds very well to surgery, and having the procedure (with your specific anatomy) at 40 will give you a very long-lasting result. If you came in at 70 with very loose skin and jowling, an additional factor of loss of skin elasticity and integrity due to age would be present, since older skin does not respond as well as younger skin. I would absolutely study the results *very carefully* of whichever surgeons you are considering. I am unfortunately often consulted to help revise subpar facelifts and neck lifts that leave patients with visible scars easily seen, some with “railroad track” scars caused by quick and messy closure techniques, staples, inappropriately wide suture material etc. Make sure that the results of the surgeons you are contemplating illustrate patients who look extremely natural postoperatively, not pulled or fake. One note about this: if the SMAS (the submuscular aponeurotic system) and the skin on top are treated as one unit (which happens in quick, inexpensive surgery), you will see the telltale signs of “bad” surgery, such as pulled corners of your mouth and the dreaded “wind tunnel” look. I would suggest having a few consults with board certified plastic surgeons. Keep in mind that no two answers will be exactly the same! In the end, it is truly up to you to decide when it’s right for you to move forward.
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November 23, 2021
Answer: A lower face/neck lift with Morpheus8/TCA peel would be great for that young healthy look. A lower face/neck lift under local would give amazing results, especially combined with Morpheus8/PRP/and TCA peeling of the face, neck and chest. It is painless and easy to undergo.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
November 23, 2021
Answer: A lower face/neck lift with Morpheus8/TCA peel would be great for that young healthy look. A lower face/neck lift under local would give amazing results, especially combined with Morpheus8/PRP/and TCA peeling of the face, neck and chest. It is painless and easy to undergo.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
October 31, 2021
Answer: Lower Face and Neck Lift I see and understand your concern and I'm here to share with you what I would recommend. Given that there is so much extra skin I would recommend a lower face and neck lift. The reason for this being that any sort of non-surgical treatment is just not going to give you a substantial result that you may not even be happy with. It is important to consider the cost-benefit ratio when deciding between surgical and non-surgical procedures as well as considering the health of your skin. At your age your scars will heal beautifully and this would be a result that can last you 8-10 years. Going forward, I would recommend you to complete multiple in office consultations with board certified experts 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
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October 31, 2021
Answer: Lower Face and Neck Lift I see and understand your concern and I'm here to share with you what I would recommend. Given that there is so much extra skin I would recommend a lower face and neck lift. The reason for this being that any sort of non-surgical treatment is just not going to give you a substantial result that you may not even be happy with. It is important to consider the cost-benefit ratio when deciding between surgical and non-surgical procedures as well as considering the health of your skin. At your age your scars will heal beautifully and this would be a result that can last you 8-10 years. Going forward, I would recommend you to complete multiple in office consultations with board certified experts 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
Helpful
April 17, 2021
Answer: With the weight loss and loose skin, a lower face/neck lift Of course, a consultation is necessary, but it appears that, with your weight loss and loss of volume, the structures of the face, as well as the skin have sagged, and a lower face/neck would be best, even at your age. Picture also a trampoline that has been bounced on and stretched. Simply tightening in one direction such as posteriorly like a necklift, will probably not render the result that you want. It is helpful to tighten the trampoline in all directions. The upward pull that a facelift will give you, will also pull upward on the platysma muscle and skin of the neck. Try pulling upward on the face, and watch your neck. You will see some improvement from that upward pull alone. The good news is that, at your young age, your healing and regeneration capacity is great, so it is likely that you will get a nice result.
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April 17, 2021
Answer: With the weight loss and loose skin, a lower face/neck lift Of course, a consultation is necessary, but it appears that, with your weight loss and loss of volume, the structures of the face, as well as the skin have sagged, and a lower face/neck would be best, even at your age. Picture also a trampoline that has been bounced on and stretched. Simply tightening in one direction such as posteriorly like a necklift, will probably not render the result that you want. It is helpful to tighten the trampoline in all directions. The upward pull that a facelift will give you, will also pull upward on the platysma muscle and skin of the neck. Try pulling upward on the face, and watch your neck. You will see some improvement from that upward pull alone. The good news is that, at your young age, your healing and regeneration capacity is great, so it is likely that you will get a nice result.
Helpful
April 2, 2021
Answer: Facelift and necklift Thank you for your question and sharing your photographs. In general, the pattern of skin laxity under the chin which is shown in your photographs benefits from a combination of neck lift and facelift. The placement of the scar for the facelift may be more advantageous in front of the sideburn rather than in the temple. This will allow more effective removal of skin excess from the area under the chin. There is also some fullness under the chin which may benefit from direct access to the neck to reduce it. To understand better whether there is skin laxity only or volume excess under the chin you can look in the mirror when you are lying down completely flat. If the contour of the neck is very good, you are dealing with skin laxity. If there is still volume persisting when you are lying down, surgery would need to address it for best results. The skin excess lower in the neck will be removed effectively through the scars behind the ears.
Helpful
April 2, 2021
Answer: Facelift and necklift Thank you for your question and sharing your photographs. In general, the pattern of skin laxity under the chin which is shown in your photographs benefits from a combination of neck lift and facelift. The placement of the scar for the facelift may be more advantageous in front of the sideburn rather than in the temple. This will allow more effective removal of skin excess from the area under the chin. There is also some fullness under the chin which may benefit from direct access to the neck to reduce it. To understand better whether there is skin laxity only or volume excess under the chin you can look in the mirror when you are lying down completely flat. If the contour of the neck is very good, you are dealing with skin laxity. If there is still volume persisting when you are lying down, surgery would need to address it for best results. The skin excess lower in the neck will be removed effectively through the scars behind the ears.
Helpful