24 years old and my face is already sagging - what can I do? (photos)

Question

Hello, I’m 24 years old and my cheeks, especially my nasolabial fold area, are already sagging. It makes me look so old and tired! I’ve been using SPF since a long time, take collagen supplements. Is a face lift what I’m looking for? I’ve heard filler can make a face pretty easily look like a “pillow face” so I’m not sure about that option. Thank you a lot!

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question and pictures!  Facial aging happens at a different rate for everyone.  SPF and staying out of the sun are really important to maintain skin integrity, so I am very glad to hear you say that!  Based on the pictures that you have provided, I believe non-surgical options will suite you just fine.  I would not recommend doing a facelift just yet.  There are laser resurfacing and collagen boosting treatments available.  Microneedling paired with PRP could be a great option for you.  Baby botox can also be done to prevent any further facial aging.  You can start Retin-A and get into a good skincare routine.  This will help increase collagen production and minimize the looks of the wrinkles.  If you are still unhappy in 5-6 years, you can revisit the idea of a facelift then.  Right now, I think your skin looks young, healthy and you still have good elasticity.  I would go over treatment options after you've had a proper examination with your plastic surgeon!

I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and has plenty of experience in breast surgery. Go over your concerns with them and make sure above all, you walk out of there with several options and an idea of the pros and cons to each of them as well as realistic expectations.

I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.

Giriraj K. Sharma, MD, MS · Answer

Thank you for your question and photographs. The nasolabial folds (NLF) deepen as we age due to a multitude of factors including gravitational descent of midfacial soft tissue structures (fat pads, muscle), weakening of ligaments and gradual loss of skin elasticity and thickness. For very select patients, the NLF can be softened with a conservative amount of dermal filler or fat injection. However, excess volumization of the NLF can look unnatural, and give the appearance of a simian or monkey-like of "pillow" lower face, as you described. Also - many injectors falsely tell patients that filler in the lateral cheeks can help "lift" the lower face and soften the NLF. This is not true. Filler does not lift the face, it simply restores volume to areas where there has been volume loss. At your age (24) and given the anatomy of your lower face and neck, you are not a candidate for a surgical facelift. If you experience progressive heaviness in your lower face, you can be evaluated for a buccal fat excision to improve lower facial contouring and slimming. It is always best to seek opinion from an expert in Facial Plastic Surgery before undergoing an elective surgery on your face.Best of luck!Giriraj Sharma, MD; Facial Plastic Surgeon in Newport Beach, CA

24 years old and my face is already sagging - what can I do? (photos)

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24 years old and my face is already sagging - what can I do? (photos)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Facelift

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