How to fix festoons without surgery? (photo)

Question

I have lost 155 lbs through diet and exercise. And while I should be proud of myself my festoons make me horribly self conscious. I have had a consult with a plastic surgeon who says that Voluma can be placed under the festoons to plump up and support the area. Can you tell me if that is the best way to fix them? If not, can you give me some other suggestions? I shouldn't still hide from the camera after working so hard. Thank you.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and congratulations on your weight loss. You are correct - you should not hide from cameras after all the work you did to drop those pounds. Fortunately, there are non-surgical options to reduce the appearance of festoons and create a more youthful facial profile. Voluma is a good option to lift the cheek, but festoons are tricky and swelling can be worse with too much filler. Another filler, Restylane Lyft binds less with water and is good option as well. 
  
Another option for you might be the SIhouette InstaLift, which raises both the skin and the SMAS from within, using dissolvable sutures. The sutures contain biodegradable cones to hold them in place, giving you a smooth, natural look. While the sutures dissolve over time, the collagen produced as a result extends the result for many months or even years. If the cheeks are lifted towards the eye area, the festoons will improve. Finally, laser or RF microneedling for tightening is needed for thinner skin. You may need a combination of treatments for the best result and make sure it is administered by an experienced, board-certified dermatologist that has the expertise to tailor your treatment to your precise needs for a beautiful new look that is distinctly you.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss!  Festoons can be difficult to treat.  Some patients find improvement with lasers or Morpheus8.  This treatment combines RF technology with microneedling to improve overall skin tone and texture.  We also recommend using medical grade skin care products like Transform MD and wearing sunscreen every day.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

FaceTite can internally tighten the skin in the lower face and neck. After all the skin has been heated and contracted, we shape the neck with liposuction to give definition and remove stubborn pockets of fat. In one quick treatment, we can tighten skin, remove fat, and contour the lower face, jawline, and jowls with only a weekend of downtime.  Keep in mind that combination approaches will give you a more significant improvement as opposed to a single procedure. I recommend getting a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Rian A. Maercks, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question!
Congratulations on the weight loss! It is often a difficult journey and I commend you for taking the steps to a healthier you. I believe that you would be a great candidate for a procedure that I call Aesthetic Facial Balancing. A large part of my practice is using this procedure.  What this means is evaluating a patients face and bringing the features into harmony by making adjustments with either hyaluronic acid or fat.  The most important component of a fillers treatment is the practitioner administering it. I take filler and balance all features in your face from top to bottom to make them work together to 'unlock' your beauty. This procedure is not just a filler intervention augmenting the cheeks and lips, but as in overall, non surgical way to shape the face in a different way to create natural appearing results. 
I hope this helps!
Wishing you beautiful results,Dr. Rian Maercks M.D.

How to fix festoons without surgery? (photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Mini Facelift & Mini neck lift -- FaceTite RF for internal skin tightening + Neck Liposuction for definition/contouring

Answer: Mini Facelift & Mini neck lift -- FaceTite RF for internal skin tightening + Neck Liposuction for definition/contouring

Answer: Aesthetic Facial Balancing for a Lifted, Sculpted Face Without a Facelift

Answer: Aesthetic Facial Balancing for a Lifted, Sculpted Face Without a Facelift

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How to fix festoons without surgery? (photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Mini Facelift & Mini neck lift -- FaceTite RF for internal skin tightening + Neck Liposuction for definition/contouring

Answer: Mini Facelift & Mini neck lift -- FaceTite RF for internal skin tightening + Neck Liposuction for definition/contouring

Answer: Aesthetic Facial Balancing for a Lifted, Sculpted Face Without a Facelift

Answer: Aesthetic Facial Balancing for a Lifted, Sculpted Face Without a Facelift

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Nonsurgical Facelift

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