Almost 5 years after facelift - Is it normal to start noticing jowls reappearing and slight neck banding? (Photos)

Question

56 years old and had a deep plane face/neck lift with a reputable surgeon in my area almost 5 years ago. I was told I have thin skin and have had no significant weight loss. I wear sunscreen everyday and avoid sun exposure. I went through menopause this year. I'm starting to notice my jowls reappearing and slight neck banding. Is this normal to start to see this after only 4.5 years post op. I was really hoping to get at least 10 years out of this procedure. Is this just aging, or is it the technique that was used. I knew I would have another lift someday but not this soon. Does anyone have any feedback or suggestions?

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Dear smile2014,

What you are describing can be disappointing, but it is not necessarily unusual. A facelift turns back the clock, but it does not stop the aging process. By the 4.5- to 5-year mark, some patients do begin to notice early return of jowling, soft tissue descent, or mild platysmal banding, even after a deep plane face and neck lift.

In my opinion, this does not automatically mean the technique was poor or that something was done incorrectly. Skin quality, thin skin, baseline anatomy, genetics, and the natural effects of time all influence how long a result appears to last. Menopause can also be a meaningful factor, as hormonal changes may affect skin quality, elasticity, and tissue support in ways that make recurrent laxity more noticeable.

The important distinction is whether you are seeing mild expected aging changes or a more significant early loss of result. Based on the limited photos and your description, what you are noticing sounds more consistent with continued aging than with a clear technical failure. Many patients hope for a full 10 years of looking “post-lift,” but in reality, results often evolve gradually over time rather than remaining frozen and then changing all at once.

In my experience, thin-skinned patients tend to show recurrent laxity, contour changes, and banding a bit sooner than patients with thicker skin and stronger soft tissue support. That does not mean the operation failed. It may simply mean that the tissues are expressing age-related change more visibly.

The good news is that not every recurrence requires another full facelift right away. Depending on the degree of change, options may range from observation and skin-quality treatments to limited touch-up procedures, neck-focused revision, or eventually a secondary lift if and when the changes become substantial enough to justify it. The best approach depends on how much of the issue is skin, deeper tissue descent, or platysmal banding.

It would be worthwhile to return to your original surgeon or seek an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in revision facial rejuvenation. A proper exam can help determine whether this is normal maturation of the result, whether your thin skin is the main contributor, and whether a minor revision or simply more time before considering another lift makes the most sense.

Warmest regards,
Dr. Stephenson

Kyle Kimura, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. 
It looks like you had a good result from your surgery, particularly with the neck banding, but it is important to realize a facelift will not stop the aging process, it simply resets the tissue which has already descended. Depending on the technique, these results are expected to last anywhere up to 15 years (with deep plane facelift). If there are specific concerns I would recommend discussing with your surgeon to get their thoughts as well.
Hope this helps and best of luck,Kyle Kimura, MD

Almost 5 years after facelift - Is it normal to start noticing jowls reappearing and slight neck banding? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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