Am I a candidate for a face lift? (Photos)

Question

The baggy area by my mouth bothers me. Can it be helped?

Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS · Answer

The facelift primarily helps lines up to the nasolabial fold and marionette lines. If you are talking about the vertical lines outside of each mouth, a facelift will help those. If you are referring to the swelling below the corners of the mouth, those will not be helped. If you are referring to the swellings just outside the corners of the mouth, the answer is maybe-they might be improved. The reason is I suspect those swelling might be due to a large orbicularis oris muscle but I can't tell that without an exam.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Celebrated757066 thank you for your question. It is important to develop a surgical plan or non surgical protocol that fits your possibilities, to fulfill your wishes for improvement and to take into account what can actually be achieved taking into account the overall face. I would encourage you to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. During your consultation, your surgeon will be able to assess your unique needs and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

Suleyman Tas, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Dear Celebrated757066,
Thankyou for your attaching pictures for reference. It seems you are experiencing face laxity where the skin is losing its firmness and tightness especially in the mid-face area. If you are looking for a permanent solution, I would recommend a full facelift combined with Lower blepharoplasty, the lift will eliminate the sagging cheeks/nasolabial folds and target the neck, mid- face, and upper temporal part. This procedure combined with the lower blepharoplasty will remove the excess skin under the eyes and prevent your skin to collect under the eyes when smiling.. Make sure to search for an expert surgeon who can target all problematic areas using a scarless and endoscopic method as well as a vertical not horizontal facelift to make sure the saggy and droopiness can be fixed without giving an artificial and pulled appearance. Furthermore, you can additionally benefit from fat injections into your deep nasolabial folds to fill in the lack of volume. 
Best Regards,
 TAS TEAM

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

It looks like a facelift will probably be very helpful for you, but based on the limited view of the lower face and your specific concerns, I would suggest looking into the possibility of a lip lift as well.

Jeffrey Lisiecki, MD · Answer

Yes, it can be helped! You should be seen in person to discuss and point out specifically what your concerns are and what results you are looking for, but based on these photographs you look like a good candidate for a facelift with facial fat grafting. For further perioral rejuvenation, a discussion about your concerns would be is very important, but it could be addressed by the addition of lasers/peels, radiofrequency, and/or a lip lift in addition to the facelift and fat grafting. Find a well-trained surgeon you like and be seen for a consultation in person!

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for posting your question. A facelift will help with skin laxity and lines around the mouth; however, a facelift is not your only option. A facelift will provide more dramatic and long-lasting results without regular fillers or injections, but it is an invasive procedure requiring 1-2 weeks of downtime. If you have not had any injections or facial work, starting with non-invasive methods like lasers or injections may be helpful. A dermal filler like Juvederm is a popular injection that helps with facial lines like the marionette lines around your mouth. A comprehensive consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can shed more light on your options and help you choose the right treatment to meet your needs.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. It is difficult to definitely tell you whether or not you need a facelift of if you need fillers. The best thing is to have a consultation with your plastic surgeon to go over your expectations and how to achieve them. Perhaps fillers maybe a good option to start with. These area  non permanent solution.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

Your concern can be addressed either fillers to improve the situation temporarily (1-1.5 years) in which case I would inject fillers to the cheeks, smile lines, marionette lines, chin and jawline (ie nonsurgical facelift or my trademark Model Lift TM).  That will ensure an improvement of the lines that bother you.  That can be accomplished in 25 minutes with no downtime.  Your other alternative would be a facelift that will improve those lines for 10-15 years.  I sometimes combine fat grafting with facelifts to improve the volume in addition to the lift.  I would add fat grafting to your smile lines as well during the facelift procedure.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

The laxity of the skin around your mouth will be helped by a facelift. You have some other areas of volume loss, so in addition to the facelift, you may benefit fillers in order to volume restore this area. An in person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon would help you understand what you would be able to achieve.  Best wishes.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

I appreciate your concern, but understand you are not alone, as aging gracefully is something we all wish to achieve!
It sounds like you are a candidate for a Mini-Facelift. My favorite technique is the MACS short scar Mini-Facelift. Developed in Europe, it is the ideal approach for the younger patient, not ready for a full facelift, or one who desires a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time. The procedure address is the mid face, jowls and neck regions in a natural and long lasting manner. It appears from your photos that your areas of concern would be addressed nicely with this type of mini facelift. Come see me or another board-certified plastic surgeon in our area to explore the best options for you. Good luck.