Why do some facelifts appear "Joker-like" and show large salivary glands sticking out on the side of the neck?

There are actually three issues that you have described: "joker-like" expression, "tight appearance", and large salivary glands.  A so-called "joker-like" look is often termed Joker lines or a cross-cheek depression by experienced surgeons.   This is a situation, that should be noticed before surgery,  where the patient has an indentation from the sides of the mouth that extends to the ear.  A  facelift, without simultaneous volume augmentation (e.g., fat transfer, filler), can exacerbate the joker lines and make the person look "done" or "pulled".A "tight" look can arise by a number of ways but is typically the result of a surgeon not re-positioning and tightening the muscle layer (SMAS layer) well or artistically enough, and he/she will then over-tighten the skin to compensate, creating a "tight", un-natural and pulled look.Large submandibular glands can become more visible after a neck lift.  It is not uncommon to have these glands reduced in size to minimize their visibility.The attached link provides more information.I hope this helps.   

The  pull up look is due to a increase tension in the skin when is resected.  The surgery in the face never should be close with tension, the deep tissues should   support the facial structures and the skin close gently and accurately this will result in a natural look

If wide subcutaneous undermining and heavy pull is performed the joker look is obtained. Most surgeons now do less undermining and more deeper SMAS modification to retain a natural look. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

Hello and thank you for your question. The simple answer to your question to carefully evaluate before and after pictures of the surgeon you are choosing and make sure you like what you see.  If good technique is used,
a facelift can be done with minimal scarring and can result in a natural look, not
over-done look, with rejuvenation of your face.  The most important aspect
is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

There might be many reasons for the overpulled look.  These patient might be repetitively unhappy, and end up seeking multiple procedures and multiple revisions to their faces, or their doctors are doing a very tight skin closure or are doing more horizontal instead of vertical pull. You can't really comment on pain based on the look of tightness and it may not be painful. Lifts are marked pre op to determine proper pulls to deal with problem areas. True salivary submandibular glands can become more evident in thin liposuctioned necks  but I'm not sure that's what you're looking at.