Most 72 year olds have extra skin and are best treated with a surgical neck lift. But, you should look into some of the newer minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments like CoolSculpting and Kybella.I would see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area who performs surgical and non-surgical correction. Let the surgeon tell you what you are a candidate for after a consultation and exam.
Hi, I have performed many facial shaping procedures using dermal fillers, facial implants (cheek, chin), liposuction and/or facelifts for over 30 years. Non smiling photos of your face from the front and side would help in your evaluation. While liposuction can reduce excess fat in he face and below the neck, it by itself can't reduce the appearance of "jowls" nor reduce excess skin. In fact liposuction performed alone in someone over 40 years of age can lead to increased loose (excess) skin and for that reason should be combined with some type of facelift and or neck lift. I have performed facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive type facelifts. Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces. Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front. Cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face. If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and are the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift. The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last). The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.My most popular facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and swelling = rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesiano incisions within the hair = no hair lossexcess fat can be removed from the face and neckexcess skin removed from the face and neckcheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implantsmost patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-opI combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure. When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.Hope this helps.
