Do I already need a facelift? (Photo)

Question

I’m 30 and I’ve noticed a HUGE difference in my skin. When I’m not smiling I don’t see it but as soon as I smile my jaw/cheek area bunches up and creates a massive extra skin look. It’s almost as if there’s lack of support from my jaw bone or cheek bone? Does this call for a facelift or sculptra or filler to resolve this? It also appears my chin has fallen.

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

"I generally prefer to conduct a physical examination first, but from what I can gather from your photos, there appears to be some looseness in your face either due to facial expressions or genetics. This causes a wrinkled appearance when you smile. A lower facelift or mini facelift can help rejuvenate this area for a more youthful look. However, it's important to have a one-on-one discussion with the patient and conduct a detailed evaluation to determine a precise treatment plan."

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

A mini facelift will correct these perioral lines.  Since you are quite young for the procedure you may first try fillers or fat grafting in the area.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Your photographs are somewhat limited. It is possible that a chin implant would help take in some of the laxity of the skin. The alternative would be a mini facelift where the incision is in front of the ear and slightly behind to tighten the skin. You do not need a complete facelift.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Pasha Mostofi, MD, DMD · Answer

Hi there. Good question. As we age a couple of key things start to happen. First, we start losing collagen in our mid-twenties. Second, we start to lose something called "elastin" in our mid-forties. With the gradual loss of collagen and elastin our skin becomes less elastic and so we start to see changes we're not super happy with like fine wrinkles and skin folds in places we never noticed them before. We start to lose some volume in our face too, mostly facial fat that gives our face structure. Generally, someone is a good candidate for a facelift when they have either many facial wrinkles, appreciable skin laxity in the face and neck (especially something called "jowling") or when smile lines and marionette lines become very pronounced. Normally, its a combination of all these things. With that said, you pictures do not show that you have any of those facial features, and you do have nice skin. For the fine wrinkles or undesirable skin folds you are noticing you can try a more conservative approach like microneedling with radiofrequency (an example being Morpheus8). This type of procedure is generally done 3 times, 1 month apart (depending on the operator's protocol and settings). This therapy tightens the skin and stimulates collagen formation which helps restore some of that minor volume loss you might be noticing. Compared to fillers (in regards to your situation), I think it would work better as its normally done across the face and can be combined with PRF (a new version of PRP) that will even further your results. This was a wordy response, but I hope it helps!

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. Thanks for providing your photos and questions. You are not a good candidate for a facelift. I would recommend that you consider RF microneedling (Morpheus treatments, for example) to improve and maintain skin elasticity.

Best,
Dr. Tower

Best,
Dr. Tower

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

You definitely do not need a facelift at your age. Fillers are an option you can try if you like but they become costly over time

Barry M. Weintraub, MD, FACS · Answer

There are certain ages that are most appropriate for facelift surgery. It would be a very rare situation (meaning: someone would have extremely disadvantaged genetics) in order to need a facelift in their 30s. In your case, you are describing an excess of skin. Facelifts fix the deep layers of support, which are fine in your case. (In my practice, I like using Deep Plane, SMAS and Subcuticular lifting in conjunction with each other to address certain issues like midface sagging, jowling, neck laxity etc.) To address skin issues at your age, I would suggest either RF Microneedling or Attiva. I believe this will give you the improvement you are seeking.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

At age 30, you do not need a facelift procedure. The smile lines you're talking about our related to thin skin and a strong smiling muscle. Fillers would be your best option.

Do I already need a facelift? (Photo)

Answers (8)

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