Why does my mouth/lower face region make me look older? How can I improve this area? (Photos)

Question

My mouth region looks like it protrudes (like I have a muzzle!) Furthermore, my lower face in general looks older, unfeminine, and heavy. I want more of a "snatched," feminine, heart shaped face. I also would like my mouth area to look less protruded. Would a facelift help? If so, any other treatments to do along with a facelift? If not a facelift, then what are my options? This is driving me crazy!

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

From the photos, I would be cautious about thinking of this as a facelift problem first. A facelift is best for true skin and soft-tissue laxity, jowling, and neck sagging. In a younger face with limited laxity, it may not correct the feeling that the mouth area projects, because that can be related to dental bite, jaw/chin position, lip support, cheek volume, or the way the lower-face soft tissue is distributed.

A good evaluation should look at your face from the front and side, your bite/occlusion, chin projection, submental fullness, pre-jowl area, and cheek support. Depending on the findings, options might include conservative chin or jawline filler, submental liposuction if there is true under-chin fullness, careful cheek/chin balancing, skin-tightening treatments, or orthodontic/maxillofacial evaluation if the mouth projection is skeletal or bite-related. Buccal fat removal should be approached very carefully because it can make some faces look older over time.

If your goal is a more heart-shaped and feminine contour, I would start with an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who can assess proportions before recommending surgery. A facelift may be considered only if there is real laxity on exam, but based on these photos alone, facial balancing is likely more relevant than lifting.

Why does my mouth/lower face region make me look older? How can I improve this area? (Photos)

Answers (1)

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