Men and women alike tend to see the first signs of aging crop up on the faces — specifically the lower face area. Wrinkles, creases, drooping skin and excess fat in this area can all contribute to an aged appearance. However, there are a number of nonsurgical and surgical facial rejuvenation treatments that can target the lower face and neck areas, including the dreaded “turkey neck.”
Nonsurgical Facial Rejuvenation Options
Three of the most common nonsurgical treatments for the lower face and neck are fillers, BOTOX and laser skin rejuvenation.
Many people choose to start with nonsurgical facial rejuvenation options before considering a surgical procedure to address signs of aging. While nonsurgical treatments do not yield as dramatic results as surgical plastic surgeries can, nonsurgical options can be a good place to start if you are just beginning to notice the first signs of aging or are not yet ready for a surgical procedure.
Fillers and BOTOX®
Injectable treatments like fillers and BOTOX® are popular procedures that usually take 20 minutes or less to administer, yet can have a profound effect on the appearance of your skin. Dermal fillers are most commonly used to restore lost facial volume in your cheeks, as well as temporarily smooth away lines and wrinkles in your mid- and lower face areas. Some fillers are also used to plump and reshape the lips.
While BOTOX is commonly used to treat lines and wrinkles in the upper-face such as around the eyes and brow, this treatment can also be used to create a better-defined jawline in the lower face. BOTOX can also help to reduce the appearance of a “turkey neck” caused by sagging skin and prominent platysmal bands.
KYBELLA® Nonsurgical Neck Contouring
The appearance of a double chin can really age your profile. For many, genetics, years of weight fluctuation and the natural aging process can encourage fat to accumulate in the chin creating submental fullness, or a double chin appearance.
KYBELLA® is a nonsurgical injectable treatment that dissolves unwanted fat under the chin. Multiple treatments are usually needed to achieve the desired look. However, final results are long-lasting as the fat cells are destroyed.
Laser Skin Treatments
Depending on the severity of skin sagging and wrinkles, laser skin treatments can also be an effective solution for signs of aging in the lower face and neck. These treatments work by stimulating collagen within your skin to strengthen its structural support.
Laser treatments can also treat a variety of skin blemishes that are often associated with aging, including dark spots, sun damage and acne scars.
Surgical Rejuvenation Options for the Lower Face
Whether you have already tried nonsurgical treatments and they no longer offer the results you’re looking for or are looking for a more dramatic improvement, surgical facial rejuvenation treatments like a facelift and/or neck lift could be an appropriate solution.
Facelift
Advanced facelift techniques address signs of aging in the middle and lower areas of your face, including sagging jowls, wrinkles and creases. Because this procedure does not address the upper face, some people choose to include other facial plastic surgeries like an eyelid lift or brow lift with their facelift for more comprehensive results.
You can also continue to get injectable treatments and other nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures after a facelift to help enhance and prolong your results.
Neck lift
A neck lift can be combined with a facelift or performed on its own to address sagging skin and/or excess fat in the neck area. While BOTOX can often address these same concerns, a neck lift will offer longer-lasting and more dramatic results.
Waleed Ezzat, M.D., F.A.C.S. is double board-certified in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery. He operates under the philosophy that natural beauty is the best kind of beauty. Dr. Ezzat addresses each aesthetic or reconstructive challenge by considering the whole facial anatomy rather than focusing on one isolated area. This comprehensive approach maintains a goal of fully functional and natural-looking results that fit perfectly within each individual’s unique genetic makeup.
