One of the most common areas of concern for patients seeking facial rejuvenation is the fullness and drooping of the jaw line giving the common appearance of “jowls”. Patients may be distressed by the wrinkling that develops between the corners of the mouth and the chin commonly referred to as the “marionette” lines. These similar changes in the chin and neck can produce a “turkey neck” appearance. As people age, the effects of gravity, age and sun damage causes a drooping and laxity of the lower face and neck. Facial aging occurs because of sagging (laxity of the muscles) and deflating (loss of fat).

The face lift procedure can help to restore a more youthful contour to the face and neck. A face lift or Rhytidectomy, removes excess skin and repositions fat and muscle to correct jowls, deep lines from the nose to the mouth and minimal to moderate neck laxity which naturally occurs with aging. Surgery for a facelift involves the contraction and realignment of the face and neck skin. During the procedure, an incision is placed in the natural skin fold along the front and back edges of the ear. The skin is then carefully elevated and the supporting structures are lifted and tightened. The skin is then meticulously repositioned. This procedure is typically accompanied by a small amount of fat removal from beneath the chin to optimally contour the neck and jaw line. This procedure can be performed with other eyelid procedures most commonly an upper or lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Because a face lift does not change the quality of the skin itself, non surgical facial rejuvenation procedures such as laser skin resurfacing can also be performed in the same setting.