There are several major events occurring in the middle of the face which create an aged facial appearance and cause mouth lines, the nasal labial fold line and the marionette line.

Years of sun exposure, fluctuations in body weight, and our own genetic programming cause changes in the actual structure of our skin. We loose collagen the supporting structure of the skin, which causes loss of elasticity of the facial skin. This loss of elasticity allows the skin to sag or be pulled downward by gravity. As the lax skin falls, skin folds are formed over the lips and mouth creating the mouth lines, the nasal labial fold and the marionette line.

Another major change in the face which contributes to mouth lines is loss of fullness of the cheek bone area. There is actually a pad of fat (malar fat pad) attached to the cheek bone when we are young. Remember those chubby cheeks of childhood that all the grownups like to pinch? Look at your children. They have nice, full cheeks up high on their faces. As we age, the fat pad descends into the middle of our cheek. The combination of the loss of elasticity (which allows the skin to sag) and the downward fall of the malar fat pad cause an aged face appearance characterized by the mouth lines, the nasal labial folds, the marionette lines and loss of a full youthful looking cheek.

Correction of mouth lines, the nasal labial fold, marionette line and sagging facial skin

The good news is that there are excellent modern techniques to reverse facial aging changes and correct the nasal labial fold and marionette lines, restore the youthful cheek, and tighten facial skin. Both surgical and non surgical options are available.

The Cheek Lift, Midface Lift, or Face Lift

Stunning facial rejuvenation and improvement in mouth lines can be achieved with modern face lifting techniques.

A key, and often neglected, component of a good facial lifting or skin tightening procedure is the cheek lift or mid face lift which many surgeons fail to do. Restoration of a full youthful cheek is key to a youthful appearance, and lifting the cheek area helps reduce the mouth lines, the nasal labial fold and marionette line.

Today many different names are used to describe face lifting procedures including Many different names are used to describe the various face lifting techniques including lifestyle lift, mini face lift, reduced down time face lift, thread lift, chin lift, neck lift, deep plane lift, mid facelift, subperiosteal face lift, s lift, SMAS face lift, secondary facelift, feather lift, APTOS face lift, facelift variations, facial implants, suture suspension facelift, thread lift, quick lift, Thermage, non surgical facelift, LIQUID facelift, dr 90210 facelift.

The most important thing is the skill and the experience of your doctor not the name of the procedure. I suggest you read chapter 10 of my book Save Your Face entitled “Don’t let just anyone touch your face” if you are considering face lift surgery.

Non Surgical Facial Rejuvenation Options-the new Medical Aesthetics

Soft Tissue Fillers-Restylane, Radiesse, Juvederm

The modern soft tissue fillers Juvederm, Radiesse, and Restylane, if injected by a physician who is skilled and experienced at the injection technique, can nicely camouflage the mouth lines, the nasal labial fold and marionette lines and plump the aging lip.

It is important to understand that Juvederm and the other fillers only camouflage mouth lines and do not correct the nasal labial fold and marionette line-correction requires surgery. The fillers like Juvederm also have to be repeated and are not a permanent fix. They are however an excellent non surgical option for the mouth lines, the nasal labial fold and marionette line for people who do not want surgery.

Non Surgical skin tightening-The New Non Surgical Face Lift

Modern skin tightening machines like the LuxIR Deep can actually tighten facial skin and help improve the mouth lines.

In my practice I find that non-ablative skin tightening is most helpful for younger patients who do not have severe aging changes and significant sun damage, people in their 30’s and 40’s who want to correct or tighten early mouth lines and facial skin sagging along the jaw line or jowl area, neck and cheeks. I use the LuxIR Deep on these larger areas.

It is important to understand that non surgical skin tightening is not a face lift and that usually only 20-30% tightening of the facial skin is possible. Other skin tightening machines are Thermage, Titan, and Refirme. In my experience the LuxIR Deep is less painful.

Modern techniques can help reverse or improve the appearance of mouth lines and sagging facial skin. The earlier you start the better, as skin with less severe damage responds better than severely damaged aged skin.

For more information on facial aging and new non surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.

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Dr. Seckel

978-369-4499

Concord, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Facelift-Contact Dr Seckel

While Plastic Surgery is truly a much more comprehensive field including reconstructive surgery following burns, cancer surgery, and birth defects, the image most often projected in the media is that of image or beauty enhancement and non-surgical and surgical facial rejuvenation of otherwise normal people by surgery.

Blepharoplasty-Contact Dr Seckel

Revolutionary technological advancements in the past decade have significantly impacted the field of Plastic Surgery creating a shift from traditional surgical procedures to new non-surgical methods for correcting aging changes and improving appearance.

Laser Resurfacing-Contact Dr Seckel

Today Botox® injections can remove crow’s feet, frown lines, worry lines, and help lift the sagging brow. Prior to Botox® major facial surgery such as a brow lift and blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) were performed to correct these aging changes.

Botox-Contact Dr Seckel

New fillers such as Restylane® and Radiesse® are injected into the nasal-labial fold, lips, and marionette lines, those deep lines running from the lips down around the mouth and chin. Previously, a face lift was performed to correct these lines.

Fillers-Contact Dr Seckel

Skin tightening technology such as aluma, ActiveFX, LuxIR, Titan® and Thermage® are becoming better and can improve facial sagging in 30% patients if used early before the sagging is severe. Many patients choose to have one of these techniques rather than a face-lift. Many other new exciting techniques for laser restoration of skin collagen (Laser Genesis®) and improvement in skin wrinkling, removal of pigment, and removal of red spots and blood vessels on the face are already in use today.

These dramatic advances coupled with increasing public awareness of the importance of sun protection, a healthy anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, stress reduction, and a healthy lifestyle undoubtedly will impact the Plastic Surgery practice of the future. The Plastic Surgeon of the future will still have to be a highly skilled, knowledgeable surgeon, but I predict he/she will need to be an expert in the newer laser, light, pharmacological, and lifestyle therapies as well.

Plastic Surgery is becoming more non-surgical with every new technological advancement. The 6-step facial rejuvenation program encompases all the new non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques. For questions read Save Your Face, or contact me.

Dr Seckel