Will a facelift make my face look slimmer?

Since aging contributes to the “squaring” of the face’s shape (think: jowls and sagging cheeks), many patients in their 50s and beyond ask us if we can make their face look slimmer and more contoured, like it was when they were younger. If signs of aging play a part in squaring your face shape, then a facelift can indeed slim the face and enhance your natural features. Below, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Haley Bray explains.

The slimming effect of removing excess skin and fat

A facelift creates a slimmer appearance by removing excess skin and fat, especially in areas where sagging skin and fat deposits tend to hide the natural contours of your face. It’s like revealing the sculpture that lies beneath!

Sagging skin around the jowls and the infamous “turkey neck” can make the face and neck look heavier and older than they really are. Plus, fat deposits in these areas can contribute to the problem. By carefully removing or repositioning this excess fat and trimming the sagging skin, a facelift can dramatically reduce these signs of aging, unveiling a more refined and slimmer neck and jawline. The effects of this change are like turning back the clock on aging by about 10 years.

How we achieve a natural-looking—not tight!—result

If you’re looking into anti-aging procedures, we know what you’re thinking: “I don’t want to look like I’ve been caught in a wind tunnel!” Most people picture the facelift surgeon pulling back the skin to remove wrinkles, just like you would with a wrinkled bed sheet. But, there’s much more to it!

The art of the natural-looking facelift has evolved significantly in the past several decades, and a natural-looking result comes from using the latest techniques that allow us to lift and tighten the deeper layers of the face (the SMAS, or submuscular aponeurotic layer, for those who like the technical terms) rather than just pulling the skin. By lifting the muscle and skin as a unit, this approach creates a more natural, lasting result without an “overdone” look.

A facelift can create a slimmer neck and jawline by removing or repositioning excess fat and trimming the sagging skin.

Of course, a facelift is not a one-size-fits-all surgery, so we tailor the procedure to fit your specific needs and goals. In many cases, we combine a facelift with a brow lift, lip lift, or eyelid lift for more comprehensive results; in other cases, alternate procedures like buccal fat removal can help to subtly slim the face.

If you’re curious about how a facelift could benefit you, we’re here to chat! Call (916) 242-2662 to get started today.

Dr. Bray is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in natural-looking results with facial cosmetic procedures like facelift, neck lift, and rhinoplasty. When you’re ready to set up a consultation, she’s here to learn about your goals and develop a plan that helps you look and feel your best!