When one speaks of a face lift, the first image that registers in a person’s brain is that of detaching the skin from the face, stretching it upwards and backwards, and then suturing everything back into place. While this may have been the case traditionally, cosmetic surgeons are now redefining the concept of the face lift. Modern practice considers the face as consisting of three separate, operable areas – the upper face, which covers the forehead and eye area, the mid face, which focuses on the area below the eyelids, the nose and the sides and corners of the mouth, and the lower face, which includes the mouth, chin and the upper part of the neck. The lower face shows signs of aging early on, so rejuvenation of this area is imperative to the restoration of a person’s youthful appearance.

The lower face lift begins either as one incision that extends from the front of the ear down and into the back, or through several tiny incisions in the lower face area through which endoscopic instruments may be inserted. With the incisions as a vantage point, the surgeon will detach the facial skin from the connective tissue. From here, the muscles will be tightened and sutured into raised positions, the skin will be smoothed and contoured, excess fat will be siphoned away, and extra skin that forms unsightly folds will be trimmed. The incisions will then be closed and sealed with stitches.

A lower face lift reflects the refinement of the traditional face lift technique. Instead of simply stretching skin to smooth it out, extensive work is done beneath the skin surface, strengthening the foundations of the facial profile to provide a much more natural, but dynamic, improvement.

The advantages of a lower face lift are readily apparent. The jowls and fleshy neck syndrome that are associated with advanced age or diminished health will be removed entirely, and the creases and lines that form along the lower part of the face will be ironed out as the skin is stretched out over an expertly adjusted and shaped structure. Since only the lower part of the face is affected, the recovery time for the procedure will not be as long as that of a regular face lift, and could be shortened to a few days if the operation was performed endoscopically. Scarring is also kept to a minimum, and any visible scars will be found in inconspicuous places such as beneath the chin or behind the ear, where it will not be readily apparent that the patient has undergone surgery.

After the operation, the patient may experience swelling, bruising and some lingering pain. These are typical of surgeries of this sort and will eventually disappear. In the meantime, these aftereffects can be reduced or controlled with standard medication for pain and inflammation. In rare cases, nerve damage and numbness may occur, but these effects are almost always temporary. Before undergoing a surgery of this nature or any other relatively invasive procedure, it is recommended that the patients are in good health and not suffering from any illnesses or conditions that may cause complications with the results of the procedure.

Lower face lifts may be combined with brow lifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures for the face, if necessary, for a more dynamic effect, or because the signs of aging on the patient are particularly pronounced and a lower face lift would not be sufficient. As with any other surgery that seeks to dramatically improve a person’s appearance, it is important that the patient temper her expectations and realize that the change, though significant, will still be relatively subtle.