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Kirwan Plastic Surgery

Aesthetic concern

Facial aging.

Jowling, deepening folds, and a softer jawline are structural changes, not skin problems. Understanding which layers have shifted is what separates a natural result from a tight one.

Discuss this concern See the facelift procedure
Illustrative portrait; not a patient photograph

4 layers

Skin, fat, SMAS, ligaments

3D imaging

At every consultation

AAAASF

Accredited suite

10+ years

Typical durability, sample

Overview

What is actually changing.

The face ages in layers. Bone loses projection, fat compartments deflate and slide, the retaining ligaments loosen, and the skin thins. Most of what people describe as looking tired is the combination of those shifts, not any one of them.

Treatments that address only the surface, whether injectables or skin tightening, can help in the early stages. Once the deeper layers have descended, the honest answer is usually a procedure that repositions them.

Contributing factors

Four causes that
act together.

Volume loss

Fat compartments in the midface deflate and descend, deepening folds and hollows.

Sun and skin quality

Ultraviolet exposure thins collagen and elastin, so the skin drapes rather than springs back.

Ligament laxity

Retaining ligaments stretch with time, letting tissue slide toward the jawline.

Bone remodeling

The facial skeleton loses projection, removing the scaffold the soft tissue rests on.

Signs by region

Where you
might notice it.

Midface

  • Flattened cheeks
  • Deepening nasolabial folds
  • Tear-trough hollowing

Lower face

  • Jowls at the jawline
  • Marionette lines
  • Loss of chin definition

Neck

  • Vertical platysmal bands
  • Loose skin beneath the chin
  • Blunted neck angle

Skin

  • Fine lines at rest
  • Uneven pigmentation
  • Crepey texture

Treatment options

Matched to the layer
that has moved.

  • Deep-plane facelift and neck lift

    Repositions the underlying structure rather than pulling skin. The most complete correction for moderate to advanced changes.

    Procedure detail

  • FaceTite

    Radiofrequency contraction tightens mild to moderate laxity of the lower face and neck through tiny incisions, with less downtime than a lift.

    Procedure detail

  • Fat grafting

    Restores lost volume with your own fat, often combined with a lift for a fuller, more rested result.

    Procedure detail

  • Eyelid surgery

    Addresses hooding and lower-lid bags when the eyes are the primary concern.

    Procedure detail

  • Non-surgical treatments

    Neuromodulators, fillers, and resurfacing for early changes or maintenance between procedures.

    Procedure detail

Medical content on this page is illustrative sample copy and must be reviewed by the surgeon before any live use.

Questions

Asked at almost
every consultation.

When is the right time for a facelift?

When the changes you notice are structural, meaning jowling and neck laxity rather than skin quality alone. Many patients are in their late forties to sixties, but anatomy matters more than age.

Will I look pulled or different?

A deep-plane approach lifts the deeper tissue and lets skin settle without tension. The aim is to look like a rested version of yourself, not a different person.

How long do results last?

Aging continues, but a well-executed lift typically keeps you ahead of where you would otherwise be for ten years or more. Skin care and sun protection extend that.

Can non-surgical treatments do the same thing?

They can soften early changes and improve skin quality. They cannot reposition descended tissue; when that is the issue, injectables alone tend to add volume where it is not needed.

Next step

Find out which
layer has shifted.

A consultation with 3D imaging shows what is actually happening beneath the surface before any treatment is suggested.

Request a consultation All concerns
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