Lower face & jawline
Selected patients may seek improvement in jowling, reduced jawline definition, or descent of lower facial tissues. Assessment helps distinguish tissue laxity from volume or skeletal factors.
Facelift
Facelift surgery may address selected changes in the cheeks, lower face, and jawline caused by descent of facial tissues and skin laxity. The surgical plan is based on your anatomy, concerns, and goals, with attention to deeper tissue support and the limitations of what surgery can achieve.
Understand FaceliftUnderstanding facelift
More than tightening the skin.
Facial ageing involves changes in skin elasticity, the position of deeper tissues, fat distribution, and facial volume. These changes can occur together, but they do not all respond to the same treatment.
A facelift generally involves repositioning or supporting facial tissues and redraping the skin. Depending on the anatomy and surgical approach, deeper structures such as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) may be addressed. The aim is to improve selected concerns while respecting facial anatomy and avoiding unnecessary tension on the skin.
A facelift cannot stop ageing, restore every aspect of a younger face, or guarantee a particular appearance. The appropriate extent of surgery and realistic goals are discussed during consultation.
Who may benefit
Is a facelift appropriate for your concerns?
Suitability depends on the structures contributing to the concern, general health, and the expected balance of benefit, risk, and recovery. Age alone does not determine whether surgery is appropriate.
Cheek & facial tissue descent
Changes in cheek position and the relationship between the midface and lower face may contribute to a patient's concerns. The appropriate surgical extent depends on individual anatomy.
Neck & associated concerns
Neck laxity or platysma changes may coexist with lower facial descent. A neck lift or another procedure may be considered when indicated, but combined surgery is not automatically necessary.
Some concerns are better addressed by another treatment or may not warrant surgery. A consultation should also consider medical conditions, previous procedures, smoking or nicotine use, medications, and expectations.
Individual surgical planning
The plan begins with your anatomy.
Assessment considers skin quality, tissue position, facial volume, the lower face and neck, previous surgery, and the patient's medical history. Photographs and examination help identify which structures are contributing to the concern and which changes may reasonably be achieved.
The discussion includes the extent of surgery, incision placement, deeper tissue management, potential scars, anaesthesia, recovery, and whether an additional procedure is appropriate. A more extensive operation is not necessarily a better operation for every patient.
Facelift and neck lift
A facelift and neck lift may overlap in the lower face and jawline. Depending on the anatomy, neck-specific treatment may be considered separately or as part of a combined plan. The distinction is explained according to the structures being treated rather than the name of a technique alone.
Volume and skin quality
Facial fat grafting may be considered for selected volume concerns, while other treatments may address aspects of skin quality. Neither automatically replaces lifting when tissue descent is the principal concern, and additional procedures are not required simply because a facelift is planned.
Surgical approaches
Understanding the options behind the plan.
Different facelift approaches address the skin and deeper tissues in different ways. The technique is selected according to anatomy, the changes required, surgical history, and the surgeon's assessment—not because one named approach is universally preferable.
Skin redraping & incisions
Incisions are commonly planned around the ear and hair-bearing areas, with their extent depending on the operation. Skin is redraped after the underlying tissues have been addressed. Scar position, hairline changes, and healing characteristics should be discussed before surgery.
SMAS & deeper tissue support
The SMAS is a layer of fibromuscular tissue beneath the skin. Depending on the surgical plan, it may be repositioned, folded, tightened, or otherwise managed. Different approaches have distinct anatomical considerations, benefits, and risks.
Deep-plane & other approaches
Deep-plane and other facelift techniques differ in their dissection and management of deeper tissues. No technique is automatically appropriate for every patient. The choice depends on the required correction, tissue characteristics, previous surgery, and the surgeon's experience.
This overview is educational and does not establish which technique Dr. Joe will recommend for an individual patient. The proposed surgical approach and its alternatives are discussed after assessment.
Recovery & preparation
Planning for recovery.
Recovery varies with the extent of surgery, individual healing, and whether procedures are combined. Swelling, bruising, tightness, and temporary changes in sensation are common considerations. Discomfort is usually managed with the postoperative plan provided by the surgical team.
Patients should arrange appropriate support, allow time away from work and strenuous activities, and attend follow-up appointments. Dressings, drains, and the timing of suture removal depend on the operation. The surgeon will provide individual instructions about wound care, medications, sleeping position, activity, and when to seek medical attention.
Visible swelling and bruising often improve over the first several weeks, but residual swelling, altered sensation, and scar maturation may continue for months. The timing of social recovery and final assessment varies; a specific return-to-work date or final result cannot be guaranteed.
Before surgery
Medical assessment may include review of medications and supplements, bleeding risks, nicotine use, previous surgery, and suitability for anaesthesia. Do not stop prescribed medication without guidance from the treating clinician. The surgical team will provide specific preparation instructions.
When to seek urgent advice
Rapidly increasing swelling, especially on one side, severe or escalating pain, significant bleeding, breathing difficulty, or other concerning symptoms require prompt medical assessment. Sudden facial weakness or signs of infection should also be reported. Follow the surgical team's emergency instructions rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Safety & limitations
Understanding the risks and trade-offs.
Facelift is an operation with potential complications. The individual risk profile depends on health, anatomy, previous procedures, the surgical approach, and other factors. A consultation should provide time to discuss these risks and reasonable alternatives.
Bleeding & wound healing
Potential complications include haematoma, infection, wound-healing problems, skin or tissue compromise, and anaesthesia-related complications. Certain medical conditions, medications, and nicotine exposure may increase relevant risks.
Nerves, scars & contour
Temporary or persistent changes in sensation, facial nerve injury with weakness, visible or unfavourable scars, hairline changes, asymmetry, and contour irregularities may occur. The likelihood and implications vary by procedure and patient.
Results & further treatment
Residual laxity, recurrent tissue descent, differences between sides, or dissatisfaction with the result may occur. Further treatment or revision surgery may sometimes be considered, but improvement cannot be guaranteed and additional surgery carries its own risks.
The potential benefit must be weighed against recovery, scarring, and complications. Surgery is not obligatory, and choosing not to proceed is a reasonable outcome of an informed consultation.
Patient results
Results in clinical context.
Before-and-after photographs can help illustrate the concerns addressed through facelift surgery. Each case should be considered alongside the patient's starting anatomy, procedure, and follow-up period. Individual results vary, and photographs cannot predict an individual outcome.
View Patient ResultsFeatured facelift case
BeforeImage pending
AfterImage pending
Clinical photographs and case details will be added here. Procedure · Indication · Follow-up
Related pathways
Explore related treatment options.
Facial concerns may involve tissue descent, neck anatomy, or volume changes. These pathways provide additional context without implying that combined surgery is necessary.
Surgeon-led care
A considered approach to facelift surgery.
Dr. Joe Areejunthawat is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Bangkok. His approach begins with understanding the patient's concerns, evaluating the anatomy, and discussing which treatment options may be appropriate.
The discussion includes potential benefits, limitations, risks, and recovery, with an emphasis on selecting an approach appropriate to the individual rather than applying the same technique to every patient.
About Dr. JoeYour consultation
Considering facelift surgery?
A consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your concerns, review relevant medical and surgical history, and assess which treatment options may be appropriate. You do not need to decide on a surgical technique before contacting Dr. Joe. The aim is to support an informed decision, including whether surgery is appropriate for you.