Mouth Lines and Sagging Face-How to Correct the Nasal Labial Fold and Marionette Lines

All of us who are over 40 have at some point looked in the mirror and noticed that our reflection has changed. Often the most striking change is dark lines or folds of sagging skin around the mouth or mouth lines. Technically the mouth lines, the line running from your nose to the corner of your mouth is called the Nasal Labial fold line, and the line running from the corner of your mouth down to the chin or jaw bone is called the Marionette Line (remember Mr. Bluster on Howdy Doody?).

 

 

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