Structural Lower Face Lift: A Case Study in Professional Neck Rejuvenation

Case Overview

A 69-year-old retired female physician — still professionally active and frequently in conversation with department chairmen and hospital CEOs — presented at Desert Bloom with concerns about progressive neck laxity, loss of jawline definition, and softening of the submental contour. Her stated goal was not vanity-driven enhancement. It was professional presence. Authority. Competence signaling. This distinction matters, and it shaped the entire treatment plan. This case explores a non-surgical lower face lift approach to neck rejuvenation for the mature patient, focusing on structural support and anatomical restoration over volume replacement. Learn more about our non-surgical facelift options.

Clinical Assessment

Clinical Assessment at 69: Anatomical Realities

At 69, several anatomical realities must be acknowledged: thinning dermis, reduced collagen density, decreased skin elasticity, platysmal laxity, and submental tissue descent. Her skin quality showed moderate laxity and reduced recoil. She was not a surgical candidate by her preference, and her expectations were realistic.

Due to age-related tissue fragility, this was technically a more challenging case than treating a patient in her 40s or early 50s. There is less margin for aggressive tension. There is greater risk of visible irregularities. Precision becomes critical.

Patient Goals: Professional Presence, Not Dramatic Change

She expressed a specific concern: perceived bias against aging female physicians in rooms where she still needed to lead. She did not request dramatic change. She wanted improved structural support in the lower face and neck to look less fatigued and more defined — visually aligned with the competence and authority she still carried into every meeting.

Neck Rejuvenation Non-Surgical: What Works for Sagging Neck Skin?

Selecting the most appropriate cosmetic treatment depends heavily on the patient’s anatomy and tissue quality, especially when the goal is a conservative lower face lift effect in the neck and jawline region. While RF microneedling or ultrasound energy are used for surface skin tightening, they may not provide enough mechanical repositioning on their own for a 69-year-old patient with significant descent. In this case, a structural PLLA thread sling provided the necessary scaffold to improve jawline definition without the volume-heavy appearance sometimes associated with dermal fillers.

Treatment Strategy

PLLA Thread Sling Under the Neck

We performed a PLLA thread sling treatment under the neck to provide structural lift and support to the submental area and jawline. The rationale was four-fold: mechanical lift of descended tissue, stimulation of collagen production over time, reinforcement of lower face support without adding volume, and preservation of facial identity.

This was not a volume-based correction. It was a structural support intervention. Post-procedure, she was placed in a chin support garment to stabilize tissue during the early healing phase.

Before & After

Same patient, four views — 6-month follow-up after PLLA thread sling.

BeforeAfter

Left profile — restoration of submental contour and jawline sharpness after PLLA thread sling.

Recovery and Two-Week Follow-Up

In Her Own Words

A Note From the Patient

The patient sent this message in writing two weeks after her treatment (shown here). What stands out clinically is not just satisfaction — it is relief. She did not ask to look 40. She asked to feel competitive in rooms where age bias may exist, and her improvement restored sharper jawline definition and reduced submental laxity for a more structured lower facial contour.

The patient’s message uses “PDO threads” colloquially. The clinical treatment in this case was a PLLA thread sling; both terms refer to her thread-based lift.

Technical Execution and Post-Procedure Care

The PLLA sling was placed under local anesthesia in a single session. To ensure optimal results, the patient followed a disciplined aftercare protocol, including wearing a chin support garment for 12 hours a day during the initial healing phase. This stability is crucial for allowing the threads to integrate and initiate natural collagen production, which strengthens the structural lift over the following months.

Important Safety Information

Thread lift results vary by individual and are not guaranteed. Outcomes depend on age, skin quality, degree of laxity, healing response, and adherence to aftercare.

Common side effects may include bruising, swelling, tenderness, and risk of infection (rare but possible).

To reduce bruising risk, patients should avoid the following for approximately one week prior to treatment (when medically appropriate and cleared by their prescribing physician):

• Blood-thinning medications
• Alcohol
• Certain supplements (for example, fish oil and vitamin E)

Strict aftercare compliance — including wearing compression support when instructed — is essential for optimal results.

Professional Aging and Aesthetic Medicine

This case illustrates something important. Many women in leadership roles do not seek aesthetic intervention from insecurity. They seek it to remain visually aligned with their competence and authority.

Medicine offers tools to support tissue and structure. It should never reinforce fear — but it can responsibly address anatomy. The goal is not erasure of age. The goal is alignment between internal vitality and external presentation.

What Is the Average Cost of Non-Surgical Neck Lift Procedures?

The cost of a lower face rejuvenation using threads varies depending on the number of filaments required and the complexity of the treatment area. While non-surgical options are generally more cost-effective than surgical options, they require periodic maintenance to sustain the structural lift. At Desert Bloom, we provide a transparent, personalized quote following a comprehensive anatomical assessment and discussion of your skin goals.

This is one of several documented case studies from Desert Bloom Skincare. See all patient case studies →

Individual results vary. Patient consent obtained for case study publication. Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Natalya Borakowski, NMD. Last updated April 2026.

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Medically reviewed by

Dr. Natalya Borakowski, NMD

Founder, Desert Bloom Skincare