Mid-Face Lifts Turn Back the Clock on Aging

by Marisa Amorasak

The face lift was one of the first plastic surgery procedures ever created, and it continues to benefit many patients. But for some people, a full facelift just isn’t necessary: only certain parts of their face are showing age, they’ve already undergone an initial facelift, or the patient simply wants a more minor procedure. Mid-face lifts, or cheek lifts, are popping up as the new ideal alternative. They focus on bringing the youth back to one of the first places that aging tends to hit: your cheeks and eye area. It also tightens deep nasolabial folds better than dermal fillers.

What is a Mid-Face or Cheek Lift?

As people grow older, their skin begins to sag. This is a particularly noticeable problem on the cheeks, which is one of the fleshiest and most protrusive areas of the face. Youthful cheeks are high and defined, while the cheeks of an older person loose their definition and migrate down the face. As the cheeks fall, the flesh around it does, too. Lower eyelids can extend into the cheek area, giving a tired appearance. Drooping cheeks can also contribute to the deepening of nasolabial folds around the nose and mouth. The standard treatment for nasolabial folds are injectables like Juvederm and Radiesse, but non-invasive treatments aren’t always enough.

Mid-face or cheek lifts address these problem areas by creating an incision above each ear, just behind the hairline. The cheek is pulled up and away from the center of the face. To aid with the lift, two more stitches are put in the gumline, above the canine tooth. The results of a mid-face lift are lifted cheeks, smoothed nasolabial folds, and an overall refreshed appearance.

Cheek Lift vs. Facelift

Traditional facelifts use incisions around the hairline to tighten the entire face, from the upper forehead all the way down to the chin (and sometimes the neck). Facelifts are a good choice for people who feel that their entire face is giving in to gravity;mid-face lifts are ideal for people who are only troubled by the sagging in their cheek area. Both procedures are invasive and will require about 4-6 weeks to see the full results.

Modernizing the Cheek Lift

As the cheek lift is popularized, plastic surgeons are making advancements in their techniques. The superficial cheek lift makes a smaller incision underneath the bottom eyelid, and secures the tissue at the temples. The result is less risk to the eye area and a faster recovery time. Patients who are looking for a more dramatic cheek lift may opt for a percutaneous mid-face-lift, which lifts the whole center area of the face outward and upwards. The percutaneuous mid-face lift is suitable for people with very deep nasolabial folds and excess skin around the center of the face.

Scheduling Your Cheek or Mid-Face Lift

In addition to providing informative resources to patients, Plastic Surgery Portal offers free access to our nationwide network of board-certified plastic surgeons. Find a plastic surgeon near you to set up a personal consultation for a cheek lift now!