Midface or Cheek Lift

One of the most important advances in the recent history of facelift surgery has been the development of improved techniques for rejuvenating the midface. A midface lift can be dramatically rejuvenating for selected patients with tired, baggy lower eyelids or in patients with deep creases between the upper lip and cheek. The midface lift moves skin in a vertical direction, reversing lifetime gravitational effects without creating a windblown appearance. The result can be a beautiful rejuvenation of the middle third of the face including the region around the upper lips and nose, the cheeks, and the lower eyelids. This procedure can be performed in isolation for properly selected patients, or it may be combined with traditional face lifting techniques. This procedure is frequently recommended for patients seeking revision of prior facelift surgery.

Traditional facelifts that remove skin around the ear are effective at reducing folds of skin in the neck and along the jaw line. Although the goal of facelift surgery is to reverse the effects of gravity, removal of additional skin at the ear can only pull cheek tissues horizontally, not upward. Further tightening of the lower facelift can then result in a "windblown" look. Forehead lifting provides an additional vertical vector which may help lift the corners of the eyes and the region of the cheek bone. Even these combined techniques, however, do not elevate the middle third of the face. Traditional lower eyelid techniques often involve removal of orbital fat in hopes of reducing puffiness of the lower eyelid. If overdone, this technique can lead to a hollowed out appearance of the lower eyelid which, may be no more attractive than previous condition. By creating a vertical lift directly in the cheek, the fullness and apparent height of the cheek bones is enhanced, the length of the lower eyelid appears shortened, and the folds around the upper lip and nose are reduced. The direct vertical movement of the skin eliminates the horizontal windblown look that has been associated with older facelift techniques.

At the time of surgery, a small incision is made just at the edge of the lower eyelid, or hidden just inside the eyelid. The incision extends horizontally within one of the natural crow's foot creases. The cheek pad is then lifted vertically and replaced over the cheek bone in a more youthful position. Excess skin in the lower eyelid is trimmed away, dramatically reducing the puffiness in the lower eyelids. Any excess fat in the lower eyelid is smoothed to blend it with the cheek creating a smooth contour rather than a hollowed eye socket. The incisions are barely detectible after six weeks.

Complications of this procedure can include inadvertent injury to the eye, rounding of the lower eyelid, and temporary numbness of the cheek. Back to Top >>

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