Q. When I smile, my cheeks stay flat, and I feel this makes me look older and tired. A full facelift may be more than I need to correct this problem, but I am not sure of other options. Is a full facelift the answer
for me, or is there something less extensive that might bring back the fullness in my cheeks and also have less downtime?
A.The area between your lower eyelids and your mouth is considered the midface. This part of the face does lose fullness as we age, and the soft tissue of the cheek drops. A full facelift does not address this section of the face as it most often pulls the skin sideways or laterally without repositioning the soft tissue in the midface.
A midface lift is the best option for restoring the natural curve and fullness in the cheeks by moving soft tissues back into place. The goal of the midface lift is to bring the volume lost due to aging back to the apples of the cheeks resulting in a more youthful appearance. The procedure I use works to revitalize the look of the midface with a natural look that does not appear pulled or “done.” For the midface lift, I use a small incision in the temple area behind the hairline and a small incision under the upper lip resulting in hidden and minimal scarring. To reposition and secure the soft tissue of the cheeks, I use a small endotine device that gently grasps and elevates the cheek tissue. The device dissolves over time. With this approach, patients do not experience dimpling from facial sutures, and the tissue is evenly distributed, giving a very natural-looking result.
The midface lift can be a stand-alone surgery or performed in conjunction with a lower facelift, eyelid surgery, or browlift. During a consultation, I show my patients what they could expect from a midface lift by gently pushing the cheek tissue up. Deciding whether this is a stand-alone surgery or would be most effective, along with another surgical procedure, is one that each patient and I make depending on their aesthetic goals and the condition of the rest of their face.
If you are considering a midface lift or other facial surgery, please call our office and schedule a consultation with me to discuss all your options facial rejuvenation.
Dr. Cynthia M. Gregg
Dr. Gregg discussing the Midface Lift procedure: