What Can a Mid-Face Lift Do?

Wanting to look younger doesn’t mean that you want to look drastically different than you do now. Most people who seek facial rejuvenation, even through surgical procedures like a facelift, are interested in a subtle transformation that makes them look younger and more vibrant but not “done.” To achieve this goal, it is important to consider which part of the face it is that is involved in the most significant aging. Let’s be honest, every part of the face is involved. However, some areas may be more prominent to each person than others. This is why plastic surgery procedures must be customizable. One way that we customize treatment for our patients is through the use of the right lift. Here, we discuss the value of the mid-face lift.

A Facelift Isn’t a Facelift as You May Imagine

When you hear the term “facelift,” you may think that this procedure refreshes the entire face. On the contrary, the standard full facelift is a procedure that repositions tissue across the lower two-thirds of the face. Essentially, from the cheekbones to the jawline. A lower facelift, or mini facelift, is a modified lift that restores shape to the lowest one-third of the face. As it may sound, then, the mid-face lift focuses right in the middle of the two. This procedure is focused on the cheek area to restore height and youthful contour to the area below the eyes. The mid-face lift does not correct puffiness or sagging of the lower eyelids. To address such concerns, the lift can be combined with blepharoplasty. The primary area of focus for the mid-face lift includes the tissue starting at the corners of the mouth and extending to the outer corners of the eyes. The outpatient surgery is performed through small incisions hidden in the hairline. By repositioning fatty tissue and trimming loose skin, the mid-face lift restores smooth transitions from the mouth to the cheeks. It smooths away the deep nasolabial creases that may have formed due to sagging and volume loss. The repositioning and contouring of the cheeks can also subtly lift tissue from the jawline, reducing the appearance of jowls.

The objective in this middle-of-the-face lift procedure is to correct the deflation that naturally occurs with age and the loss of volume in the fatty tissue beneath the skin. This loss begins in our mid to late twenties and continues every year from then on. Dermal fillers provide one way of restoring some of the volume and contour to the mid face. However, this achieves only temporary improvement. The mid-face lift is a long-lasting solution. It’s also not the only solution. Like the procedure can be combined with blepharoplasty, the mid-face lift can also be combined with fat transfer. This injectable technique works like dermal fillers but utilizes the patient’s own fat to fill out the cheeks or other areas of the face.

Facial contours are a significant contributor to the youthfulness of the face, perhaps even more so than some lines and creases here and there. To restore a more youthful shape to your face, contact us and schedule a consultation in our St. Louis or St. Peters office.