Sometimes, the mid-face is the area that shows the most visible signs of aging. Between wrinkles around the mouth, hollowness around the eyes, and laxity in the cheeks, visible aging in the mid-face can add several years to your overall appearance. Fortunately, when other treatments and over-the-counter products fail, certain cosmetic procedures can help rejuvenate your appearance. At Keller Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara, CA, we believe that a midfacelift is a procedure that can help you look your best.
What Is a Mid-Facelift?
A midfacelift is a rejuvenating cosmetic surgery that is intended to treat the cheek and under-eye area to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and lift sagging cheeks. This surgical procedure is performed under anesthesia and can be a good alternative to a full facelift, particularly for patients who do not need a lift procedure performed on the upper face and brow area.
A midfacelift is used to transform the appearance of the midface, which is the area beneath the eyes to the jawline. The midface takes up the biggest portion of your face and tends to show early signs of aging thanks to changes in the fat, skin, and muscle tissues. Also sometimes called a cheek lift, this procedure is intended to smooth sagging cheeks and even contour the appearance to make cheekbones appear more prominent.
How Is A Mid-Facelift Different From a Facelift?
Although both a midfacelift and a facelift are rejuvenating cosmetic procedures that tighten facial tissues, the two procedures are vastly different. For one thing, a midfacelift only targets the area in the midface, particularly the cheek and under-eye area; a facelift, on the other hand, targets these areas in addition to wrinkles on the upper face and loose skin on the neck.
A full facelift is ideal for those who have complex or severe concerns, while a partial lift for the midface can be considered a customized procedure or a procedure appropriate for those who have only moderate to severe concerns in the cheek area. The recovery time required for a full facelift may be longer since more areas of the face are lifted by the procedure.
What Can a Mid-Facelift Treat?
The midface is the target for a cheek lift or a partial lift, but there are many areas of the midface that may be showing signs of visible aging. One of the main goals of this treatment is to tighten sagging skin in the cheeks, which correct skin laxity and also eliminates wrinkles around the nose and mouth. This procedure can be used to correct the placement of the fat pads in the cheeks and help erase fine lines around the temples and eyes.
This procedure is also commonly used to address hollows beneath the eyes, which tend to be caused by lax skin and gravity pulling tissues down. When the middle area of the face is lifted, the area beneath the eye appears less hollow and smoother. As a note, some people may use this treatment to make the cheekbones appear more prominent, particularly if cheekbones have lost definition thanks to fat redistribution associated with aging.
How Does This Treatment Work?
This treatment is performed with a similar technique used for a full facelift. Two incisions will be made near the hairline, although with this procedure the incisions will be deeper to access the muscles and fat pads in the cheeks. Your surgeon will reposition the muscle, tissues, and skin in the midface to lift the skin into a higher and tighter position.
This procedure will take two hours to complete and will be performed under anesthesia, which means you will need to arrange for transportation after your procedure is complete. Sometimes patients will need to stay overnight at the hospital, particularly if additional procedures are performed with this one. We can provide you with more information about what to expect from your surgery during your consultation appointment.
Preparation
Because this is a surgical procedure, you will need to do a few things to prepare for your treatment. For example, you will need to avoid alcohol, smoking, and blood-thinning medications for at least three to five days before your surgery. If you need to adjust any of your regular medications, your surgeon and your primary care physician will need to consult. You may also need to complete certain labs or exams to verify that you are in good health for surgery.
Aftercare
After your procedure, you should be sure to use any prescriptions that are given to you and follow your aftercare instructions closely. Your aftercare instructions will include how you should care for your face during the first few weeks after your procedure, such as how to wash your skin and care for the incision site. You will have a follow-up appointment about one week after your procedure if you need to have stitches removed; even if you use dissolving sutures, you may still need to attend a follow-up appointment.
You will need to avoid strenuous exercise and activity for at least three weeks after your surgery. You may be encouraged to sleep on your back or with your head elevated. You will also need to follow other recommendations given to you.
How Long Will Your Recovery Be?
Most people will require several months to fully recover from this procedure. That said, most people will be able to see the results of this treatment within two to three months. The results of this treatment will continue to improve in appearance as your skin recovers from the procedure.
How Long Do Results Last?
You can expect the results of this procedure to last for at least 10 years, or sometimes longer if you take good care of your skin after your recovery. You may find that your results will last longer if you use anti-aging skin care products that help increase collagen production so your skin will remain supple and tight.
Frequently Asked Questions?
1. Why Do Your Cheeks Droop With Age?
The cheeks are the largest part of the face, so it makes sense that the cheeks may show the most obvious sign of aging in the form of sagging or drooping cheeks. There are two primary causes of sagging skin in the cheek area, which include:
Collagen Production
Low collagen production is a byproduct of the natural aging process and it makes a huge impact on the quality and appearance of your skin. Collagen is a protein in the skin that gives the skin volume, so when collagen production begins to slow, the skin tends to become less voluminous, dryer, and less supple. In the cheeks, this presents as skin laxity that causes the formation of wrinkles on the midface.
Fat Redistribution
The fat in your cheeks also changes as a result of the natural aging process. Because the tightness of your skin loosens, the fat pads in your cheeks will also begin to droop; additionally, aging can mean that the fat in your cheeks will begin to break down. Each of these factors can create the appearance of drooping cheeks.
2. Is There a Best Age for This Procedure?
Most patients who have this procedure are around age 50, but there is no “correct” age to have this procedure. If you are experiencing sagging skin in the mid-face that you would like to correct, then you are likely at the right age for this treatment.
However, while there is no best age for this procedure, there is a best time to have this procedure. Because it will require several months to fully recover from this procedure, you should schedule your surgery at least three to four months before any important life events.
3. Why Should You Choose a Mid-Facelift Instead of a Facelift?
There are a few reasons to choose a midfacelift instead of a facelift, such as not needing to correct the appearance of wrinkles in the upper face or on the neck. Most of the time, those who choose this procedure have specific goals that can’t be achieved with non-surgical treatments. This particular treatment can be customized to help you achieve your exact aesthetic goals without lifting every area of your face or neck.
4. Can You Use Other Cosmetic Procedures With This One?
Yes, it’s actually very common to combine this cosmetic procedure with others. Given the nature of this procedure and the area being treated, many patients opt to combine this procedure with fat grafting, cheek augmentation, or blepharoplasty to enhance the outcome of the procedure and advance their aesthetic goals. You can also use other cosmetic procedures to target specific areas, such as a brow lift or facial liposuction.
Naturally, you can also combine this procedure with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing or dermal fillers. Sometimes combining non-surgical and surgical treatments can help you achieve more comprehensive aesthetic goals. For example, while cosmetic facial surgery can help make drastic improvements to your appearance, it may not be a good option to correct superficial skin concerns, such as dark spots or sun damage. If you have additional skin concerns that can’t be corrected with cosmetic surgery, please let us know so we can build an appropriate treatment plan for you.
5. What Are the Benefits of a Mid-Facelift?
One of the biggest benefits of this procedure is the faster recovery compared to a full facelift. The minimally invasive techniques used for this procedure allow for less downtime and faster results. The results of this procedure also last significantly longer than dermal fillers or liquid facelifts that can increase the volume of the midface.
Additionally, the fact that this treatment does not involve any injectables means you will not need to worry about allergic reactions or other complications that can arise from dermal filler injections. The ability to mix and match this procedure with other cosmetic procedures is also a benefit as this will allow you to have full control over every aspect of your rejuvenation treatments.
6. Who Are Good Candidates?
An ideal candidate for this procedure includes middle-aged and mature patients who have hollow under-eyes and sagging cheeks or other visible signs of aging in the midface. This procedure should not be performed if the patient is currently pregnant. This procedure is also not intended for patients who have loose skin on the neck or visible signs of aging that would be better addressed by a traditional facelift.
Feel More Confident With a Mid-Facelift!
Loose skin and wrinkles in the midface can be troubling to treat, but with a procedure like a midfacelift, you can easily erase those visible signs of aging and feel more confident in your appearance. Please call Keller Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara, CA to schedule your consultation today.
