Each person’s face ages differently, but for many the middle of the face is where the changes are often first and most noticeable. Throughout the course of normal aging the skin loses collagen, the skin’s natural moisturizer. The cheeks lose fat cells which in youth made the cheeks plump and firm. The nasolabial folds between the nose and cheeks deepen and become more prominent with age.

Gravity also takes a toll by causing fat in the cheeks to loosen and descend as the face ages. The deflation of the cheek area and the lower eyelids are the two primary focal points for the plastic surgeon working to restore volume to the mid-face area. The surgeon may recommend cheek implants in conjunction with surgery.

The Mid-Face Lift, or mid-face suspension technique, restores a more youthful appearance by elevating the cheeks. It is a popular procedure that is designed to improve and soften the appearance of the deflated cheeks, sunken lower eyelids, and nasolabial folds or marionette lines for optimal results. This is unlike a traditional facelift which targets the lower face and neck by improving the appearance of jowls and wrinkles and sagging skin in the neck area.

The Mid-Face Lift procedure can be done through an endoscopic approach or with limited hairline and gum line incisions. The endoscopic approach is performed by making incisions behind the hairline of the scalp. The surgeon may alternately decide to make the incisions directly as in a regular facelift procedure or through the lower eyelids.

While the Mid-Face Lift is used to correct mid-face sagging due to age and gravity, it is not a substitute for a standard facelift which concentrates more on the neck area and jawline for more comprehensive results. Nevertheless, the risks are minimal, there is less downtime, and the results last for years.

Age and gravity are the two key factors which make us look older. While there really isn’t much anyone can do to stop the biological clock from ticking or the drooping effects of normal aging, a Mid-Face Lift is one of many surgical techniques available to tackle the visible signs of aging in the cheeks and tear trough area. Through its limited approach the procedure effectively restores volume to the cheek area and smoothes away the visible effects of time.

Talk to a qualified plastic surgeon who can help you decide if this procedure is right for you.

Dr. Kyle S. Choe is a board certified facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist with offices located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Contact The Choe Center for Facial Plastic Surgery at 757.389.5850 for a personal consultation or read more about the Mid-Face Lift.