Mid-face lift or Cheeklift surgery elevates the central part of the face and cheek and thereby softenings the aging changes in the region of the lower eyelid and cheek area.
There are several variations of midface lift that can be customized to your face to produce long-lasting, beautiful and natural-looking results. Other surgical procedures that may complement the results of your midface/cheeklift surgery. Upper eyelid lift and Browlift or Brow-pexy surgery are frequently done together with midface lift surgery. For other patients a Facelift, or a Necklift combined with a midface lift will obtain more youthful, natural appearing results that blend the surgical outcomes of each procedure more harmoniously.
Additional treatments such as fat grafting for cheek volume, Botox for wrinkle softening, Photofacial for brown and red spots or broken capillaries, Laser skin resurfacing for skin tightening, direct wrinkle release with subincision, chemical peels and Morpheus radiofrequency micro-needeling skin tightening are commonly combined with mid-face/cheeklift surgery. Learn more about facial rejuvenation surgery and contact our cosmetic surgery practice to schedule a personal consultation. Learn more about cheeklift/mid-face lift surgery and how it can help you achieve your aesthetic goals by exploring the information below.
Midface / Cheeklift Surgery Candidates
Aging changes of the mid-face /cheek area that can be corrected with cheeklift surgery include:
- Heavily grooved transition of lower eyelid/cheek junction
- Droopy cheek areas with folds of the cheek area known as malar bags
- Sagging lower eyelid skin\
- Heavy lines of the lower eyelid area
- Heavy bags of the lower eyelid
- Loose skin over the cheek area face that improves by pulling the cheelift up towards the temple area
- Creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds)
Appropriate Chicago Mid-face / Cheeklift candidates are women or men and in good physical health. Because the amount of skin lifting is not extensive, smoking cessation is not mandatory but it is recommended to quit smoking for several weeks before and after the procedure to decrease the risk of complications.
In addition, patients should have reasonable expectations of the Midface/ cheeklift procedure and may need to consider adjunctive procedures such as the following:
- Fat grafting to the cheeks and face to improve volume loss in the cheeks and temples
- Microneedling and Radiofrequency tightening of the skin area with Morpheus
- Botox treatments to allow healing the corner of the eye
- Facelift surgery to address aging changes of the face above the jaw line improved when pulling the lateral facial skin towards the ears or temples
- A necklift to address large jowls
- A necklift to address “double chin” or excess fat/loose skin along or under the jaw
- Laser skin resurfacing to improve skin tone and appearance
- Photofacial treatments to address broken blood vessels
- Photofacial treatments to adress brown and red spots associated with sundamage and aging
- Direct wrinkle filling
- Direct wrinkle release with subcision treatments
The benefit to having several procedures performed at once is that you as the patient only need to be put under anesthesia and recover from surgery once instead of multiple times. Speak with our Chicago Mid-Face /Cheeklift surgeons about this option to determine whether it will suit your needs.
The Mid-Face / Cheeklift Procedure
A Mid-Face / Cheeklift alone can be done either under IV sedation or general anesthesia with a licensed anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. Alternatively, a mid-face/cheelift can be with a few tablets taken by mouth for a lighter approach to sedation. Since the procedure is near the eye, numbing drops in the eye and injected local anesthesia will make the procedure comfortable.
The surgeon will make incisions just lateral to the outer corner of the eyes. These incisions extend in the crease of the lower eyelid and extend just into the crow’s feet adjacent to the eye. Through the incisions, the surgeon will lift the skin and muscle of the lower eyelid gently away from the underlying orbital structures that are protected by an easily found orbital septum. The orbital rim is identified and the procedure then carefully extends onto the cheek bone to divide the ligament that separates the lower eyelid from the cheek. The entire cheek can then be mobilized and lifted.. The lower eyelid is then appropriately tightened and repositioned to a more youthful position. The mobile cheek is then secure to the orbital rim near the corner of the eye. After both the eyelid and cheek are secured, the skin and muscle of the lower eyelid are then trimmed to the level of the tightened eyelid removing both excess eyelid muscle and skin. The incision is then meticulously closed and a cool compress is applied. The procedure is then repeated on the other cheek and lower eyelid. Once complete, the incisions are covered with an ophthalmic grade antibiotic ointment. No further dressings are typically required for a cheeklift.
A mid face / cheek lift is a relatively new approach to improve aging changes of the lower eyelid and cheek area. For the right patient, it can avoid the need for facelift surgery and yet take years off of one’s appearance! It should however be noted that Mid-Face / Cheeklift does not treat the lateral face, upper eyelids, forehead or brow and does not directly treat the jowls or the lower face or neck. Fat graft/ fat transfer is often performed during mid Face lift / Cheeklift surgery to enhance the volume of the elevated cheek. Other procedures — such as necklift surgery, facelift surgery, upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), or browlift may need to be performed in conjunction with Mid Face / Cheeklift surgery to revitalize these areas. Additionally, a Mid Face / Cheeklift alone does not change the skin quality. Treatments like laser resurfacing, fillers, photofacials or chemical peels may be needed to optimize and then maintain your more youthful look!
Schedule Your Mid-Facelift Appointment Today
If you would like to speak with one of our plastic surgeons about mid-facelift surgery, please contact Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute and Medspa to schedule a consultation.