Mid-Facelift Surgery: Overview, Benefits, and Drawbacks
One of the biggest factors in a youthful appearance is the mid-face, the contoured area where the lower eyelid meets the cheeks. However, with natural aging the mid-face is hit with various aesthetic issues.
First, bags begin to form and become prominent around the lower eyelid. Next, volume loss begins to deepen the transition between the cheek bone and eyelid. This loss in volume is due to loss of fat, thinning of the skin and loss of bony support. Finally, fat in the mid-face begins to descend, hollowing the area below the eyelid and giving the area a droopy appearance.
A mid face lift procedure can be performed to target moderate to severe aging issues in the mid-face area.
History of the mid-face lift surgery
The mid-face area was relatively ignored by the cosmetic industry until 20 years ago, when surgeons like Sam Hamra began to perform deep plane facelifts to improve it. Before then, the most used treatment for the area relied on hard silicone rubber implant placed on the underlying maxillary bone. Improvements in endoscopic technology in recent years have enabled the mid-face to be targeted with minimally invasive techniques, igniting interest in surgical lifts to enhance the mid-face.
What results can a mid-face lift provide?
The mid-face lift procedure can dramatically define the cheekbones and reduce bags under the lower eyelids, restoring a more youthful contour in the mid-face area.
How is the mid-face lift performed?
A mid-face lift procedure can be performed with local or general anesthesia. The procedure starts with the surgeon making incisions underneath the eyelashes of the lower eyelids. The surgeon then frees the tissues of the midface from the underlying bone taking care to protect the infraorbital nerve (the nerve that provides sensation to the cheek, nose and upper teeth). He then proceeds to reposition, lift and suspend mid-face tissue before closing the eyelid incisions with sutures. This method is minimally invasive, versatile, and minimizes any scarring.
How long does the procedure take?
Typically most mid-face procedures take between 2 and3 hours. The exact time of your procedure can vary depending on your specific needs and desired results.
What should I expect post procedure?
Shortly after undergoing mid-face lift surgery, most individuals will experience swelling, bruising, and light to moderate pain. The pain can be managed with pain medication. Numbness in the upper lip and teeth is common and subsides on its own in several days.
During the first 2 days post procedure the face may be wrapped in order to minimize swelling. Over this period we advise patients to keep their head elevated and continuously apply cold compresses to the eyes and face. Typically pain and bruising peak after 48 hours, with many people reportedly begin to feel dramatically better after that. Since the surgery is performed around the lower eyelids, blurred and double vision is common for the first few days and subsides as the swelling goes away.
Patients can drive once they no longer are taking narcotic pain medication and once their blurred vision has improved. Most patients can return to work within 7 days, and return to full activity including exercise after two weeks.
For more information about mid-face lift surgery or to schedule a free consultation contacts us today!
Dr. Minas Constantinides is a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon at Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Austin, Texas. He is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and is a Senior Advisor of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).
I have had this procedure and it has led to phenomenal results. So happy with everything, well worth it!