Mid Face Lift (Mini Lift) by Wave Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Laser Center

The area between your lower eyelids and your mouth is considered the midface. As you age, the effects of gravity, repeated muscle contraction, and lifestyle causes the skin, fat, and muscle to move downwards. When this occurs, the cheeks begin to look saggy or flat, the lower eyelids to become puffy or hollow, and circles begin to appear under the eyes. Also the lines between the nose and the corner of the mouth deepen.

The Endoscopic Mid Facelift restores the natural curves and fullness in the cheeks by moving the entire soft tissues back to its normal position. This is achieved by elevating the soft midface tissue from the bone, repositioning it upward towards the eyes, and fixating it in place until it adheres naturally to the bone. This is achieved by using the Endotine mid face device. This restores cheek volume and establishes more youthful mid face contours. The result will be a natural, revitalized appearance that doesn't appear overdone or “pulled.”

When performed skillfully, a cheek lift will deliver a natural but noticeable improvement. It is frequently performed with other surgeries, such as a lower face lift, eyelid surgery, or a brow lift. However, for many younger patients, under 45 years old, mid face suspension is often a standalone procedure.

During a mid face suspension procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions in the area above the ear or the lower eyelid and in some cases, through the underside of the upper lip. A small endoscope and other instruments are introduced through the incisions to lift the delicate mid face tissues off the cheekbones. Once lifted, these tissues are repositioned upward (toward the eye) and to the side (toward the ear).

Mid face suspension surgery is often performed under IV sedation. Patients typically return home on the same day. Surgical dressings, if used, are removed soon after surgery, and any tissue swelling related to the procedure gradually diminishes.

+There are numerous details in performing a meticulus facelift to ensures beautiful result:

Incision has to be precisely perpendicular so that there is good approximation during closure to ensure a scar that will be hardly noticeable.

Near the cartilage portion of the ear, the skin has to be cut thin so that the area appears more natural.

Skin undermining should be minimal to ensure smoothness and less disruption of blood vessels so that there is faster and better healing.

The SMAS/Platysma tissue should be extensively undermined to reposition tissues.

There are tissues called retaining ligament which must be completely released to assure a tension free movement of the soft tissue. These ligaments are located along the malar bone, cheeks, and along the jaw and chin. By releasing these ligaments, we have the freedom to reposition many droopy tissue in more youthful location.

For people with wrinkles along the side of the eyes, the muscle can be transected to weaken the lines.

For people with nasojugal groove-a line beneath the malar bone and the cheeks, the malar fat pad must be separately elevated and suspended.

Patients with heavy nasolabial fold, should undergo careful micro liposuction over the malar fat pad or have fat grafting to the nasolabial fold.

Patients with heavy jowls, should also undergo careful liposuction of the overlying fat. Also, the retaining ligaments of the jawline must all be released to the chin area.

Patients with wide lower third of the face who wishes for a slimmer look can benefit from removal of the buccal fat pad.

For some areas that are depressed, SMAS can be folded upon itself to augment certain areas such as submalar region.

Corner of the mouth can be elevated to give patient a more fresher appearace.

For people with heavy fat neck, the neck must be very aggressively treated. Not only is the Platysma/skin pulled from the sides, but also from the middle. A small incision is made in the natural crease under the chin. Through this area, the fat underneath the skin is removed. Also, there is a fat layer underneath the platysma muscle called the subplatysmal fat pad which should be removed. Then the platysma can be tightened both from the middle and sides.

SMAS that is trimmed during surgery can be used to augment areas that are depressed. Some of the more common areas are submalar region, nasolabial fold, and lips.

All of the pulling tension is placed on the SMAS layers. The skin is allowed to just redrape. This ensures smoothness of the face and good scar healing.

Constant reference to the preoperative photographs to ensure accuracy and symmetry.

These are some of the examples that must be considered on all patients. This kind of approach to all facelift ensures not just better aesthetic results, but also more natural appearance of the face.

What is FaceLift Surgery?

If you are bothered by signs of aging in your face, facelift surgery may be right for you. Technically known as rhytidectomy, a facelift is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:

Sagging in the midface

Deep creases below the lower eyelids

Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth

Fat that has fallen or is displaced

Loss of muscle tone in the lower face may create jowls

Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw can make even a person of normal weight appear to have a double chin

Rejuvenation procedures typically performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes.

What facelifts won’t do:

As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.

Is it right for me?

A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery. Facelift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires to to try to fit any sort of ideal image.