Mid-Facelift San Francisco

Name: Mid Facelift
Brand: The MAAS Clinic
Rating: 4.9 (144 reviews)

You may think the first place you'll notice signs of aging is around the lower face and along the jawline. While wrinkles and jowl formation are often the concern that brings men and women into a plastic surgeon's office, it's not the only one.

Reviving Radiance

The midface, the area below the eyelid and above the lip, is an area of early facial aging for many patients. You might notice a hollowing effect in the middle of the face, just underneath the cheekbones. This area can begin to sag and make you look perpetually tired. When that weary look starts to set in, rest assured there are ways to reverse the aging process and restore freshness and youth to the midface.

The Aging Midface

What happens to the midface over time to produce this aged appearance? First, the bony part of the cheekbone remains high and firm underneath the eyes. At the same time, the softer tissue between the bone and the mouth begins to sink. One reason for the drop is the volume loss in the area, as the fatty tissue underneath the skin tends to decrease over time. Gravity is the other culprit, pulling the skin downward and creating a deep fold between the nose and mouth, known as the nasolabial fold. There are two fundamental ways to confront this age-related problem. The first is to restore volume to the area, frequently done with an injectable filler like Juvederm, Voluma, or Radiesse.
By replacing the volume and filling the trapezoidal space of volume loss, we can achieve a lifting effect similar to putting a tent pole into a tent. If we lift the skin of the cheek, this often softens the nasolabial fold as well.

When performed by an experienced injector, the results can appear quite natural. Dermal fillers can also be administered to other areas of the face during the same appointment to create even more dramatic improvement. While these products are excellent options for reversing many aging signs, we don't always need to restore volume in the midface to rejuvenate the appearance. We often need to lift the sagging in the midface to achieve a natural, more youthful effect. In addition, injectable fillers are a temporary solution to aging and must be repeated regularly to maintain their positive impact. Ongoing appointments can become expensive for some patients. Another option is a mid-facelift, a surgical method of raising the cheek pad and restoring a youthful facial contour. This approach offers dramatic results likely to extend for many years, providing a viable alternative for patients who need more correction and do not want to return for treatments regularly.

What is a Mid-Facelift?

A mid-facelift restores the cheek pad tissue to the area where it was initially located to reverse aging symptoms. It is recommended for patients with sufficient soft tissue volume but needs repositioning of the underlying structure to rejuvenate the facial profile. A mid-facelift can give you a more youthful look without expensive fillers and recurrent treatments. However, working with a plastic surgeon who understands the difference between volume loss and loss of volume due to sinking tissues is critical to ensure you achieve an optimal outcome.

A surgical lift offers dramatic, long-lasting results if you have sufficient soft tissue in the midface. Dr. Maas performs a minimally invasive, percutaneous mid-facelift, which moves the tissue and skin from the lower midface to the cheek. The cheek is the high point of the midface, so targeting this area can produce a natural effect while turning back the clock on the appearance. Dr. Maas's technique requires a single, tiny incision on the cheek that will be barely visible after the procedure.

It can also be completed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia in most cases, minimizing the effects of the surgery on your daily life. A mid-facelift offers dramatic results as a stand-alone procedure. However, Dr. Maas frequently combines this process with a lower facelift or a mini-lift to enhance your rejuvenation results further. We will discuss your concerns at your initial consultation at The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco, where Dr. Maas will take the time to understand your goals fully so he can recommend the best treatment plan for you.

Choosing a Plastic Surgeon for Your Mid-Facelift

Any facelift procedure presents challenges, as the plastic surgeon wants to ensure the face is rejuvenated without producing the "windswept" look of facelifts past. To achieve a naturally beautiful look, the surgeon must know how to reposition underlying tissue to restore the face's youthful contours while removing excess skin to smooth the surface and remove wrinkles. Dr. Maas has extensive experience in this area, even performing mid-facelift procedures–with his patient's permission–for local television stations. When you choose Dr. Maas for your facelift procedure, you can rest assured your surgery will be safe and you will enjoy optimal results.

Procedure Overview

Dr. Maas typically performs his mid-facelifts using local anesthesia, with the addition of sedation when requested by the patient. Rest assured, you will be comfortable throughout the process. Next, Dr. Maas creates a tiny incision in the cheek to place the device that elevates and restores the cheek fat pad to its original position. The suture is then anchored through a second small incision behind the hairline that will not be seen after the surgery. The procedure is outpatient, meaning you can go home shortly after your surgery.

What Happens After a Mid-facelift?

Your recovery after a mid-facelift will be relatively short. There is likely a bit of swelling in the upper cheek area that can last about a week. Dr. Maas doesn't typically recommend icing after a facelift since the circulation in this area tends to be slower overall. Pain medication can be used to keep you comfortable. Bruising after this procedure is minimal. The tiny incisions used for the surgery are nearly invisible, even when you leave our office. Most patients feel comfortable returning to their regular activities within a matter of days. Results become apparent as soon as the swelling subsides. Dr. Maas is seeing that the mid-facelift procedures that he has performed are long-lasting, with results extending over ten years for some patients. This longevity is apparent both when the mid-facelift is done as an isolated procedure or when it is done with a lower facelift or mini-facelift. You can maintain your refreshed appearance by protecting your skin from the sun and using high-quality, medical-grade skincare products at home to keep your dermis healthy and vibrant.

Restoring a Youthful Profile in San Francisco

The primary goal of a mid-facelift is to lift the cheek pad and maintain the raised position to produce a long-lasting, youthful effect. This technique works best for patients with plenty of soft tissue volume and requires repositioning to restore their natural facial contour. The procedure is minimally invasive, and results may last a decade or longer.

If you have any other questions about the percutaneous midface lift or restoring volume in the midface, please contact The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco today. Corey S. Maas, MD, reviewed the information about the mid-facelift. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.