The signs of aging can impact how you look. Fine lines, wrinkles, and skin sagging can add years to your face. This can impact your self-confidence, as you can look tired and much older than you are. Natural aging often occurs gradually. However, it can be exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyle habits. Once this damage occurs, it is unlikely that topical treatments can address the issues. Cosmetic surgery is the most effective way to reverse the signs of aging on the face and neck. Many people considering surgery wonder, can a mid-face lift replace a facelift? Below is helpful information to guide you through the decision-making process.

Can a Mid-Face Lift Replace a Facelift?

Facial aging often shows up around the cheeks and lower eyelids first. Many people in this area who are aging think they need a full facelift. However, a midface lift specifically targets this region. However, it does not address the signs of aging along the jawline and neck. Because of this, a midface lift cannot fully replace a traditional facelift for most patients. A traditional facelift addresses the lower face, jawline, and neck. You may wonder which procedure is best for you.

Surgeons at a plastic surgery center determine the right procedure based on a physical evaluation. This evaluation reviews skin laxity, volume loss, and bone structure. The surgeon will discuss your specific goals and expectations during the consultation. This ensures that the recommended procedure matches your unique anatomy and specific expectations.

What Does a Midface Lift Address?

A midface lift focuses on the middle of the face, specifically the cheeks and lower eyelids. It lifts the soft tissue and repositions the fat. Natural aging, poor lifestyle habits, and gravity can take a toll on the midface. Addressing this area will leave you looking youthful and refreshed.

Cheek Volume and Position

The fat pads in your cheeks naturally descend as you age. This creates a hollowness above the cheekbone. It also creates fullness in the lower face. A midface lift repositions the tissue upward, restoring a more balanced cheek contour. This is achieved without adding volume, unlike fillers or fat grafting.

Hollow Under Eyes

Sagging cheek tissue often worsens the appearance of under-eye hollows. Repositioning the tissue provides indirect support to the lower eyelid area. Many patients notice a smoother transition between the lower eyelid and upper cheek area. This eliminates the tired, aged look that so many people have before a midface lift.

Mid-Face Lift as Part of the Hammock Lift

The Mid-Face Lift is often performed as part of the Hammock Lift, a comprehensive procedure designed to address signs of aging throughout the upper two-thirds of the face, including the forehead, brows, upper and lower eyelids, and cheeks.

The Hammock Lift also addresses age-related changes in the deeper fat pads of the forehead and cheeks while improving the appearance of the malar groove, the area beneath the lower eyelid fat pads, and the zygomatic groove, which extends obliquely across the cheeks. By addressing these areas together, the Hammock Lift provides a comprehensive approach to rejuvenating the upper two-thirds of the face.

In addition to the surgical portion of the procedure, the skin may be treated with fractionated lasers and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to help improve its overall tone, texture, and appearance. The Hammock Lift is performed using endoscopic techniques with minimal visible incisions and can be performed on patients of all racial backgrounds.

Many patients choose to undergo the Hammock Lift first to rejuvenate the upper two-thirds of the face, followed by a deep-plane lower facelift and neck lift at a later stage. This staged approach allows each area of the face to be addressed as part of a comprehensive, long-term facial rejuvenation plan.

What Does a Facelift Address?

A traditional facelift targets the lower two-thirds of the face. This includes the jawline, jowls, and neck. The surgery is performed in a deep plane (Deep Plane Facelift) and involves improvement in all the layers of the face: skin, muscles, fascia, fat. The skin is treated with fractionated lasers and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to improve the skin.

Jawline Definition

Jowls form when the skin and tissue along the jawline lose their support. Over time, these changes can have a real impact on your appearance. A facelift repositions and tightens this tissue. This restores a more defined jawline. A midface lift does not include this benefit to as great an extent as the facelift does.

Neck Laxity

Loose neck skin and vertical banding often occur with jawline sagging. A facelift can address this to an extent. However, severe neck laxity requires both a facelift and a neck lift. This offers comprehensive results that leave you looking rejuvenated.

Combining Procedures

Addressing signs of aging early on may mean needing only one procedure. A midface lift and traditional facelift address different areas of the face. However, if you notice signs of aging from your under-eye area to your neck, combining both procedures can comprehensively improve your appearance. Doing them in isolation may leave your face and neck looking mismatched. The best way to know how to achieve your aesthetic goals is to consult with a skilled surgeon. They can assess your anatomy and determine the best course of action.

What to Expect From the Consultation Process

The first step in moving forward with surgery is scheduling a consultation. A surgeon can assess your facial anatomy and skin laxity. During the consultation, they will also assess your medical history and current health. Candidates should be non-smokers. It is also necessary to have realistic expectations. Share your aesthetic goals and cosmetic concerns with the surgeon at your consultation. From there, they can create a customized treatment plan.

Leading Plastic Surgery Center

The signs of aging can impact your facial aesthetic and your confidence. If you want to refresh your look, contact the team at Patel Plastic Surgery today to schedule your consultation!

Example of a Hammock Lift: The brows are repositioned, while the forehead skin tone and color are improved. The fat pads beneath the brows are restored, and the area between the brows (the “fat nose”) is thinned to enhance the appearance of the nasal bridge. The upper eyelid skin and fat pads are improved, while the lower eyelid fat bags and malar groove are addressed. Loose lower eyelid skin is tightened, and cheek fullness is restored through an endoscopic midface lift and nano fat grafting. Mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells are also used to help improve overall facial skin tone and appearance.

Example of a Deep Plane Facelift and Neck Lift: Note the improvement in the jawline and neck, along with the overall texture and tone of the skin. The deep plane facelift and neck lift can be combined with fractionated laser treatments and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to further enhance the skin’s appearance. Following the facelift, the Aerolase Neo can also be used to support continued skin rejuvenation, resulting in a noticeable improvement in overall skin quality and appearance.