How Are Your Cheeks Holding Up?
Aging isn’t kind to the skin and support tissues below our eyes and on our cheeks. The skin on these areas tends to droop, lengthen, and flatten. This is one of the first areas of the face to show the telltale signs of aging. That’s especially true with the sun exposure we have here in the Central Valley.
You may have thought about a facelift to turn back the clock, but traditional facelifts don’t usually involve the upper cheeks and lower eyelids; they target the mid to lower face and jaw.
At Central Valley Eye Medical Group, Dr. Cockerham performs mid-face lifts that target the cheeks and lower eyes. Sometimes referred to as a cheek lift, these procedures elevate the fat pad in the cheeks, returning fullness to the eyes and cheeks, and giving the patient a younger appearance.
What is a mid-face lift?
Sometimes referred to as a cheek lift, a mid-face lift elevates the fat pad in the cheek, returning fullness to the eyes and cheeks. Dr. Cockerham targets the areas around the nose, beneath the eyes, and down through the corners of the mouth. The goal is to bring the support tissues in the mid-face back up and to smooth and tighten the skin. Patients love that Dr. Cockerham’s mid-face lifts correct their under-eye bags, the hollowness in their upper cheeks, and prominent nasolabial folds.
Who is a good candidate for a mid-face lift?
As with all cosmetic surgeries, every case is unique. Still, there are some common characteristics for people who can benefit from a mid-face lift.
If you have:
- Heaviness and sagging below the cheeks
- Hollowness beneath your eyes
- Lengthened areas under your eyes
- Creases and depressions under your eyes
- Prominent nasolabial folds
How is a mid-face lift performed?
There is variation in the methods used depending on the individual patient needs, but this is a general description of these surgeries. Dr. Cockerham first makes small, deep incisions in the muscle tissue around the temples and in front of the ears. She places these incisions within the hairline, if possible. Then an endoscope is inserted allowing complete visualization of the area being targeted. The muscles around the nose and in the cheeks are pulled upward and stitched into the structures below the eye sockets. The goal is to elevate the sagging cheek tissue (the malar fat pad) back to its former, higher position.
How does a mid-face lift compare to a full facelift?
A mid-face lift has more limited goals than a full facelift. Dr. Cockerham addresses the areas beneath the eyes down to the mouth with these procedures. A full facelift doesn’t treat the under-eye areas, but it rejuvenates the lower face down through the upper neck. Mid-face lifts don’t target the neck or the jowls.
Interested in rejuvenating your cheeks and eyes this winter? Call the team at Central Valley Eye Medical, (800) 244-9907, and set up a consultation with Dr. Cockerham, our board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon.
Posted in: Midface Lift
