Facelift
(Results May Vary)

Midfacelift click to enlarge

Facelift click to enlarge

Facelift click to enlarge

Facelift click to enlarge

Surgeons use the term “facelift” to describe any procedure on the face that results in a tighter, more youthful appearance. I will discuss the two most recognized approaches: the midfacelift and the “traditional” facelift.

The midfacelift is a powerful new way to rejuvenate a person’s appearance who is just starting to show signs of aging. Unlike a traditional facelift, which pulls the entire cheek skin and neck skin in an upward and backward fashion to improve sagging jawlines and necks, the midfacelift pulls the area between the lower eyelid and upper lip in a more vertical direction. This serves to soften the fold between the nostril and the corner of the mouth (naso-labial fold) as well as add more fullness to the cheekbone and shorten the aged, elongated lower eyelid.

Typical Inconspicous Facelift Incisions click to enlarge

Because the incision is either behind the lower eyelid or immediately under the eyelashes, there is no obvious scar. The procedure can be performed alone or in conjunction with a traditional facelift to improve the results of the latter procedure.

The traditional facelift, on the other hand, is a powerful procedure for improving the jawline and neck. With some of the more extensive modifications, naso-labial folds and sagging cheek fat can also be repositioned to produce a more youthful contour. The incisions are hidden in the hairline and around the ear and may or may not include a smaller incision under the chin. This latter incision is useful in approaching the anterior neckbands that may need to be modified through cutting, removal or suture tightening.