Tag: midface lift

What are the Different types of Facelifts?
By Dr Jeremy Hunt FRACS - Specialist Plastic Surgeon

What are the Different types of Facelifts?

Different Types of Facelifts Procedures and Benefits  of an Upper Facelift, Mid Facelift and Lower Facelift

Different types of facelifts have one common goal: reverse the signs of facial ageing. However, choosing the optimal facelift can be confusing. Is an upper facelift the right option? A middle facelift? Or a lower facelift? Which one do you need? The main difference between upper, middle, and lower facelift is the part of the face each procedure targets. An upper facelift, also called a brow lift, lifts the forehead and flattens bulky skin folds. A mid-facelift focuses on your cheeks and nasolabial folds. A lower facelift emphasises the jaw by getting rid of jowls and wrinkles in the lower one-third of the face.

Choosing the right kind of facelift, therefore, depends on where exactly the facial wrinkles, volume loss and droopiness are located. If you have extensive signs of ageing, with deep wrinkles, lax deflated cheeks, large droopy jowls, and a double chin, then a Full facelift might be the right choice.

 

Specialist Plastic Surgeons Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam offer their patients in Sydney and Wollongong the full spectrum of facial rejuvenation surgery. They will thoroughly explain the difference between lower, middle, and upper facelift, and help you choose the right procedure to meet your cosmetic aspirations.

Why Get a Facelift?

Getting a facelift is a big decision. You should take your time to plan for your facelift and choose an experienced plastic surgeon with a proven track record and outstanding credentials to do your operation. You should consider getting a facelift if you’re unsatisfied with how old your face looks. If you feel like you look older than you would want to, then a facelift can help.

Before embarking on this journey, you need to do some research. See how different types of facelifts compare. Read about the difference between upper, lower, and middle facelifts so that you can understand them better when your plastic surgeon explains them.

Guide to Facial Rejuvenation

Facial Rejuvenation

Facial Rejuvenation

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Why Are There Different Types of Facelift?

As you grow older, you gain more experience. You learn more. You become wiser. But it doesn’t stop there. Ageing takes a very visible toll on our bodies. Specifically on our face. You can easily estimate how old a person is by just looking at their face. The wrinkles and droopy skin gives it out, in some people more than in others. We can’t pause the ageing process on our faces. Luckily, however, we can help reverse it with facial rejuvenation surgery – like a facelift!

Signs of facial ageing vary from one person to another. In some people, the wrinkles and droopiness might be less severe and appear at a later age. They might be localised to a specific part of the face. Maybe just around the jaw and cheeks. In others, however, signs of ageing can appear as early as in their 40s. The wrinkles, skin folds, and droopiness can affect the whole face and not just a part of it.

This is why facelift is highly customised to meet each patient’s specific cosmetic needs. And this is why there are several different types of facelifts to choose from.

Upper Facelift vs Mid Facelift vs Lower Facelift

The main difference between upper, middle, and lower facelift is the part of the face each procedure targets. As mentioned above, facial ageing is not the same for everyone. If, for instance, you only have droopy jowls, and you’re satisfied with the rest of your facial appearance, then a full facelift might be unnecessary. A lower facelift alone can do the job.

Upper Facelift (Brow Lift)

brow lift before and after - real patient - front view - large

An upper facelift is also called a brow lift or forehead lift. As the name implies, it is surgery to tighten the forehead and flatten wrinkles and skin folds in the area.

An upper facelift could help you if the signs of ageing are localised to the upper one-third of the face (the forehead). These can include:

  • Forehead skin folds
  • Deep forehead wrinkles
  • Droopy forehead
  • Deflated temples
  • Droopy eyebrows

Lax forehead skin can make your eyebrows appear weak and droop over your eyes. This makes you look sleepy and tired.

An upper facelift can help reverse this. With a brow lift, the whole forehead can be tightened and flattened. The eyebrows will be surgically pulled upward to give you a more alert and energetic appearance. The advantages of an upper facelift can be summarized as follows:

  • Flattens the forehead
  • Gets rid of forehead wrinkles
  • Gets rid of forehead skin folds
  • Lifts the eyebrows up
  • Makes the eyes look more alert and energetic

Our surgeons usually perform the upper facelift using endoscopic surgery. Through 4 small incisions along the hairline, and with the help of an endoscope, the deep forehead tissue is pulled up and tightened. If a lot of excess skin needs to be removed, then a larger incision along the hairline might be needed.

Middle Facelift

Middle Facelift Surgery Before and After Dr Hunt

A mid facelift, also called a cheek lift, targets the middle one-third of the face. That’s the area extending from the corner of your eyes to the corner of your mouth. This is a very important area when it comes to facial rejuvenation. The cosmetic problems that a middle facelift targets are:

  • Deflated cheeks
  • Droopy cheeks
  • Deep nasolabial folds (the line between the corner of the nose and the corner of the mouth on both sides)
  • Droopy skin in the mid-face region
  • Wrinkles around the mouth

Droopy cheeks and faded out cheekbones can make you look a lot older than you actually are. It’s one of the most annoying signs of ageing that many people would like to reverse. This is why surgery to lift the cheeks and make them look perkier is popular.

The advantages of a middle facelift include:

  • Makes the cheeks perkier
  • Emphasizes your cheekbones
  • Tightens the middle face area
  • Flattens deep wrinkles
  • Reduces nasolabial folds and pulls them back to their normal position

In comparison with an upper facelift, the mid facelift incisions are done on the sides of the face. Each incision starts a little above the ear and extends downward to the earlobe. The deeper facial layers are pulled up to restore the normal facial structure. The skin is tightened and any excess skin is cut. The result is tighter and fuller cheeks and a face full of energy.

Lower Facelift

lower facelift Dr Jeremy Hunt

Compared to the upper and middle facelifts, a lower facelift targets only the lower one-third of the face. That’s the area extending from your earlobes and down to your chin, and it includes the mouth and jaw.

The lower face is probably the most important area when it comes to facial aesthetics. A faded jawline and droopy jowl are flagrant signs of ageing. The beautiful sharp demarcation between the jaw and face blends together and looks all droopy and weak. The annoying signs of ageing that affect the lower face include:

  • Droopy jowls
  • Faded and irregular jawline
  • Wrinkles around the mouth, chin, and jaw
  • Marionette lines (straight vertical skin lines going from the corner of the mouth to the chin)

Lifting the lower face can dramatically change the way you look. By re-emphasizing your jawline and enhancing its contour, the sharp edges of the lower face can be restored. Your jawline will look stronger and not blended in with your neck. The lower facelift can:

  • Enhance your jawline and contour it
  • Bring out the clear angle between your jaw and neck
  • Get rid of droopy facial jowls
  • Get rid of marionette lines
  • Get rid of wrinkles around the corners of the mouth
  • Flatten wrinkles on the chin
  • Give the chin a stronger and tighter contour

A lower facelift is done with an incision similar to that of a mid-facelift. However, the incision might be slightly lower and extend a little behind the ear. Through this incision, your surgeon will pull up the droopy deep facial tissue (including muscles and connective tissue). They will then fix them in a higher position to straighten out any deep wrinkles and folds and flatten the jowls. Any excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened to give you a smooth and strong jaw contour.

When Is A Full Facelift Needed?

If you have more extensive and non-localised signs of facial ageing, then a full facelift might be a better option for you. You don’t want to rejuvenate just half of your face and leave the other half undone. The results might look unusual.

So, a full SMAS facelift or deep plane facelift is the better option if you’re not satisfied with other parts of your face. If you have droopy jowls, deflated cheeks, and a double chin, then getting only a mid-facelift will give you less-than-ideal results. A full facelift can, in such cases, be an all-in-one solution.

Choosing the Right Type of Facelift for You

Like other cosmetic procedures – the right procedure is the one you’re most comfortable with. It’s the one that promises to give you the results that you specifically want. Your surgeon will explain the differences between upper, middle, and lower facelifts and compare the expected results with you. Together, you can choose the right type of facelift to meet your cosmetic goals.

Further Reading about Facelift Surgery

Medical Resources

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt Facelift Surgeon Sydney

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

Want more information before scheduling your consultation?

If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.

Midface Lift Sydney – Cheek Lifting Surgery
By Dr Jeremy Hunt FRACS - Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Midface Lift Sydney – Cheek Lifting Surgery

Drooping Cheeks or Sagging Face? – A Midface Lift or Cheek lift may help

A Facelift is one of the most popular and sought-after procedures plastic surgery. However, some women and men don’t need a traditional facelift or a deep plane facelift. They just want to make their cheeks tighter and fuller. They want to deal with wrinkles and saggy skin in the mid-region of the face. For those patients, a midface lift or cheek lift can help. It is less invasive than a full facelift and It targets the middle area of your face, between the upper lip and the eyes.

Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam routinely perform midface lifts for patients in Sydney and New South Wales. The aim is to rejuvenate the middle areas of the face, flatten wrinkles, make the cheeks perky again, and give you defined strong cheekbones.

 

What is a Midface Lift?

A midface lift, also known as a cheek lift is a less invasive variant of the full facelift. It specifically targets the middle face region – the area extending from the upper lip to the eyes. The procedure involves an incision that starts in front of the ear, and goes around the earlobe and slightly backward. It’s a similar, but smaller incision compared to the traditional facelift.

A middle facelift is perfect for those who have moderate signs of facial ageing in the middle part of the face. Wrinkles around the eyes, deflated droopy cheeks, faded cheek lines, deep nasolabial folds (the lines between the nose and lips). A midface lift can deal with all of these problems. Candidates are those who don’t need work done above the eyes (e.g. brow lift) or around the jaw and upper neck.

Consider a Midface lift with fat transfer

If your concern with your midface is the lack of volume and descent of tissue, the combination of a midface lift with fat transfer is often the solution. Fat transfer will restore the lacking volume of the cheek and increase cheek projection, while the lift will elevate the tissue that is present and move the cheek to a higher position. A combination of these two procedures will produce a natural and long-lasting rejuvenation to the cheek and lower eyelid cheek junction.

Case 1

Midface lift with fat transfer Before and After Image Sydney

The combination of midface lift and fat transfer will restore volume to the cheek and increase projection, while the lift will lesser the depth of the nasolabial fold and soften the lower eyelid cheek junction.

Midface Lift vs. Traditional Face lift

A traditional facelift involves a larger incision that starts from the hairline in front of the ears and goes around the earlobe and backward. It is also more invasive compared to a midface lift. Dr Hunt will cut out more skin, and extensively manipulate the deeper layers of the face.

A full facelift targets the whole face. It deals with droopy jowls and excess skin, lifts the cheeks and makes them perkier, tightens the upper neck, and can smoothen your forehead. It can reverse severe signs of facial ageing.

On the other hand, a midface lift involves a smaller incision and less tissue manipulation. It targets the middle region of your face. It defines the cheekbones, tightens the cheeks, makes them perkier. It also deals with deep wrinkles and loose skin in your middle face (e.g. wrinkles around the eyes, or droopy nasolabial folds).

Who Needs a Cheek Lift?

You should consider getting a midface lift if:

  • You have droopy nasolabial folds (the vertical skin folds between nose and lips)
  • You have wrinkles around the eyes or upper lip
  • You have deflated soft cheeks and want to make them perky again
  • You have a faded weak cheekbone line
  • You have excess skin in the middle third of the face
  • You don’t need work done around the jawline or on the forehead (your problems are localised in the mid-face area)

If you have these concerns, then getting a surgical cheek lift is the next logical step. It’s the optimal surgery to flatten facial wrinkles and plump up the cheeks.

If you need additional work done on other parts of your face, then a full facelift is the surgery for you.

Benefits of Midface lift

There are numerous advantages of cheek lift that make it a favorite among our patients at our clinics in Sydney and  Wolloging New South Wales. Some of the benefits include:

  • Less invasive compared to a full facelift
  • Less surgical time
  • Less costly
  • Fewer post-op symptoms
  • Faster recovery
  • Deals with wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
  • Smoothens and tightens the cheeks
  • Makes the cheeks perkier
  • Restores well-defined cheekbones
  • Gets rid of droopy nasolabial folds (skin folds between the nose and lips)

All these benefits make a cheek lift a good choice for those who need to rejuvenate the middle part of their face.

If you need to enhance your jawline, lift the neck, or lift your upper face, then a full facelift with or without a neck lift is the way to go.

How Is Midface Lift Performed?

A cheek lift is usually done under general anaesthesia. This means that you will be asleep during the whole procedure. A mid-facial lift usually takes 2 hours to perform. It’s a one-day surgery, so you aren’t likely to spend the night at the hospital.

Dr Hunt starts by performing an incision in front of the ear. The midface lift incision continues down around the earlobe, and a few centimetres upward behind the ear. Through the incision, Dr Hunt will separate the skin from the deeper facial tissue. The deep facial tissue, muscles, and aponeurosis (called SMAS) are pulled upward and outward toward the ears.

This pulls the cheeks up and tightens them and outlines your cheekbone. It also flattens the nasolabial folds and tightens them. The skin is then tightened to flatten any wrinkles.  Extra skin is cut and removed. Your surgeon will then close the wounds with fine sutures to reduce scarring.

A midface lift can also be combined with a neck lift. A small incision under the chin will be made to tighten the neck, get rid of turkey neck, double chin, and neck skin bands.

Midface lift chek lift Dr Hunt Theatre pic

Risk and Potential Complications of Midface lift

A cheek lift is regarded as a relatively safe procedure. It’s associated with minimal surgical risks and complications. These can include:

  • Bleeding
  • Wound infection
  • Fluid collection (seroma)
  • Blood collection (hematoma)
  • Nerve injury

To minimise the surgical risks, even more, you should choose a plastic surgeon that’s experienced in facial rejuvenation surgery.

Over the years, Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam have developed facelift techniques to deliver optimal cosmetic outcomes.

Cost of a Cheek Lift Sydney – How much is a Midface lift surgery?

The cost of a cheek lift varies depending on many factors. The anaesthetist fees, surgeon fees, and hospital fees all play a role. Moreover, any additional procedures, like a neck lift, also add up to the bill.

A midface lift for cosmetic purposes is NOT covered by Health insurance or Medicare in Australia. Read our blog Will Medicare Cover my Plastic Surgery.

Please phone Dr Hunt’s team for an estimate.  Dr Hunt’s team will give you an estimate of the midface lift costs after your consultation.

Your Consultation

Your consultation with Dr Hunt or Dr Maryam will start with a few questions about your general health and cosmetic goals. Expect questions like:

  • Do you have any chronic medical conditions?
  • Do you take blood thinners?
  • What would you like to change about your face?
  • Have you had facial rejuvenation surgery before?

After that, Dr Hunt will examine your face and suggest a suitable rejuvenation surgery to meet your needs.

If the signs of ageing are localised in the mid-face area, then a cheek lift would be the way to go.

Midface Lift & Cheek Lift Surgery FAQs

How long does a midface lift last?

  • A cheek lift is not permanent, you will continue to grow old. The results last around 7-10 years. Your face will age as time passes, and after a decade you’ll likely need another facelift.

How long does a midface lift take?

  • The duration of cheek lift surgery is 2 hours on average. This might take less time if you don’t need too much lifting. However, it can take longer if you need other parts of the face done as well.

What is the perfect age to get a midface lift?

  • There’s no perfect age to get your face lifted. In general, a cheek lift is better done between 40 and 50 years of age.

 Is a midface lift painful?

  • A cheek lift is not very painful. Like any other surgery, the wounds will hurt for a few days. However, routine painkillers are usually enough to dampen the pain.

How long is recovery after midface lift?

  • Total recovery time after a midface lift is 3-4 weeks. You can usually go back to work as of the second week after your cheek lift.

What is the optimal type of facelift?

  • There’s no one optimal type of facelift. The facelift type depends on what signs of ageing you have, where they’re located, and what your cosmetic goals are. If the signs of ageing are localised in the middle facial region, then a cheek lift is perfect for you. If you have heavy jowls, a fading jawline, and droopy facial skin, then a lower facelift or necklift may be a better choice. If you have heavy wrinkles, deep nasolabial fold and drooping skin on your whole face, then a full traditional facelift is the way to go.

What’s the difference between a mini facelift and a cheek lift?

  • Both the middle facelift and mini facelift target the middle face region specifically. Nevertheless, a midface lift is more invasive than a mini facelift. Deeper facial tissue is targeted, lifted, and tightened. Compared to a mini facelift, a cheek lift leads to more dramatic cosmetic improvement and more sustained results.

What is the way to make cheeks perky again?

  •  The way to tighten the cheeks and make them more defined is through a midface lift, also called a cheek lift. A midface lift targets the cheek area. It makes your cheeks look tighter, perkier, and smoother.

How can I make my cheeks perky without surgery?

  • If you want to avoid surgery altogether, then a non-surgical facelift might be the answer. In a non-surgical facelift, your injector will use injectable fillers to tighten and contour your face. The disadvantages of non-surgical facelifting methods are that the results are temporary and relatively expensive. Facial Fillers may last around 4 to 6 months and can cost thousands.

Which is better, a facelift or fillers?

  • A facelift produces more dramatic and long-lasting results. It’s better if you want to see significant cosmetic improvement in your facial appearance. It lasts up to 10 years before needing revision. Fillers, on the other hand, produce less dramatic improvements, with only subtle contouring, and need to be repeated every 4-6 months. A facelift is a better choice that leads to more satisfactory results.

Medical Sources and Further Reading about a Midface Lift:

Further Reading about Facelift Surgery

Further Reading on Facial Surgery

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

dr jeremy hunt

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

Want more information before scheduling your consultation?

If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.