Eyelid or Mid-Face Lift? Maybe Both
Aging is no field day.
Sure, there are the wisdom and knowledge that come with getting older. If only they could come without the sagging and stretching skin around the eyes and cheeks though.
Fortunately, an eyelid or mid-face lift can combat this issue with great success. Your plastic surgeon may even recommend both!
The Eyelid Lift
As we age, our eyelids stretch and excess fat can gather above and below them. The muscles that support them can also weaken. All of this leads to sagging skin. Fat bags may develop as well, most commonly in the lower eyelids.
That sagging skin around the eyes isn’t just unsightly; it can actually affect your sight. Your peripheral vision can be impacted by sagging skin – especially in the upper and outer parts of your field of vision.
Eyelid lift surgery, known as blepharoplasty in doctor speak, aims to reduce or eliminate this vision problem. It will also give your eyes a more youthful and alert appearance. So it’s a double win.
What Happens During an Eyelid Lift?
Blepharoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure.
First, the eyelids are numbed via an injection into the eyelids. There may also be intravenous medication to assist with relaxation, or the procedure can be done under general anesthesia – oftentimes in conjunction with facelifts, neck lifts, and endoscopic brow lifts.
In cases where the surgery is performed on both the upper and lower eyelids, the upper lids are addressed first. The surgeon cuts along the fold of the eyelid, removes any excess skin, fat, or muscle, then closes the incision. For the lower lid, the incision is just below the lashes either inside the lower or lid, or along the eye’s natural crease. Excess fat, muscle, or skin is removed or redistributed accordingly and the incision is closed.
If additional support to the eyebrow is required – such as when the upper eyelid droops close to the pupil – the surgeon will add a procedure known as a brow lift to provide that support.
Some patients will choose to combine an eyelid lift with another procedure, such as a mid-face lift.
What Is a Mid-Face Lift?
Most of us are familiar with the term “face lift.” It’s an amazingly effective procedure that targets the jawline, jowls, and deep nasolabial folds to give it a more youthful appearance.
A mid-face lift, also known as a cheek lift, focuses more on the cheeks and surrounding areas. This procedure is most commonly performed with an endoscope through incisions in the temporal hair and inside of the mouth. It smooths out sagging skin by tightening the muscles behind the skin. This helps to lessen laugh lines, accentuate cheekbones, and make the eyes brighter.
This is why it works so well in combination with an eyelid lift.
The Mid-Face Lift Procedure
A mid-face or cheek lift procedure generally takes two or more hours to complete and is done under general anesthesia.
The surgeon starts by making two small incisions by the hairline so they will be well-concealed and barely visible. Using an endoscope, he or she then tightens the muscles and repositions fat pads under the skin and the eyes to give everything a smoother and brighter appearance.
The recovery from the procedure takes around 2-4 weeks and patients can return to regular activity after just four weeks.
Look Younger With An Eyelid or Mid-Face Lift
Not only will you look younger, but you may even improve your vision! So if you’re considering an eyelid or mid-face lift (or both) don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons will sit down with you during your free consultation and guide you on next steps toward a happier you.