CHEEK LIFT SURGERY
View Our SpecialsWhen we think about how we age, we usually think that that the most obvious changes that occur at the surface level of our skin. But did you know that the effects of time and gravity actually run far deeper? In fact, many of the aesthetic changes we experience as we grow older occur deep within the tissues and musculature, leading to subtle and sometimes hard-to-recognize alterations in our appearance. Sagging cheeks is one of the most recognizable signs of aging, and can cause one’s facial appearance to seem flatter or heavier, while increasing the prominence of lines around the mouth and hollows under the eyes. These aesthetic issues can all be traced back to the position of the malar fat pad, the fatty tissue that sits atop the cheekbone and gives the face its unique contours. As we age, this pad begins to slip, pulling down the lower eyelids and pushing down on the tissues around the mouth. A basic surgical correction to this critical mid-face region can drastically rejuvenate your facial appearance.
Many people believe that they need a full facelift to correct the aforementioned cosmetic problems, when in fact a simple cheek lift (or mid-face lift) can restore and revitalize your appearance without visible scarring. While a traditional facelift merely stretches the skin without restoring fullness, a cheek lift actually repositions the malar fat pad itself, giving the cheeks the youthful fullness that has been lost with age. Once the fat pad is permanently repositioned, the skin itself will resume its original position as well, eliminating the large hollows under the eyes and deep creases around the mouth. A cheek lift is a more permanent option than dermal injectable fillers, and has a shorter recovery time and less visible scarring than a full facelift.
The face is a delicate and intricate structure, and even minute changes in one area can have a significant impact on your entire appearance. At Newport Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, located in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Hisham Seify is a board certified plastic surgeon with the skill and experience necessary to ensure that your cheek lift gives you a refreshed, youthful, naturally-beautiful look. As an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCLA School of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of California at Irvine, Dr. Seify has unique access to the latest cutting-edge techniques needed to ensure safe and successful outcomes for every cheek lift procedure he performs. He has a keen eye for aesthetics, and will work with each patient individually to develop a customized surgical plan designed to restore the full, youthful facial contours they desire.
CHEEK LIFT PROCEDURE AND RECOVERY
A cheek lift is a fairly simple procedure involving the relocation of the fatty tissue of the cheek to a more youthfully elevated position. In order to minimize visible scarring, the procedure involves small incisions inside the mouth along the gum line and/or above the hairline at the temple, ensuring at the same time that the hair follicles at the temples will not be affected. Once the incisions have been made, the muscles of the cheek, the malar fat pad, and adjoining tissue are delicately separated from the bone, relocated to their new position, and attached to the bone using small sutures. The visible lift in the cheeks is far more permanent than the lift achieved with dermal fillers because the relocated tissue will eventually graft to the bone in the correct place.
A cheek lift can be performed in the office under general anesthesia. A cheek lift usually takes about two hours, when performed as a stand-alone procedure. Post-surgical discomfort is usually mild, but most patients will experience swelling and numbness in the cheeks and lower lips, symptoms which can be alleviated by elevating the head and applying cold compresses. The external incisions must be kept scrupulously clean according to the instructions provided before the procedure, and excellent oral hygiene must be maintained to prevent infection in any sutures inside the mouth. The post-operative swelling should diminish within two weeks, after which time normal activities can be resumed; however, strenuous activity and extensive sun exposure should be avoided for several weeks. The results of the cheek lift surgery will become readily apparent after the initial swelling subsides, and continued improvement in the patient’s appearance will continue over the next month or two as any remaining swelling disappears.
CONTACT NEWPORT PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Dr. Hisham Seify, along with his staff at Newport Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Associates, is dedicated to providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere where you will feel comfortable discussing all of your cheek lift surgery goals. Dr. Seify will listen carefully to your hopes and concerns, will walk you through all your procedural options, and will help you make the choices most likely to guarantee that the final results are exactly what you want.
A cheek lift, as with any surgery, does involve some risk, but Dr. Seify is a Board Certified plastic surgeon who prides himself on using state-of-the-art techniques to minimize surgical risk, post-operative complications, and discomfort both during and after the procedure. If you have questions about how a cheek lift could benefit you, or would like additional information about cheek lift surgery, please contact our office. We look forward to scheduling your initial consultation with Dr. Seify today.
At the Newport Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Associates office, Dr. Hisham Seify offers plastic and reconstructive surgery to patients across Southern California including: Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo and Newport Beach, California. Contact the Newport Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Associates office today to schedule your FREE Cheek Lift Surgery Consultation!
*The information about Cheek Lift was reviewed by Dr. Hisham M. Seify. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.
