How Is a Mid-Facelift Different?

If you’re bothered by your reflection or how you appear in photos as years go by, you may be considering a facelift. These popular procedures resculpt your face to reverse various signs of aging. And while the goals of most facelifts are the same, all techniques are not created equally.

Board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon Robert M. Schwarcz, MD, with locations in Manhattan and in Scarsdale, New York, offers mid-facelifts for qualifying candidates in search of a more youthful look.

Here, we explain more about this procedure, including how it varies from other facelifts and what you can expect from the results.

The mid-facelift difference

The mid-facelift surgery uses the same incisions as traditional facelifts, but they go deeper. Targeting your face’s muscle tissue, the procedure allows Dr. Schwarcz to shift the muscles around your cheeks and nose upward. He then stitches the tissues into the structures below your eye sockets.

These steps raise the high points of your cheeks, creating a rounder, younger-looking appearance and addressing loss of volume and sagging. Some experts believe that the mid-facelift brings more natural-looking results while addressing the areas of the face most affected by early signs of aging.

Mid-facelifts take about 60-90 minutes, versus the 2-4 hours required for a conventional facelift. And most people can get back to their usual daily activities within a week.

Good candidates for a mid-facelift

You may be a good candidate for a mid-facelift if you’re bothered by changes in your face in your 30s, 40s, or early 50s. It can be performed as an initial cosmetic surgery or as a reconstructive procedure to correct an issue from a facelift gone wrong.

Common concerns addressed by a mid-facelift include:

Moderate to severe wrinkles
Deep nasolabial folds
Sagging or loose skin
Sunken cheeks

Good candidates are also in generally good health, have realistic expectations, and have some amount of elasticity remaining in their skin.

You should also be prepared to take care of your skin through a healthy lifestyle, prioritizing practices like sun protection, good sleep hygiene, and quitting smoking. While these habits aren’t required for you to get a mid-facelift, they can help ensure that you get the most out of your results.

To learn more about the mid-facelift procedure or other desired treatments available from Dr. Schwarcz, call one of our offices to book an appointment today. You can also request an appointment using our online scheduling tool.