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Cheek Lift for Acne Scars?

asked 2 years ago by symphony19
Latest answer by Sam Goldberger, MD
Question viewed 2,358 times
Tags: cheeks, acne scars

I am a 30 year old African American female. My acne is no longer a problem. However, I have several ice pick acne scars on my cheeks. I have received a suggestion of a Cheek Lift to decrease the appearance of my acne scars. What are your thoughts on this method? What additional suggestions do you have for my Fitzpatrick VI skin type? Thank you!

14 answers to Cheek Lift for Acne Scars?

+1

Cheeklift wrong for acne scars

A cheeklift is distinctly the wrong procedure for acne scarring, in my opinion. There are of course many types of cheeklift, but he cheeklift is not designed to tighten skin sufficiently to reduce acne scarring significantly. Especially if it is performed at the expense of tightening the lower eyelid area, this would be a poor indication for a cheeklift. The cheeklift through the lower eyelid (subciliary minimally invasive) is best for smoothening out the eye-cheek junction. Cheeklifts... more
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+6

More direct ways to address the acne scars.

There may be more direct ways to address the acne scars. Fraxel, profractional and erbium laser resurfacing provide long term benefit. Fillers may provide short term improvement.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cheek Lift for Acne Scars?

Unfortunately, I don't think a cheek lift will effectively treat your acne scars.  You are better off seeking direct treatment to your acne scars.
Sam Goldberger, MD

Beverly Hills Oculoplastic Surgeon
+2

Acne Scars Not Helped by Cheek Lift

Though tugging on the skin may make your acne scars look better, it is only because of the tension created by actively stretching the skin. The kin can't maintain the degree of stretch for more than a few days-weeks. As the skin relaxes, the tension is released and the scars look just the same.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cheek lift is NOT the answer

A cheek lift will not address acne scarring. It is used to improve the contour below the lower eyelid. Acne scarring is best treated with laser skin resurfacing and possibly with surgical excision of very deep scars. Laser skin resurfacing can be accomplished with a fractionated laser (like Fraxel) safely in an African-American patient. Seek the advice of a good plastic surgeon with experience in skin resurfacing and DO NOT do a cheek lift to improve acne scarring. Good luck.... more
Sirish Maddali, MD

Portland Plastic Surgeon
+2

Many different options for acne scarring

Usually these are best treated with a multiple different modalities. Some of the deeper scars may need to be excised or grafted. In other cases fractionated lasers may be beneficial. Results can also be enhanced with fat grafting to restore lost volume. This perhaps would be less invasive then the cheek lift. Dermabrasion is an older treatment that still provides some benefits as does skin needling.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cheek lift will not help acne scars.

A cheek lift will have little effect on acne scarring.  Acne scars are anchored to the deeper structures and usually are best dealt with individually.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Acne scars and cheek lift

Cheek lift is unlikely to provide any improvement what so ever to acne scars.  Facelifts, cheeklifts and other lifts lift tissues deeper to the level of the acne scars.  While early on these treatments may lead to apparent results (usually from swelling), there will be no change in the actual appearance of the acne scars after a few months. Acne scars in patients with darker pigmentation should be treated in a case by case basis with modalities which are less likely to... more
Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

No to a cheek lift.

If you are cheeks are sagging, then a cheek lift would be in placed. But it sounds like you would like to remove or at least hide those ice pick acne scars. There are a couple of alternatives you can look into-laser, dermal fillers, direct excision, dermabrasion, and subcision. My best recommendation is to use a Fraxel laser to help reduce your acne scarring.
Sanusi Umar, MD

Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Correct acne scars by scar removal

If you have sagging cheeks, then correct the sag. If you have ice pick scars correct the  scars. treatment for ise pick scars include; 1- dermabrasion. 2- Laser 3- direct excision 4- subcision and filler.
Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cheek lift for acne scars

Acne scars result from scaring of the infected skin glands that heal beneath the surface and contract forming depressed scars.  Although a cheek lift will not directly improve acne scars, tightening of the skin can make the scars less noticeable.  Some scars may be improved by direct excision or revision with or without injection, in order to make the surface less depressed.  With your skin type, skin resurfacing is not an option as de-pigmentation is an expected side-effect.... more
Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cheek lift won't help

Acne scars can be difficult to treat. However, a cheek or midface lift will not remove the affected tissue. The scarring to the deeper tissues is not addressed with this surgery. I have found that the scarring can be addressed by inserting a needle next to the depression and cutting the adherent scar. Often, because the tissue has significant memory, a filler below the defect is needed. A cheek or midface lift elevates the cheek and anterior facial tissues through various incisions. ... more
Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cheek lifts of no value for acne scars

The only rally reliable treatment I have found for acne scaring has be the use of the Fractinated Erbium Laser by Palomar. It requirers 4 treatments about a month a part. The company says that you won't see result until after the third treatment but my patients all start raving after one or two and it just gets better. There is a need for touch ups every 6-12 months. but it sure works and the reason I say that is because the patients tell me it works and that they are happy. Nothing in the... more
Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD

Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

You might be too young for this

 While a cheek lift can tighten the skin and decrease the appearance of acne scars, this is usually reserved for patients a bit older than you are.  It might have been suggested in order to keep the scars from surgery off your face though.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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