Nasolabial Folds After Mid-Facelift

Dear CatTac

Midface lifting and face lifting are incapable of flattening the nasolabial fold.  Of course this has not stopped surgeons from trying.  The effects of these endeavors is to surgically distort the face.  Some surgeons harbor the mistaken belief that their surgery can benefit this area.  It is important to understand that eliminating the nasolabial fold with fillers or surgery will distort the face.  Fillers will soften this feature and that is about right.  Dr. Bandy is absolutely correct-these are not going to get better.

The best treatment for nasolabial folds is non-surgical and involves use of injectables.  Surgery may at times soften the folds a bit but is not as effective as injections

nasolabial folds will often times become more prominent in the initial healing phase after a mid facelift.  The swelling of the region drags down the tissue and increases the fold.

I would be patient and allow the healing process take its course. Make sure you follow up with your plastic surgeon. 

Nasolabial folds respond best to filling. We commonly use fat injections or commercially available fillers such as Radiesse, Perlane or Artefill. This is best done after most of the healing from your surgery has taken effect - usually about 3 months.

As a side note, I would not be surprised if your creases will deepen over the next 3 months as swelling decreases and healing progresses.

Nasolabial folds can be obliterated by a through facelift with FAME, which stands for Finger Assisted Malar Elevation.  But that's not the surgery that was done here.  More and more people are having abbreviated procedures and that's appropriate for 40's and 50's.  But the expectations have to be abbreviated as well.  Two weeks after surgery is too early to judge anything, but don't close the door on the use of dermal fillers later for the nasolabial folds.

A midface lift (depending on the technique used) can definitely improve the nasolabial folds to a great degree.  For further improvement of the nasolabial folds microfat transfer to the folds can be done at the same time as a midface lift.   Soft tissue fillers like Radiesse, Restylane, Juvederm or Perlane can also be effective but only offer temporary improvement.