Cheek Wrinkles After Lower Face Lift

These horizontal lines that occur after a lower face lift or neck lift are best avoided altogether rather than treated after the fact. This is the primary reason that I rarely address the neck or jawline alone without also lifting the cheeks at the same time. While lasers, peels, or injectables could help this problem, the solution is most likely a revision lift that includes the upper cheek and temple area. This is something that is usually avoided until a minimum of 6-9 months post-op (and preferably even longer) after the initial procedure.
Be sure to discuss any post-operative concerns with your surgeon.
All the best,

Getting horizontal lines or wrinkles after a facelift or mini facelift is usually because volume loss was not addressed at time of surgery.  If you have excess skin and significant volume loss, then tightening the skin will create a horizontal pull or line.  Adding volume can help with this.  Usually filler or fat or implant is added at time of surgery, but adding filler now can help as well.Another reason for the horizontal lines is thin skin.  If you have thin skin, a facelift doesn't change the quality of the thin skin...it only removes extra skin.  Adding collagen to the skin with a laser treatment or microneedling can help smooth those lines as well.  Usually treatment involves a combination of treatments as most individuals have excess skin, volume loss, and decrease quality of skin as they age. 

Thank you for your question.  I would recommend a one to one consultation with a plastic surgeon so they perform a visual assessment to guide.  Moreover, from your description a lower facelift will only target the lower face and jowl area, not targeting mid-face.  A lot of my patients dislike the wrinkles on their cheeks so many will opt for Chemical Peel, Laser or Dermal Fillers to reduce.  As suggested, please seek advice on the best option for you to gain the best desired results.All the Best 

Depending upon how deep the wrinkles are and how far you are post op, it could just need more time or further treatment with laser or full facelift if necessary. It's best to get a complete evaluation from a qualified surgeon.

The aging process involves 3 things ; downward decent from facial laxity, skin surface aging characterized by wrinkles and discoloration, and loss of volume especially in the cheek area.

Failure to treat all three may make you more aware of what is not treated: in your case the wrinkles. The fact that you only had a facelift, means the other two factor are still cause for your concern. In that case use of fillers or fat transfer will help fill out the skin and may minimize the wrinkles and a skin resurfacing procedure such as a TCA peel or laser will tighten your skin eliminating the finer wrinkles and softening the larger ones. If Horizontal wrinkles still exist afterwards then this may mean that the facelift vector to a large degree was horizontal rather than vertical which is by nature anti-aging.