Can the Cheeks Be Repositioned to a Lower Level During a Revision Facelift?

Raising the fat in the cheeks is a typical part of a facelift. In most patients a very nice contour is achieved. If you feel that the fat is too high after 5 months following surgery, chances are it will remain that way long term. Still, I would recommend that you wait a full year after your operation to even consider a revision as the tissue (including the fat) will continue to soften and settle over time. At one year, generally what you see is what you are gonna get. At that time you can reassess and think about possible revisions. 

It is very difficult to lower the tissue though reshaping is possible. While a very small amount of fat might be able to be removed you are more likely to get benefit from some fat grafting to change the overall shape to one that you like better. If you choose to do that please be extra patient with the results. The second operation has an even longer healing time than the first. In the end, I believe you will be happy.

I hope this info helps!

It is very difficult to answer your question without seeing your pictures – you should consider posting images showing your areas of concern

My take on this is:  Too Soon!  Changes in the volume distribution of face may still change, especially if a deep plane approach was used.  If you can see any way to be more patient, I'd do that.  You may save yourself a surgery.

There are a number of techniques used in facelifting, some of which are geared more to the midface/cheeks.  It's possible that your result is based on such a choice of technique.  In any event, you really can't or shouldn't redo that surgery.  You would do best by just giving things time, expecting them to improve as you age, or add volume to the face in adjacent areas to camoflage this look.  It may not be what you want to hear, but that's what you need to consider.

I recommend allowing a full year after your initial surgery to ensure you're able to appreciate your final results. It's during this period that the true impact of any adjustments becomes clearer.

If you're noticing changes in cheek volume, which can also be part of the natural aging process, there are non-surgical options to consider. Techniques such as fat transfer or the use of fillers can often provide effective volume restoration without the need for surgery.

To determine the most suitable course of action, I encourage you to arrange a consultation with a qualified physician. Seeking multiple opinions can empower you to make an informed decision that aligns with your goals.

If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me at chopraplasticsurgery.com.

Five months is a fair amount of time after a face lift to have some settling.  If your cheeks are still raised too high, it would be prudent to wait until a year to reconsider. It would all depend on how you look.  This would need to be assessed by your doctor or other doctors, for second opinions, to see what you currently have and what you ultimately desire.  But your cheeks can be lowered in many different ways.  Get second opinions to make sure you are getting the right information. You may need to do some research yourself to really know what you are asking as well.

As difficult as it may be now, waiting a full year after surgery before having a revision surgery will allow you to see your final result. If your cheeks were raised during surgery, you might now be seeing the loss of volume that is also part of the aging process. Adding volume through fat transfer or fillers may be a better option than surgery.

The best way to determine your options is to see a physician for a consultation. You can seek several different opinions and then choose the doctor and the plan that is best for you. 

It is difficult to comment without an exam but in general we usually get the opposite complaint that the cheek fat pad not elevated enough. 

It is not possible to lower the cheek tissue layer that has been raised during your facelift. Options could include some small cannula liposuction, injectable fat into the sunken in areas underneath the cheek or some combination. I would get multiple opinions from different plastic surgeons and don't do anything until at least one year after your surgery. Tissues do relax and settle over time and what may look too high now could change for the better. Whether that is happening in any significant way will be evident at one year after surgery.

Generally, repositioning the cheek soft tissues should improve cheek hollowness, however, in patients who do not have much cheek fat tissue, the lower cheeks may have a sucked in look. May consider fat transfer or fillers in the lower cheek area.