Difference Between Cheek Lift and Mid Face Lift

A cheek lift is not a midface lift.  Surgeons who use the terms interchangeably do not understand midface anatomy.  A cheek lift traditionally refers to the lower third of the face and a midface lift refers to procedures used to lift the top of the cheek.  This distinction in important because very different surgical strategies are needed to address these very different areas.  The cheeklift is part of a standard facelift.  Certain cheeklifts do attempt to incorporate midface lifts but the results of this type of work is generally very unsatisfactory vectors of pull in the face and cheek.  If you are looking for help in the lower half of the face and neck, a lower facelift/cheek lift is what you need.  If your issue is under eyelid circles and hollows, these methods simple do not address your concerns.

FaceTite can internally tighten the skin in the lower face and neck. After all the skin has been heated and contracted, we shape the neck with liposuction to give definition and remove stubborn pockets of fat. In one quick treatment, we can tighten skin, remove fat, and contour the lower face, jawline, and jowls with only a weekend of downtime.​ Keep in mind that combination approaches will give you a more significant improvement as opposed to a single procedure. I recommend getting a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

The relationship between the terms "cheek lift" and "mid-face lift" might be best characterized as one of genus versus species. Thus any surgical procedure that is intended to rejuvenate the area in and around the cheeks might be termed a "cheek lift". This might include a variety of facelift procedures from subperiosteal to high SMAS to skin only facelifts, as well as all sorts of variety of "short scar" and "mini-facelifts.  However, it would also include placement of malar and submalar implants, as well as all variety of fillers from fat, to hyaluronic acid to artefil and beyond.

A mid-face lift, on the other hand, refers to something very specific. It is a procedure designed to lift the soft tissues of the mid-face, which is defined as the area of the face extending from the lateral canthus (the outside corner of the eye) to the oral commissure (the corner of the mouth). To do this, the soft tissues of this region of the face are thoroughly freed from their attachments to the underlying facial skeleton, elevated to a more youthful position, and then fixated in their new location. To achieve this movement, the ligaments that secure this soft tissue to the bone must be released, and this generally dictates that dissection be performed in a subperiosteal plane.

Access for this kind of dissection is generally obtained via incisions in the lower eyelid or the temporal scalp, sometimes with counter-incisions placed in the gingivobuccal sulcus (the space between the cheek and gums), in order to optimize the release of soft tissues in the midface. In our practice, we prefer access incisions in the temporal scalp instead of the lower eyelids, since we feel this reduces the risk of periocular complications. We always perform the gingivobuccal incisions as well, since we believe this insures the complete release of the soft tissues of the midface, which is the essential step to insure their adequate movement to achieve dramatic facial rejuvenation.

In addition to softening the nasolabial folds and achieving some improvement in the marionette lines and the jowls, a well-executed midface lift can translocate soft tissue to the lid/cheek junction that will camouflage the exposure of the inferior orbital rim (lower rim of the bony eye socket) that is one of the hallmarks of facial aging.  Finally, an effective midface lift will shorten the distance from the ciliary margin (the lower eyelashes) to the orbital rim. This lenghthening of the height of the lower eyelid is another cardinal sign of facial aging that can be significantly improved by a mid-face lift, to a far greater degree than can be achieved by standard "cheek lift" procedures.

the term cheek lift and midface lift may mean different things to different surgeons. A cheek lift alone could be done in conjunction with a lower eyelid lift(blepharoplasty) through the same incision. It could also be accomplished through incisions in the temporal scalp. these procedures typically provide improvement only in the upper face region. A midface lift could apply to a more agressive "mini facelift" or short scar  facelift which would involve incisions in front of the ear and into the sideburn area. This type of procdure has a greater effect on the entire face, improving both the cheek and the jowl area at the jawline and also the neck area, depending on the degree of the procedure.

The terms Midface lift and Cheek-lift are sometimes used interchangeably.  The differing point is often in the approach used.  For example, a cheek lift can be accomplished in both a mini-lift and a Facelift utilizing a high SMAS technique; this also allows for contouring of the jowls and jawline.  A midface lift can also be performed through a subperiosteal approach which involves a deeper plane of dissection and is often performed along with a brow lift.

These are the different names for the same procedure. In my opinion, they are not good procedures to achieve what they are intended for. I would opt for volumizing with fillers or fat injections.
 

Most surgeons will use the terms cheek lift and midfacial lift interchangeably. Typical facelift procedures will focus on the lower face jawline and neck. Midfacial lift will rejuvenate the cheek and upper smile line. Procedures can overlap so be sure you understand what to expect from your procedure.

Best of luck,

peterejohnsonmd

The cheek is a part of the midface so the two are synonymous.  A cheek lift or midface lift are the same thing.  Make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Samer W. Cabbabe, M.D.

Board - Certified Plastic Surgeon

Saint Louis Plastic Surgery Consultants

These two terms are often used interchangeably. The procedure consists of lifting the cheek region (the middle third of the face) back up to a more youthful position. The actual technique used to do this can vary widely by surgeon. Although the procedure refers to the cheek/midface, this procedure usually has a dramatic effect on the appearance of the lower eyelids. As the cheek region descends with age, the bony rim of the lower eye socket becomes more prominent leading to a hollowed-out look of the eyes. The midface lift can address this problem effectively

 

Hope this helps!

Dr. Y

Lifting in the middle third of the face has been called both a cheek and a midface lift. Those are interchangeable terms for most plastic surgeons. But because they are interchangeable and sometimes different techniques are used, it would be important to ask your plastic surgeon what their version of a cheek or midface lift is and specifically what it is going to achieve...and what it is not going to do. This is a very confusing area for patients and there is a lot of room for misunderstanding.