Can you get a mid-facelift without making eyes look squished up against by cheeks?

Yes — preserving the natural “doe eye” appearance while improving the mid-face and nasolabial folds is absolutely possible, if the surgery is planned and executed with precision. The key lies in technique, vector of lift, and surgeon experience.
❓ Why Do Eyes Sometimes Look Different After a Mid-Face Lift?This usually happens when:
The tissue is lifted too vertically or too close to the lower eyelid.
There's excess tension around the lid, especially if the orbicularis muscle is manipulated or the fat pads near the orbit are disturbed.
The skin or SMAS is pulled without deeper release, causing surface tension and distortion.
✅ How to Avoid This and Still Achieve Mid-Face RejuvenationVector Control:
Instead of pulling directly upward, the lift can be performed in a superolateral direction (toward the temple and ear), which elevates the cheeks and softens nasolabial folds without distorting the eye.
Deep Plane or Sub-SMAS Techniques:
These allow lifting of deeper facial structures as a unit, minimizing skin tension and preserving delicate eye anatomy.
Preserve Orbital Support:
No interference with orbital retaining ligaments or lower eyelid structures if your eye shape is a priority.
If needed, lid-tightening procedures (like canthopexy) can support the eye without altering its character.
Combine or Substitute with Fat Grafting:
For some patients, fat grafting to the mid-face and nasolabial fold filling may be enough to achieve rejuvenation — either as an alternative or an adjunct to lifting.

The midface lift vector of pull determines how the cheek fat pad is lifted, either more vertically or horizontally. Ideally it is an oblique lift that can be modified for different patients. I believe it can be designed to not affect your eye shape unless desired.

Unfortunately, you have not provided photographs. If nasolabial folds is one of your concerns then it is possible that a lip lift can help with that. A lip lift does 4 things: shortens the distance between your nose and upper lip, increases the mucosa of the upper lip, increases the incisor show and pulls up the corners. At the same time, fat transfers can be performed to the nasolabial folds to conceal them.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

A mid-facelift can avoid the "squished eye" look if done carefully by a skilled surgeon using techniques that lift cheeks without pulling tissue near the eyes excessively. If nasolabial folds are your main concern, consider alternatives like fillers or a deep plane facelift to target them without major cheek movement. During consultation, emphasize preserving your natural eye shape and review similar case results with your surgeon.