Is There a Way to Lift the Cheeks Vertically Rather Than Horizontally?

Hi,

You are exactly right in what happens as we get older.  In a youthful face, you can't tell where the eyelid ends and the cheek begins.  Personally, I think adding volume to the under eye area and upper cheeks will help get you where you want to be.

This can be done with Restylane, Juvederm, and even fat transfer.

Best,

Nima Shemirani

Great question. What you are describing is a midface lift. In this procedure, small incisions are made on each side inside the upper lip, above the gumline which sits just below the cheek. A second tiny incision is made behind the hairline in each temple. The soft tissue of the cheek is freed up from the underlying cheek bone and it is suspended with the use of a dissolvable device called an Endotine. The vector of the lift is predominantly vertical in direction.

This midface lift can yield excellent, natural looking results as a stand-alone procedure or can be done in conjunction with facelift, eyelid surgery, or fat transfer. Midface descent is an often undertreated and unrecognized issue. I occasionally see patients who come to me after having had a prior lower facelift or necklift from another surgeon and they exhibit a Nike "Swoosh" look on the cheeks, with the jawline being tight but the midface sagging. 

Seek a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon to determine if you would be a good candidate for this procedure. 

Best Regards,

Dr. Mehta