Can a mid facelift help the jaw line?

Hi,A midface lift is designed to improve the cheek area and nasolabial folds.  It improves the hollowing that develops under the eyes as the cheeks age and descend lower in the face with time.  The midface lift allows the cheeks to be repositioned more upwards on the face.  By doing this it also smooths out the nasolabial folds.  A traditional facelift is the appropriate procedure to improve the jawline.  

This is a great question and one that I frequently go through
with my patients when they come to visit with me for a consultation.
Every patient has his or her own aging pattern, and it
is important for your surgeon to take the time to understand how your
face has aged in order to recommend the appropriate procedure. A mid-face
lift is not very effective to address the jawline due to the different vectors
of aging that apply to each area. Try not to cut corners to treat an area
of concern. If you do, you may risk undergoing a procedure that
will not achieve your desired results. Research a lower facelift with
fat transfer to address the mid-face and jawline at the same time. This may be
in line with what you are looking to achieve.

All lifts help something. So to be specific, a "mid-face lift" is designed to treat that area specifically, the mid face, which is the cheeks and area below the eyes. The jawline is treated with the "lower facelift" in which the skin and SMAS are tightened resulting in improvement of your neck and jawline. So, when consulting with your plastic surgeon, it's important to know the distinctions between the different names of procedures. He or she should explain the differences so you can make an informed decision. Good luck!

Thank you for your question.Mid-face facelift addresses the cheeks and naso-labial folds.  It will only have a minimal effect on the jowls unless the incisions are carried more interiorly in front and behing the ears, connecting with the temporal incisions; this will address the neck and the jowls as well.  Even more powerful is the composite facelift with the browlift is incorporated into the procedure along with some fat grafting.Hope this helps!

Best regards,Dr. Marc DuPere, Toronto Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

thanks for your question,The Midface lift - Repositions the soft tissue of your cheek area, it does not affect the jawStandard Facelift - This helps improve the jaw line and will improve your jaw. It sounds like you should discuss a facelift with your surgeon. 

A midface lift is primarily to reposition the midface and malar fat pad. It does not allow for release of the ligaments along the line of the jaw to properly address this area.

The laxity of tissues along the jaw line which cause jowls and poor definition of the jawline are best treated by vertical and posterior lifting of the SMAS layer done by a standard facelift. This approach, in the right hands can give predictable and reliable results.  I know midface lifts are done but they have fallen out of favor due to prolonged healing time and unreliable results.  I have not heard them talked about in any major plastic surgery meeting I have been to in recent years.  See a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your wishes in detail.

The short answer is: Not very well.While there may be a very slight effect translated to the lower portions of the face when elevating the cheeks, this would likely be minimal. Mid facelifts are fantastic for elevating the upper and mid face soft tissues which have descended. However, they do little to address the jawline and jowls.A much better treatment is the traditional lower face/neck lift. This procedure is designed specifically to address these areas in question.I would schedule some consultations with plastic surgeons to discuss the different procedures, and potential combinations thereof.Best of luck!Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

A mid-facelift is designed to reposition
the tissues in the mid-face, or the area just under your eyes and in your
cheeks. It will not help the jawline very much. Elevating the jowls and
tightening the neck will improve your jawline. Mid-facelifts are not performed very
often anymore. They are usually associated with increased swelling and higher
chances of facial nerve injury. The problem with the mid-face is that we lose
volume. The thought used to be that we can elevate those tissues in the mid-face
because they have fallen like the jowls. What is more likely is that fat loss
in those areas is the real issue -- not sagging of the fat. Because fat
transfer has become much more predictable, the mid-face can be addressed at the
same time as a lift that addresses the lower third (jowls, jawline, and neck)
of the face. It can be done with fewer complications and a quicker recovery. In
most cases, your result will be better as well.

Dear stayingpositive11-Great question.  In fact, today during a blepharoplasty I was demonstrating the connection (indirect) between lifting the SOOF/malar fat pad and the jawline/jowl.  So, theoretically, yes, there can be an effect.  However, I would say that in practice this does not pan out.  The best way to address this is the elevate the SMAS, with or without mandibular ligament release, and that is done with a facelift/necklift. A board-certified facial plastic surgeon can help you in consultation.Best,Dr. Most