MED0001204761 This website contains imagery suitable for audiences 18+. All surgery contains risks read more here
MED0001204761 This website contains imagery suitable for audiences 18+. All surgery contains risks read more here
FACE PROCEDURES
Mid facelift in Melbourne with specialist plastic surgeon Dr Sophie Ricketts. Lifting the cheek and mid face, risks and recovery.
ON THIS PAGE
A mid facelift focuses on the middle third of the face, the cheek and the area between the lower eyelid and the corner of the mouth. As this area ages, the cheek fat descends and flattens, the area under the eye becomes hollow, and the fold between the nose and the mouth deepens. A mid facelift lifts and repositions the cheek tissue to restore support and fullness to the mid face. It is different from a standard facelift, which addresses the lower face, jawline and neck.
At your consultation, Dr Ricketts examines your mid face, cheeks and lower eyelids and assesses the pattern of your ageing. Because the mid face, the lower eyelid and the lower face are related, she will explain whether a mid facelift alone would help you, or whether it is better combined with eyelid surgery, fat transfer or a lower facelift for a balanced result.
The mid facelift is aimed at the specific changes of the central face rather than the jawline or neck. It can help with flattening of the cheek, hollowing under the eye, and deepening of the fold between the nose and the mouth, by lifting the descended cheek tissue back towards its original position. Depending on your anatomy, the cheek is approached through the lower eyelid, the temple or the mouth, and Dr Ricketts will explain the approach she would use and why. Where volume as well as position has been lost, fat transfer is sometimes used alongside it.
A mid facelift may suit you if your main concern is flattening or descent of the cheek and mid face, hollowing under the eyes, or a deepening fold beside the nose, and if you are in reasonable general health. It is not the right choice if your main concern is jowling, loose jawline skin or neck laxity, which are addressed by a standard facelift and neck surgery. It does not treat skin texture, fine lines or pigmentation. Smoking increases the risk of healing problems, so Dr Ricketts will discuss this with you.
At your consultation, Dr Ricketts examines your mid face, cheeks and lower eyelids, assesses your skin and the deeper tissues, and listens to what concerns you. She explains whether a mid facelift alone would suit you or whether combining it with eyelid surgery, fat transfer or a lower facelift would give a more balanced result, along with the approach, the recovery and the risks. She gives you written information and encourages you to take your time.
A mid facelift is performed under general anaesthetic and may be a day case or an overnight stay depending on the approach and whether it is combined with other procedures. On the day Dr Ricketts confirms the plan and marks the surgical areas with you in the upright position. A dedicated team cares for you through your operation and early recovery. You will go home with clear instructions, and it is best to have a support person with you. Your first review is usually about a week later.
Facelift surgery carries the general risks of surgery and anaesthesia as well as risks specific to the face. General risks include:
Risks more specific to a mid facelift include temporary or, less commonly, longer lasting weakness or altered movement from nerve injury, numbness of the skin, asymmetry between the two cheeks, and, where the approach is through the lower eyelid, a pulled down or rounded lower lid. Prolonged swelling and puffiness of the cheeks is common because of the area involved. Because the face heals differently in each person, the result varies and cannot be guaranteed. Dr Ricketts will go through the risks relevant to your chosen approach and your health, and give you written information to consider at home.
In the first one to two weeks, swelling and bruising of the cheeks and around the eyes are at their most noticeable, and the mid face can stay swollen for longer than other areas because of the tissue involved. Keeping your head elevated and following the activity restrictions in the early days helps you heal, and discomfort is manageable with the medications prescribed.
Most people take around two to three weeks before they feel ready to return to work or socialise, though cheek swelling can take longer to fully settle. Some numbness can persist for weeks before improving. Strenuous exercise is avoided for about three to four weeks. The result continues to refine as swelling resolves over about three months, and sometimes longer for the mid face. Dr Ricketts will see you for reviews. Everyone heals at a different rate, the timeframes given are a guide only, and the outcomes one person experiences do not necessarily reflect what another will experience.
Dr Sophie Ricketts is a specialist plastic surgeon based in Richmond, Melbourne, with a focused practice in facial surgery, including the mid facelift. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), the peak professional bodies for plastic surgery in Australia. You can also find her on RealSelf. Each of these listings is maintained by independent organisations and provides patients with a straightforward way to check the qualifications, training, and scope of practice of the listed providers before booking a consultation.
A mid facelift targets the middle third of the face, the cheek and the area under the eye, lifting descended cheek tissue to restore support to the central face. A standard facelift addresses the lower face, jawline and neck. They treat different areas, and Dr Ricketts will explain which suits your concerns, or whether both are needed.
Yes, a mid facelift is aimed at flattening and descent of the cheek and hollowing under the eye, by repositioning the descended cheek tissue. Where volume as well as position has been lost, fat transfer is sometimes used alongside it. Dr Ricketts will assess what your mid face needs.
Because the mid face and the lower eyelid are related, a mid facelift is sometimes combined with lower eyelid surgery or fat transfer for a balanced result, particularly where there is hollowing under the eye. Dr Ricketts will discuss whether a combination suits you.
The mid face involves tissue that tends to swell and settle more slowly than other areas, so cheek swelling can take longer to fully resolve. Most of the swelling settles over about three months, though the mid face can continue to refine for a little longer.
No. A mid facelift focuses on the cheek and central face, not the jawline or neck. If your main concern is jowling or neck laxity, a standard facelift with neck surgery is usually needed, and Dr Ricketts will advise you at your consultation.