CHEEK LIFT SURGERY
Does your face seem flatter or heavier than it used to? Have you noticed deeper folds around your mouth or larger hollows under your eyes? Have your friends recently begun to suggest that you always look sad, angry, or tired? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, you are probably experiencing one of the earliest and most obvious signs of aging: sagging cheeks. As we age, the malar fat pad that sits atop our cheekbone and gives our face its contoured look and youthful fullness begins to slip down toward the nose and mouth. This sagging pulls down the lower eyelids, making our eyes appear hollow and tired, and simultaneously pushes tissues down around the mouth, creating deep wrinkles around the corners of the mouth. Amazingly, even minute changes in this critical mid-face region can significantly impact the appearance of your entire face!
Luckily, reversing this early sign of aging and restoring your face’s natural contours is easier than most people assume, and can be done without injectables or noticeable scarring. A cheek lift, or mid-face lift, repositions the malar far pad onto the cheekbone, thus restoring the youthful fullness of the cheeks. Moreover, once the malar fat pad is in the correct position, the skin is no longer weighed down and can snap back into place, giving the lower eyelids a refreshed, rejuvenated appearance. In fact, a cheek lift can be more effective than a traditional facelift in addressing the upper cheeks and lower eyelids, because a facelift merely stretches the skin without restoring fullness. Moreover, the results of a cheek lift are more permanent than a traditional facelift with injectables, and involve less visible scarring and a shorter recovery time.
The contours of our cheek and mid-face region play an essential role in the overall appearance of the face, and changes to the cheeks can have a dramatic impact on both the eyes and the mouth, even if those structures are not directly touched during surgery. Thus, it is critical that any cheek lift or other facial procedure be conducted only by an experienced, Board Certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V), founder of and lead facial plastic surgeon at The Virginia Institute for Surgical Arts in Chantilly, VA, has a thorough understanding of how the structures of the face work together to create each individual’s unique beauty. By combining her cutting-edge knowledge of the most up-to-date surgical techniques and her keen eye for individual facial aesthetics, Dr. V ensures that each of her patients achieves the refreshed, rejuvenated appearance they are seeking.
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CHEEK LIFT PROCEDURE AND RECOVERY
During a cheek lift, the malar fat pad, adjoining muscle, and nearby tissue are carefully separated from the cheekbone, moved into the correct position, and permanently re-sutured to the cheekbone. This is done through small incisions inside the gum line of the mouth and/or above the hairline near the temple, taking care not to affect the hair follicles to minimize scarring. The procedure is generally conducted under general anesthesia, and takes about two hours when not combined with additional procedures.
Recovery from a cheek lift procedure usually requires about two weeks, depending on the health of the individual and each patient’s unique ability to heal. While pain is generally minimal, most patients will find that their cheeks and lower lips are numb and swollen after the surgery; elevation of the head and regular use of cold compresses are recommended to alleviate these symptoms. It is important to keep the incisions clean by following instructions on external hygiene near the sutures and maintaining proper oral hygiene. Strenuous activity and extensive sun exposure should be avoided for several weeks after surgery. Results should become visible within a week or two once the initial swelling diminishes, and patients will see continued improvement in their appearance as the residual swelling subsides over the course of a month or two.
CONTACT THE VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SURGICAL ARTS
Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V), lead facial surgeon at The Virginia Institute for Surgical Arts, has the background, clinical experience, and surgical knowledge to create customized treatment plans that are designed to safely and effectively improve the balance and structural proportions of your face. Dr. V. is double Board Certified in the field of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and has built a reputation as one of the leading facial plastic surgeons in the nation. If you are interested in learning more about having your cheek lift performed by Dr. V, please contact The Virginia Institute for Surgical Arts today. We look forward to speaking with you, and to scheduling your initial consultation with Dr. V.
Please call 703-327-8200 or Click Here to Schedule a Consultation.
