Endoscopic Mid-Face Lift

Many patients present with a sagging of their cheeks without excessive jowling or banding of the neck. With the developments of small television cameras and the laser diamond scalpel, tiny incisions can be placed in the temples and elevation of the tissues of the mid face or tissue just below the eyelids down to the lip can be performed. Most patients presenting for endoscopic mid face lift are very self-conscious about their deep marionette lines or nasolabial folds. While these may be softened with procedures such as Gore-Tex implants or collagen injections, endoscopic mid face lifting has brought an exciting new procedure to patients with this presenting concern.

THE PROCEDURE:
Endoscopic mid face lifting is performed as an outpatient procedure under a twilight or general anesthetic. One to two inch incisions are made above the ear in the area of the temple. The tissue of the temple is elevated down to the cheek bone. This is done under the vision of the television camera and viewed by the surgeon on the television screen. The tissue is then elevated up over the cheek bone and the fat in the cheek is identified.

The surgeon then makes an incision inside the mouth over the cheek bone and elevates the tissue off of the cheek bone from the inside of the mouth. This then frees all of the tissue from the lower lip to the lower eyelids away from the bony skeleton. Permanent stitches are then placed through the fat pads at the cheek and secured to the tissue in the temple. Several strategic stitches are placed proportional to the look the patient is desiring. The desired look is determined at the time of your initial consultation through the aid of computer imaging.

THE HEALING TIME:
Most patients undergoing endoscopic mid face lifting require one week off from work. While there is usually minimal bruising, there can be some swelling associated with this procedure, as it is performed through tiny incisions. Ice is usually applied on the face for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. It is not uncommon to experience some numbness under the eyes and perhaps some weakness of the muscle when moving the middle portion of the face for a few weeks to a few months. Patients undergoing endoscopic mid face lifting are routinely very pleased with the results, as a softened look to the marionette lines or nasolabial folds is achieved.

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