For individuals with sagging cheeks but no jowls or banding of the neck, a mid-face lift may be the best solution. Often relying on endoscope cameras and other technological advances, mid-face lifts target the skin and muscle tissue in the cheeks, tightening and smoothing the appearance. Most persons opting for a mid-face lift are addressing deep marionette lines or nasolabial folds. These can be addressed with Gore-Tex implants or injectable materials, but a mid-face lift is often more effective and the results last considerably longer.

Many surgeons will use endoscopic technology to perform a mid-face lift, making small incisions above the ear and by the temple. Additional incisions are made inside the mouth over the cheek bone. All of the incisions made in an endoscopic mid-face lift procedure are very small-usually around one inch long. Permanent stitches secure the fat pads of the cheek to the tissue in the temple, and the surgeon performing the mid-face lift will insert several strategic sutures to achieve the desired look. Whether the mid-face lift is accomplished through endoscopic or traditional surgery, the process involves less trauma than a full face lift, as less tissue is affected in a mid-face lift procedure. This means quicker recovery and a shorter wait for the final results

Most patients undergoing a mid-face lift require only a week off from work or other regular activities. There is usually minimal bruising associated with a mid-face lift, but some swelling may occur. Using ice for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours after a mid-face lift can help control swelling. Some common, but short-lived, side effects of a mid-face lift include numbness under the eyes and muscle weakness when moving the middle portion of the face.

A mid-face lift addresses a specific area of the face with less trauma and faster recovery times than a full face lift. Mid-face lifts help individuals to look refreshed and rejuvenated, with results that are more permanent than injectables and more subtle than a traditional face lift.