Why Choose L&P For Your Midface Lift?
A midface lift rejuvenates the cheek and lower eyelid area. It’s performed through an endoscopic incision hidden in the hairline and diminishes the nasolabial folds, aging in the midface and may also improve the jowl area.
Although this procedure is minimally invasive, initial recovery may take 2 to 3 weeks with improving results over several months. Our core objective is to provide a safe, comfortable surgical experience that aspires to restore your appearance and aims to produce natural-looking results. We have provided before & after photos of our patients to help you visualize the possibilities.
Our board-certified facial plastic surgeons perform midface lift surgery at our Palo Alto location and provide consults at our downtown Los Gatos, CA, office as well.
An additional benefit of having surgery with L&P Aesthetics is access to The iO Clinic’s Surgical Recovery Package designed by Drs. Lieberman, Parikh, and Curti. This post-operative recovery protocol enhances your overall recovery, speeds up the recovery timeframe and improves your long-term results.
Midface Lift Before and After Gallery
View real results from real patients below.
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What to Expect During Midface Lift Surgery
The procedure typically takes between 2 to 3 hours. Midface lifting is performed via an endoscopic approach using incisions hidden behind the hairline. As a midface lift is being performed, a lateral brow lift may also be performed simultaneously. As the soft tissue of the cheek is suspended to a more youthful position, the excess skin must be redistributed along the forehead and then into the hairline. Doing these procedures together allows a simultaneous rejuvenation of the cheek, the brow and the forehead. Often the lower eyelids are addressed at the time of surgery through a lower blepharoplasty to produce the most harmonious and youthful result.
What is a Midface Lift?
Each third of the face ages in a distinct fashion. Over the last two decades, treatment of the mid-third of the face, or midface, has received much attention in the surgical literature. As we age, the fullness of the cheek area (midface) starts to drop with gravity. This not only gives the cheek a hollow look, but it also changes the appearance of the lower eyelid and creates deep grooves around the mouth. While this area can be addressed by certain facelift techniques, some patients will benefit most from a directed midface lift.
Midface Lift Recovery and Beyond
A midface lift with a brow lift and/or a blepharoplasty can be performed under either twilight sleep (IV sedation) or general anesthesia. Prior to surgery you will meet the anesthesia team and be asked to review any allergies, as well as your major medical history. You’ll be given a medication to help you relax. We work hard with the anesthesiologist to minimize any nausea or pain after surgery.
After 1 to 2 hours of recovery, you can be discharged from the surgery center with a family member or friend. We ask that someone stay with you for the first 24 hours after midface lift surgery.
Midface Lift FAQs
Yes, a midface lift is often combined with other procedures, and it is pretty common to combine procedures, depending on what your goals are. Some procedures that are frequently done simultaneously include:
- Lower blepharoplasty (lower eyelid surgery) — to smooth out under-eye bags.
- Fat grafting or fillers — to restore lost volume in the cheeks or under the eyes.
- Neck lift — if there’s sagging around the jawline and neck area too.
- Full facelift — if aging changes are more widespread, not just in the midface.
- Skin resurfacing treatments, like lasers or chemical peels to improve skin texture and tone.
Combining surgeries can mean just one recovery period instead of several, and the results can look more harmonious.
If you’re not ready for surgery or just exploring options, there are several alternatives to a midface lift that target similar concerns like sagging cheeks, nasolabial folds, and under-eye hollows:
Non-surgical Alternatives:
- Dermal Fillers
- Adds volume to the cheeks and under-eye area.
- Can lift the midface subtly and smooth out deep lines.
- Results are temporary (6–18 months depending on product).
- Ultrasound or Radiofrequency Treatments (e.g., Ultherapy, Thermage)
- Stimulate collagen to tighten and lift skin gradually.
- Non-invasive with no downtime, but results are more subtle.
- Microneedling with RF (e.g., Morpheus8)
- Improves skin texture and tightens slightly.
- Can be paired with other treatments for better results.
- Laser Resurfacing or Chemical Peels
- Helps with skin texture, fine lines, and pigmentation, but won’t lift much.
Minimally Invasive Options:
- Fat Transfer
- Restores volume using your own fat.
- More natural and longer-lasting than fillers, but requires a small procedure.
A midface lift typically leaves minimal and well-hidden scars — especially when done by an experienced surgeon. Drs. Lieberman, Parikh, and Curti are as thoughtful as possible in regards to leaving minimally, if it all, noticeable incisions. No matter the incision, it is paramount to maintain proper aftercare to ensure that scars stay invisisble!
Similar to a deep-plane face and neck lift, the Midface Lift usually lasts up to 10 years, but results vary from person to person depending on your personal anatomy and any other combined procedures.
The ideal candidate for a midface lift is someone who it yet to experience the more pronounced visible signs of aging. Normally, these patients are in their 30s or 40s and don’t yet need the intensity of a deep-plane lift, but still want to address their skin’s laxity.
A midface lift primarily focuses on the area between the cheek and lower eyelid. With endoscopic incisions, all that you’ll be able to see is a rejuvenated midface and no scars.
The midface lift may have an impact on your facial expressions in the days and weeks immediately following the procedure while you heal. However, the muscles in your face that create facial expressions are not impacted by the procedure!
For specific anatomy that has had a loss in volume, Drs. Lieberman, Parikh, and Curti may recommend supplementing the midface lift with other procedures, such as fat transfer, for the best result.
If you are concerned about your specific skin type, our double-board-certified facial plastic surgeons will be able to properly assess your needs and recommend the best treatment pathway.
We recommend taking 7-10 days off of your normal routine, including work, to give yourself the proper time to heal.
