Most people realize that, at some point, they will start to look older. Aging is not something we can stop, nor do we want to. At the same time, there are certain changes that come with age that many of us would like to avoid – at least as long as we possibly can. Fortunately, the cosmetic effects of aging have become easier to manage. The question is often a matter of timing. When is it time to look beyond the temporary fixes like dermal fillers and consider something permanent, like a midface lift? We explore that question by pointing out a few of the concerns that are addressed in this procedure.
Smile and Marionette Lines
Lines on the face are small nuisances to most people, a sign of aging that can be tolerated, even revered. Some people love the small crease the appears when they smile, and wouldn’t dream of erasing it. When lines can become a problem is when they are visible even when the face is resting. Creases between the nose and mouth, or between the mouth and nose, change the landscape of the lower face in a way that often feels too frustrating to live with. By repositioning the superficial muscle and connective tissue at the cheeks, a midface lift can significantly decrease, if not erase, these lines.
Jowls
The jawline is a pivotal area that reflects the overall youthfulness of the face. Sometime during mid-life, most people begin to see a certain softening at the sides of their jawline. We call this softening jowls, a problem that is characterized by pockets of fat that hang from one location along the lower jaw. Jowls are only partially a skin problem. At their core, they are a fat problem. Fatty tissue from the cheeks gradually migrates downward once collagen strands age. This tissue migration is the ultimate cause of jowls. A midface lift does not completely rearrange the structure of the fat, but it does lift the position of tissue at the cheek, which subsequently lifts the tissue at the jawline. To further reduce the appearance of jowls, we may introduce fat or dermal fillers into the midface.
Your Denver facial and oculoplastic surgeon understand the nuances of facial structure that culminate in natural beauty. Learn more about the facelift procedure at (303) 839-1616.
