What is an endotine cheek lift?

The area between your lower eyelids and your mouth is considered the midface. As you age, the effects of gravity, repeated muscle contraction, and lifestyle cause the skin, fat and muscle in this region to move downwards. When this occurs, the cheeks begin to look saggy or flat, lower eyelids can become puffy or hollow, circles begin to appear under the eyes, and the lines between the nose and the corner of the mouth deepen.

The Endotine Midface@ cheek lift restores the natural curves and fullness in the cheeks by moving soft tissues back to where they were earlier. This is achieved by elevating the soft midface tissue from the bone, repositioning it upward towards the eyes, and fixating it in place until it re-adheres naturally to the bone. This restores cheek volume and establishes more youthful midface contours. The result will be a natural, revitalized appearance that doesn't appear overdone or "pulled."

When performed skillfully, a cheek lift will deliver a natural but noticeable improvement. It is frequently performed with other surgeries, such as a lower face lift, eyelid surgery, or a brow lift. However, for many younger patients, under 45 years old, midface rejuvenation is often a stand-alone procedure.

How is an endotine cheek lift performed?

During a midface lift, Dr. Prevel makes small incisions in the area above the ear or lower eyelid, and in some cases, through the underside of the upper lip. A small endoscope and other instruments are introduced through the incisions to lift the delicate midface tissues off the cheekbones. Once lifted, these tissues are repositioned upward (toward the eye) and to the side (toward the ear).

Midface lift surgery is often performed in office-based surgical suites, and can be done with general anesthesia or with local anesthesia and sedation. Patients typically return home the same day.

The endotine cheek lift solution

The endotine cheek lift is a new approach that gives your surgeon the ability to easily restore sagging cheek volume to its natural position.

This new approach features the endotine midface device, which has five small tissue holders, or tines, to grasp the cheek tissue gently but securely and elevate it to a new position. In this way, ti can reduce the skin irregularities and dimpling that commonly occur when sutures are used. The tines also distribute the tissue forces evenly, minimizing the chance of surgical failure and possible injury caused by sutures.

What can I expect after surgery?

Immediately after surgery, you'll experience some temporary swelling and bruising in your midface region, which may take several weeks to completely resolve. The first night, it's important to rest with your head elevated to decrease swelling and bruising. Pain medication may be prescribed for post-operative pain.

You can usually take a shower within a few days and most patients are ready to return to work in about two weeks.