A cheek lift, or mid-face lift, corrects sagging cheeks by surgically moving the muscle, tissue, and fat upwards for a more youthful appearance.
Overview
A cheek lift, also known as a mid-face lift, is a plastic surgical procedure that removes excess tissue and skin from the cheeks for a smoother, better-contoured face. Richmond area facial plastic surgeon Matthew Bridges, MD, FACS, performs a cheek lift on patients who have developed lines and wrinkles around the mouth and nose, as well as decreased projection and fullness of the cheeks. A cheek lift is usually performed with an endoscope, which allows for smaller incisions and more subtle lifting and contouring. A cheek lift may be combined with another surgical procedure, such as an eyelid lift or facial implant.
Surgical Technique
During a cheek lift procedure, incisions are made around the hairline and ear. Endoscopy is the popular way to perform this surgery because it gives the surgeon a good view of the inside of the cheek and helps to minimize scarring. Using sutures that are placed directly in the fat pad, the cheek is pulled back up to its original position, giving the face a more youthful appearance. This procedure tightens and smoothes the appearance of nasolabial folds, as well as the vertical lines that run downward from the mouth and on the sides of the chin.
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Dear Dr. Bridges, Thank you so much for your amazing work on my nose! I'm so thrilled with how it looks, and I couldn't be happier! I hope you have a great rest of your summer.
Dr Bridges takes the time to know his patients conditions and explains what must be done for treatment in user friendly language. staff is proficient and seems to genuinely care...
Dr. Bridges performed very complex surgery on my nose to repair a large loss to my left nostril due to cancer. At all times he ensured that I understood what the procedure would...
Extremely happy with the outcome of my nose surgery. I had sleep apnea....I was a true mouth breather. My nasal passages were thin slits! Dr Bridges gave me new cartilage ...
Dr. Bridges is an outstanding doctor. His easygoing personality and high level of expertise really set him apart from other doctors. He is a master of his craft and I know when ...
Dr Bridges is wonderful, so relatable and made me feel comfortable from the start. Thorough assessment that led to a wonderful result. Was sent to him for my deviated sept...
I had a most wonderful experience at this office. The staff are great and support the patient before/after surgery. I would tell everyone to come to this office. Dr. Bridges exp...
Truly an amazing experience. Franki explained the laser procedure with me and made me feel extremely comfortable. I would highly recommend commonwealth and Franki for any services!
Dr. Bridges is fantastic. I always wanted a rhinoplasty but I waited to find the right surgeon. He's patient, listens, and delivers excellent results. He also fixed my dev...
Super friendly staff. Dr Bridges did the impossible. I had gone to several consultations with plastic surgeons in the Richmond area to fix a surgery I had on my nose about...
I got a septo/rhinoplasty with Dr. Bridges and had an amazing experience! The process was seamless from start to finish. I felt prepared for surgery and had a quick and ea...
Dr. Bridges reminds me of the old time family doctors…empathetic, competent, efficient. I wish all of my doctors were like him. Additionally, he has surrounded hims...
Dr. Bridges performed my rhinoplasty in June 2024 and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I wanted a rhinoplasty for years but kept putting it off. My tip really...
Super friendly staff. Dr Bridges did the impossible. I had gone to several consultations with plastic surgeons in the Richmond area to fix a surgery I had on my nose about...
Dr Bridges performed a Lipoma removal procedure on my forehead and I am truly satisfied. He is an excellent physician. His nurse is awesome as well. I was extremely nervou...
Getting rhinoplasty to correct my larger nose has been a lifelong dream of mine, but the idea of doing it has always been scary/intimidating. Dr. Bridges and his team made...
I feel so grateful to have met Franki Lambiotte, the aesthetician at Dr. Bridges' practice!
I'd been interested in laser hair removal/reduction for...
My family have been patients at this practice for over 10 years. Franki Lambiotte has been wonderful with her services. My parents gave me laser hair removal packages as a...
Dr. Bridges is an amazing facial plastic surgeon, and we're so lucky to have him here in RVA. Amazing bedside manner, and actually listens to what you want to work with yo...
I’m blown away, pun intended. From the moment Dr. Shaia recommended Bridges, I have felt that my level of care was akin to what the president receives. The expertise...
Dr. Bridges is fantastic. I always wanted a rhinoplasty but I waited to find the right surgeon. He's patient, listens, and delivers excellent results. He also fixed my dev...
I had rhinoplasty by Dr. Bridges on November 20th 2019, almost 2 months ago. I had a great experience as a whole. Dr. Bridges was easy to talk to and his staff were all ve...
I was lucky enough to be one of the first of Franki’s clients to try the laser hair removal, Bare HR by Sciton, and loved the results on my legs and armpits. Franki ...
Franki has been my aesthetician for several years. I visit her every 2 or 3 months for either a hydrafacial or dermaplane facial. More recently, Franki recommended that I ...
In my teens, a mishap left my nose with a slight deviation and fractured. As the years passed, my nasal deviation worsened, turning my nose into something akin to a wilted...
For the past few years I’ve been watching the lines on my face getting deeper and jowls forming. It was when I started to see my neck sagging that it was time to get...
During/After Surgery
All cheek lift procedures are performed under general anesthesia at an accredited surgical facility. The length of the surgery, if performed alone, will usually vary between 1-2 hours. This surgery is considered an outpatient procedure. After surgery, patients will be bruised and swollen, and the face will feel tight. The recovery following a cheek lift takes about 7-10 days. It is common to feel anxious about how your face will appear. It may take up to several months or longer for the final results to appear.
Cheek Lift FAQ
Is there a non-surgical alternative?
Will I look fake?
Will there be scars?
Is there a non-surgical alternative?
While surgery typically produces the most dramatic results, many patients may find satisfactory results with injectable fillers. This approach, while successful, is better reserved for patients who are not as concerned with drooping, loose skin. Certain fillers can assist in smoothing out wrinkles, improving fine lines, and adding facial volume under the cheeks. These options can be discussed during the initial consultation.
Will I look fake?
In the days immediately following any kind of facial surgery, the skin will feel tight and pulled. The cheeks, in particular, will feel stretched as the skin adjusts to its new position. This is a short-term effect and will subside, leaving the cheeks to feel natural. It’s important to find a reputable surgeon skilled in facial surgery. Surgeons who know what they are doing will make every effort to work within the confines of the patient’s bone, skin, and muscle structures so a younger, more natural look can result.
Will there be scars?
Cheek lifts have advanced greatly in recent years, leaving scars that look inconspicuous. The incisions are typically made along the natural hairline or along the crease of the natural folds of the face, and the sutures are usually placed under the skin. The majority of the time, patients fully heal from this surgery, and the scars are barely visible to the naked eye.