Facelift and Midface Lift

Abstract

Facelift and midface lifts are performed to give a more youthful appearance to the face. While this type of surgery is mostly performed on the aging face, it can also be used for patients with facial paralysis. Overall, aging involves gradual thinning of the epidermis, flattening of the epidermal-dermal border, loss of collagen and thickness in the dermis, decrease in collagen type I to type III ratio, and reduction in the skin cellular and protein components. Sun damage can worsen and accelerate this process. Lax skin with decreased collagen manifests through sagging and increased propensity to be wrinkled and furrowed. In addition, muscle laxity and atrophy can add to sagging tissues and lack of face, mandibular, and neck definition. This can be seen in the increase in the cervicomental angle of the neck, and jowling, which is sagging of tissues along the mandibular line. These particular effects of aging can be amenable to a facelift or midface lift.