The midface, the area spanning your cheekbones down to your upper lip, is often the first region to show meaningful signs of aging. Volume shifts, skin loosens, and the sharp contours of youth begin to soften. Dr. Omotara Sulyman-Scott, a board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, has the surgical expertise to restore what time gradually takes away. In this blog, we will discuss what actually happens to your midface as you age and how a facelift can address it.
What Changes in the Midface With Age?
Midface aging is not simply about wrinkles. The face undergoes a predictable combination of bone resorption, fat redistribution, and soft tissue descent over time. The cheeks flatten, the nasolabial folds deepen, and the once-defined transition between the lower eyelid and cheek becomes hollow and tired-looking.
These changes tend to accelerate after the mid-40s, though genetics, sun exposure, and lifestyle factors all influence the timeline.
The Anatomy Behind Midface Aging
Understanding why the midface ages the way it does helps explain why surgery works so well. Several distinct structural changes occur simultaneously:
- Bone resorption: The underlying facial skeleton loses volume, particularly around the orbital rim and cheekbones.
- Fat compartment descent: Facial fat pads shift downward, creating heaviness in the lower face and hollowness in the upper face.
- Skin laxity: Collagen and elastin decline by approximately 1% per year after age 25, causing the skin to lose its ability to snap back.
- Ligament weakening: The retaining ligaments that hold facial tissue in place gradually loosen, allowing structures to descend.
Together, these changes produce the hallmark signs of midface aging: flattened cheeks, deepened folds, and a generally fatigued appearance.
How a Facelift Restores the Midface
A facelift, particularly the deep plane technique Dr. Sulyman-Scott performs, addresses aging at its structural source. Rather than simply pulling skin tighter, deep plane surgery repositions the underlying muscle and tissue layer known as the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). This approach lifts the midface back toward its natural, youthful position and delivers results that look refreshed rather than surgically achieved.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Midface Rejuvenation?
Not every patient experiencing midface changes needs a full facelift. Ideal candidates typically share a few key characteristics:
- Visible descent: Cheeks have flattened or descended noticeably since their 40s or early 50s.
- Skin laxity: Loose skin is present along the cheeks and jawline that non-surgical treatments can no longer adequately address.
- Good general health: Candidates are non-smokers or willing to quit and have realistic expectations about outcomes.
- Stable weight: Significant weight fluctuations after surgery can affect results.
A thorough consultation with Dr. Sulyman-Scott will determine which approach, surgical or otherwise, best aligns with your anatomy and goals.
Ready to Restore Your Midface? Dr. Sulyman-Scott Can Help
Midface aging is gradual, but the right surgical approach can meaningfully turn back the clock without erasing what makes your face distinctly yours. Dr. Sulyman-Scott's deep plane facelift expertise, combined with her background in facial anatomy as a board-certified otolaryngologist and fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon, positions her among Chicago's most skilled providers for this procedure.
Schedule your consultation with Dr. Sulyman-Scott today and take the first step toward a more refreshed, naturally youthful you.
