What does a midface lift do?
Over the years the soft tissue of the cheek slides downwards. A midface lift – sometimes called a cheek lift or mid-facelift – moves that tissue back up. In doing so it aims to bring fullness back over the cheekbones, soften the tear trough beneath the eyes and shorten the junction between the lower lid and the cheek, which tends to lengthen with age.
Today the midface is regarded as the region running from the lower eyelid down through the cheek to the nasolabial fold. Because a conventional facelift works mostly on the jawline and neck, changes centred in the middle of the face often call for a midface procedure, either alone or alongside a facelift.
Who tends to be suited to a midface lift?
The operation is generally considered for healthy adults whose cheeks have dropped, leaving them looking tired, hollow under the eyes or with deeper lines beside the nose. Results are usually better when the skin still has a fair amount of elasticity.
| Points in favour | Points to clarify first |
|---|---|
| Cheeks that have flattened and slipped, giving a weary look | Looseness mostly along the jaw and neck, where a facelift may fit better |
| A lengthened lid–cheek junction or a hollow tear trough | Skin that is very thin and has almost no spring |
| Nasolabial folds that have deepened as the cheek descended | Earlier lower eyelid surgery that left the lid out of position (needs careful review) |
| A wish for something that lasts longer than filler | Poorly controlled health problems or heavy smoking |
| A goal of looking rested and natural | Hoping for an entirely different face |
The facial skeleton changes too. Mendelson and Wong reviewed how sections of the midface bone, such as the maxilla and the rim of the eye socket, shrink with age. Lifting moves soft tissue but cannot rebuild bone, so fat transfer or cheek fillers are occasionally added to restore volume.
What techniques can be used for a midface lift?
| Approach | Principle | Usually considered when |
|---|---|---|
| Endoscopic midface lift | Small cuts in the hair at the temples, sometimes with one inside the mouth, let the surgeon free and raise the cheek while watching on an endoscope | The cheek has descended but there is little surplus skin; it pairs well with a brow or temporal lift |
| Through the lower eyelid | The cheek is raised via the incision used for a lower blepharoplasty | Lower eyelid surgery is needed anyway |
| Within a deep-plane or extended facelift | Facelift incisions are used to lift the midface along with the lower face | Midface, jaw line and neck have all aged |
Which route fits you depends on your anatomy, the condition of your skin and the other areas you want treated. A review in Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America lists two recognised endoscopic methods: lifting beneath the periosteum (the layer covering the bone) and lifting the malar fat pad.
What happens during the operation?
- Assessment and planning. Dr. Yazır examines cheeks, eyelids, brows and jaw line as one unit, takes photographs and agrees the approach with you.
- Anaesthesia. In most cases the surgery takes place under general anaesthesia in a hospital operating theatre.
- Freeing and raising. The cheek tissue is released from its attachments through the chosen incisions and moved upwards, mostly in a vertical direction.
- Securing. Stitches or a dissolvable fixation device hold the tissue so it heals in its new place.
- Closure. The incisions are stitched and a light dressing may be put on. One night in hospital is usual.
How does the healing period go?
| Stage | Typical experience |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Cheeks and eyelids are swollen and bruised; you rest with your head raised |
| Days 7–10 | Stitches or clips are taken out and the bruises are fading |
| Weeks 2–3 | Office work and most social plans are possible again |
| Weeks 4–6 | Sport and heavy exercise can be restarted |
| Months 3–6 | Most swelling has gone and the outcome is evaluated |
Early on the cheeks can look slightly too high or full; this generally eases as swelling subsides. A tight feeling when you smile is also common in the first weeks.
How should I organise my visit to Izmir?
Patients travelling from abroad usually set aside 7 to 10 days. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is roughly 25–30 minutes by car from Konak, where the clinic is located in the Egeperla building.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | You land in Izmir; consultation, examination and pre-operative tests |
| Day 2 | Operation, followed by a night in hospital |
| Day 3 | Discharge and rest at your hotel |
| Days 4–7 | Resting, short walks and a check-up as scheduled |
| Days 7–10 | Stitches out, a last review and your flight home once Dr. Yazır agrees |
Before you travel, photos sent by WhatsApp allow an initial opinion. The plan is only confirmed after Dr. Yazır has seen you in person.
Which risks come with a midface lift?
Most of the published evidence on midface lifting comes from case series by individual surgeons rather than comparative trials, so complication figures differ from one report to another. Looking at facelift surgery more broadly, a 2025 meta-analysis put the combined rate of nerve injury under 1%, with lasting nerve damage far less common. Complications that can occur:
- Swelling, bruises and a temporary loss of feeling in the cheek
- Short-term weakness of the muscles that raise the forehead or create a smile
- Uneven sides or visible irregularities
- Altered shape or position of the lower lid, particularly with the eyelid route
- Infection, bleeding or a haematoma
- Hair thinning near the hairline incisions, which is usually temporary
- Uncommon problems linked to anaesthesia
Dr. Yazır explains the risks that apply to you during the examination and the informed consent discussion.
Is the result long-lasting?
Ageing continues after a midface lift, but the cheek starts again from a higher point. In a group of 143 patients who underwent an endoscopic midface lift, the measured gain in midfacial height was still there 5 to 15 years later. Cheek fullness, on the other hand, drifted back towards its starting level after roughly five years, which is one reason volume treatments are sometimes added to the lift.
Why might Izmir work for a midface lift?
Izmir sits on the Aegean coast and its international airport has direct connections to many European cities, with plenty of places to stay while you recover. Prices are well below those in the UK or USA – an estimated comparison appears below. Wherever you have surgery, what matters most is a properly qualified surgeon and enough time for healing and follow-up before the journey home.