Q/A: Does a midface lift help the jowls?

Question: I am 54, but look slightly younger. I don't mind the normal aging around my eyes, etc. but my sagging jowls bother me. My Plastic Surgeon says he would not recommend having a lower face lift without at least also doing a mid-face lift, as well as a brow lift. Now he has agreed he would feel comfortable doing the lift without a brow lift, but says he would definitely recommend a mid-face lift with the lower face lift. Is it really necessary to also have a mid face lift with a lower face lift?

Dr. Marotta's Response: Depending upon the technique used, a midface lift can improve the "jowls" much more than a traditional lower facelift alone. What appears to be jowl fat may frequently be drooping buccal or cheek fat. In my technique of an endoscopic midface lift, I reposition this drooping cheek fat higher in the cheek which improves the jowl and corner of the mouth much more than a standard facelift. In addition elevating the cheek also tends to elevate the jowl fat along the jawline. When combined with an extended Sub-SMAS lower facelift which further tightens the jowls and jawline, the improvement in the jowls can be much more complete. Sometimes the entire procedure can be done endoscopically with small incisions hidden behind the hairline.