Mid-Facelift Miami

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Miami, FL

Midface lifting is nothing new, but certain trends of endoscopic and subperiosteal lifts tend not to last long because of the “overdone” appearance they can cause. At The Maercks Institute, we take a more timeless approach to this type of procedure, ensuring results that you can feel confident about years down the line.

Dr. Rian A. Maercks is one of the best board-certified plastic surgeons in the country. A leading aesthetic, craniofacial, and reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr. Maercks has trained all over the world under some of the most prominent figures in plastic surgery.

If you are interested in revitalizing your appearance, look no further than The Maercks Institute. 

To schedule your personal consultation at our Miami office, please call (305) 328-8256 or contact us online. 

About Midface Lifting in Miami

At other practices, “cheat techniques” such as threads, suture loops, remote pulls, endoscopic techniques, and subperiosteal techniques tend not to provide patients with optimal results. As a plastic surgeon with international craniofacial training, Dr. Maercks has performed every type of lift in his training and career. If midface support is your goal, it is important to choose an experienced plastic surgeon who has extensive deep plane experience and delivers results that you would be happy with. Dr. Maercks uses a wide range of specialized techniques when midface lifting, but each of them prioritizes the concept of “histiocentricity.”

Histrocentricity

One of the guiding principles at the Maercks Institute is our belief in histiocentricity. This concept was developed by Dr. Maercks himself and is defined as the concept of using only the most minimal amount of tissue dissection and incisions to achieve the best possible results. By placing incisions only where necessary, Dr. Maercks can avoid any unnecessary trauma to the facial tissue and muscle, additionally reducing the chance of post-operative complications.

What Makes Dr. Maercks’s Approach Different?

While the mini facelift–a procedure that addresses the midface without addressing the lower face and neck–has become more popular and highly advertised in recent years, Dr. Maercks believes that certain considerations need to be taken into account in regards to future facial aging. Artistically and professionally, Dr. Maercks always wants to deliver midface support, but is against performing a midface lift without addressing the lower third for a simple reason: aging in the lower third of the face occurs earlier than significant midface descent.

Mini Facelift vs. Mid-Facelift

At The Maercks Institute, a mini facelift, what we call a microlyft, involves a “zero downtime” procedure that tightens the neck and jawline without addressing the face. This is the opposite of a “midface lift.” This procedure is ideal for patients who do not want to undergo a full facelift and are looking for an alternative that does not require recovery. Dr. Maercks can perform this procedure while the patient is awake. Typically, the patient can go to dinner the same day with their hair down. This procedure opens the door to lower third refinement in patients under 30 and to older patients who are content with their face or just do not like the idea of having a facelift because of how invasive they are or the unnatural appearance they associate with the procedure.  Dr. Maercks can define the jawline and neck with minimal invasion and disturbances.

At other practices, a mini-facelift usually refers to a midface lift, which can be completed in a variety of ways. Dr. Maercks believes that deep plane ligamentous support is the best approach and provides the most natural-looking and long-lasting results.

Dr. Maercks believes that it is important to address the jawline and the neck at the same time as the midface for several reasons. Firstly, doing so does not increase downtime because of the microlyft technique Dr. Maercks uses. When Dr. Maercks lifts the midface, he includes a minimally invasive or ‘histiocentric’ monobloc extension, which means he conveys the power of the midface lift to the platysma by also releasing the subplatysmal glide plane. This technique does not increase recovery either. Consequently, a midface lift at The Maercks Institute does not exclude the lower face; instead, Dr. Maercks employs tailored dissection that allows the midface vector to naturally transition into the lower face. The addition of the microlyft or lateral platysmaplasty creates what Dr. Maercks calls a “kedge effect,” a nautical term that refers to the security of multivector pull. This not only allows for beautiful jawline definition but also creates a cohesive and natural look for our patients.

Candidates

Candidates with under-eye hollowness, heaviness at the corners of the mouth, and severe jowling should have deep plane midface support. Patients without these concerns can achieve the desired results with a less invasive and less expensive microlyft.

For candidates who want zero downtime, Dr. Maercks will recommend the microlyft instead of midface lifting. However, most patients do want the deep plane midface support after their consultation. For candidates who are looking for a compromise between these two options, Dr. Maercks can recommend the hybrid microlyft, during which Dr. Maercks can address midface support nonsurgically with biostimulators, hyaluronic acid, and Renuva, while also performing a surgical microlyft. 

Personal Consultation

During a personal consultation, Dr. Maercks advises his patients to take the time to understand what their expectations should be for each procedure. At The Maercks Institute, a mirror is considered a great communication tool, as is 3D imaging like the Vectra XT system Dr. Maercks utilizes during his consultations. He also recommends that patients look at before and after photos and make sure that they agree with their surgeon’s opinion as to what would be an ideal outcome. About half of facelifts at The Maercks Institute are revisions, and the most common concern is a lack of midface support, even when patients were initially told they were getting a deep support midface lift. Dr. Maercks will take the time to hear your concerns and aesthetic goals in order to determine the best course of action for you.

To schedule your personal consultation at our Miami office, please call (305) 328-8256 or contact us online. 

Procedure

During a mid-facelift, most patients receiving periauricular incisions (incisions in the skin in front of the ear) at The Maercks Institute will receive a direct deep plane midface lift combined with a lateral platysmaplasty. Dr. Maercks will also perform a submental lift if the area under the chin has fat deposits or if the muscles at the floor of the mouth are weak and sagging. Dr. Maercks does not technically perform traditional facelifts. What we call the MAERCKS (Musculo Aponeurotic Elevation and Retention with Check Kedge Suspension) lift at The Maercks Institute is a deep plane minimal dissection midface lift combined with the microlyft technique, which is a minimally invasive lateral platysmaplasty plus or minus submental lift.

Recovery

Mid-facelifts are performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that each patient will be released home on the same day as their appointment.

Most of Dr. Maercks’s full-face patients are socially presentable and feel ready to socialize in 0-3 days, making recovery not very different from procedures that use minimized techniques. This is because Dr. Maercks makes several technical refinements. The use of Exparel makes the whole process pain-free. 

Results

Immediately following their facelift, patients may notice a difference in their appearance. Patients will be able to enjoy a tighter, more youthful-looking appearance, as well as more sculpted and defined facial features. The skin will also appear smoother, and the appearance of wrinkles, lines, and creases will be softened and reduced. The results of a mid-facelift are long-lasting, especially thanks to Dr. Maercks’s advanced techniques, with many patients enjoying their results for several years. 

Cost of a Mid-Facelift in Miami

The cost of each patient’s facelift can vary, as each procedure is fully tailored for their physical anatomy and goals. Dr. Maercks will provide and discuss the cost of each patient’s procedure with them during their personal consultation. The Maerck’s Institute has partnered with multiple reputable lending companies to help qualifying patients finance the cost of their procedure. 

To discover the cost of your mid-facelift, please contact us online or call our Miami office at (305) 328-8256.

FAQ

What does a mid-facelift address?

A mid-facelift at other practices primarily addresses sagging facial skin, nasolabial folds, and volume loss in the mid-face, but a mid-facelift at The Maercks Institute also addresses the neck and jawline without increasing the downtime.

How long will the results of my mid-facelift last?

The results of a mid-facelift typically last several years; however, the longevity of results can be affected by individual age and lifestyle factors. 

How long will the recovery after my mid-facelift last?

Dr. Maercks’s patients often feel ready to socialize in as little as 0-3 days.

Can I combine my mid-facelift with another procedure for more comprehensive results?

Yes, patients are welcome to complement the effects of their mid-facelift with another procedure. For more information, please reach out to our office, and a member of our team will be happy to answer your questions. 

References

  1. Pérez P, Hohman MH. Mid-Face Facelift. PubMed. Published 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563237/ 
  2. Shtraks JP, Fundakowski C, Yu D, et al. Investigation of the Longevity of the Endoscopic Midface Lift. JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. 2019;21(6):535-541. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamafacial.2019.1015