Face Lift Plastic Surgery Information Resource for Southern California including Los Angeles, Orange County, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, and San Diego.
Facial Rejuvenation
CUSTOM LIFT®
PROCEDURES IN DETAIL
Mid Face Rejuvenation
CustomLift's® approach to the problem areas of the Mid Face.
1. Lower Eyelid
The lower eye lid is the most complex region of the face when it comes to the aging process. Only recently has plastic surgery begun to comprehend what really is causing the aging appearance here and even more recently have we figured out how to treat it.
The biggest culprits of lower eye lid aging process include:
- excess skin
- sagging of the outer corner of the eye lid (crow's feet)
- bulging eye lid fat (bags)
- circles under the eyes
Each one of these problems is caused by different aspects of the aging process. The key is to identify which ones are your primary concerns, prioritize them, and address them in methodical fashion.
Before we go into the individual aspects of the lower lid, one needs to consider the profound effect fat loss has on the cheeks and lower eyelid. It is most likely the single biggest contributor to the aged look of the lower lid and mid face, yet, only recently have we begun to understand this. Because of its attention to detail, CustomLift® has been at the forefront of recognizing this extremely common problem and addressing it on a routine basis.
Fat transfer to the cheeks and lower lids has become one of the most common procedures Dr. Cruise performs on the face. Replenishing volume is treating the problem at its root cause.
2. Excess Skin of the Lower Lid
Excess skin of the upper eyelid occurs relatively early in the aging process. The lower lid, however, is somewhat different. Skin laxity becomes a problem typically later in the aging process. Fat loss routinely precedes skin laxity. Excess skin shows itself as redundant, wrinkly skin over the lower lid. This skin can often be pinched and pulled away from the lid once it becomes significant.
Animated Lower Eyelid Skin Removal
Scroll over the image to see the effects of
lower eyelid skin removal.
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Correction of wrinkly lower eyelid skin with skin removal and temple lift. |
3. Excess skin of the upper cheek and crow's feet; tired appearance
Traditional plastic surgery techniques typically treat this problem with skin and muscle removal. The CustomLift® addresses this by performing a temple lift with, or without, skin removal of the lower eyelid. This tightens the saggy skin all the way down to the upper cheeks and crow's feet area. This accomplishes many positive things. It gets rid of the crow's feet as well as the excess skin of the lateral part of the lower lid. In addition, it creates a youthful, bright, elegant appearance.
As you may have noticed, the temple lift is a very effective treatment for both the upper and lower eye lid. This is because the temple lift has a powerful rejuvenating effect on entire lateral eye region. Aging of the temple region is responsible for a significant portion of what we recognize as upper facial aging.
The temple lift is perhaps the most powerful rejuvenating procedure related to the upper face and eyes.
Animated Temple Lift
Scroll over the image to see the effects
of a temple lift. Notice rejuventaion
of
outer brow, outer corner of the eye
and
crow's
feet and excess skin of the lower lid.
4. Bags under the eyes
Bags of the lower eye lid are caused by two completely different processes involving fat. The first process is the most obvious. It is caused by bulging fat of the lower lid. This fat swells more in the morning and when you are tired.
Animated Removal of Bags under the Eyes
Scroll over the image to see the
effects
of removal of bags.
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Example of removing lower eyelid fat, otherwise known as "bags." |
The other process is less obvious. It is caused by LOSS of fat within the upper cheeks. You can confirm this by pushing down on the circles under your eyes with your index finger. Most likely you will immediately feel skull bone. This is because the fat that once covered this bone has melted away.
Hollowing of lower eyelid corrected with fat transfer to the lower eyelid crease. Notice how well this corrects the "circles under the eyes." |
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The CustomLift® evaluates each of these two processes and determines which needs to be corrected. It is not uncommon to remove the fat that is causing the bags and then to transfer fat into the circles under the eyes. This directly treats both issues and, thus, is the most effective treatment for lower lid rejuvenation.
5. Hollow Cheeks and Circles Under the Eyes
All humans begin losing fat in their cheeks starting from the day they are born. Losing fat before the age of 16 is considered "losing baby fat." Losing this same facial fat after the age of 30 is considered "aging." At 20, this aging is attractive as it sculpts and defines the face; especially the lower cheeks and jaw line. Once we get over the age of 30 our fat reserves are gone and aging sets in.
Animated Fat Transfer to Cheeks and Lower Lids
Scroll over the image to see Fat Transfer to
Cheeks and Lower Lids
Representation of loss and descent of facial fat with age
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| Youthful Face. Cheek fat is just below the eyes. | Aging Face. Cheek fat has descended and diminished in volume. |
This fat loss becomes a problem in women around the age of 30 and with men around the age of 40. This is because a more defined look is desirable in men whereas, in women, it is considered an early sign of aging. This is why most female models are in their teens and early 20's, whereas, men tend to look more attractive somewhat later in life.
The significance of loss of cheek fat has only recently come to our attention. This is perhaps the most significant cause of what we perceive as facial aging.
Youthful cheeks with a lot of facial fat.
By the age of 50 most of the cheek fat has gone away leaving behind a hollow, gaunt appearance. Loss of fat over the upper cheek bone leaves the characteristic circles under the eyes. The only way to treat this problem is to replace the fat with fat transfer.
What does Fat Transfer do?
There are several aspects of fat transfer that make it exceptionally appealing.
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First and foremost, it replaces the precious fat of the cheeks creating a youthful appearance that can not be obtained by any other method.
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It takes fat from an area that usually has an excess, i.e. the abdomen creating a win-win situation. Unfortunately, with age we accumulate fat in the areas we don't want it and lose it in the areas where we need it most.
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It can easily be done under local anesthesia, thus, making it cost effective and convenient.
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Finally, the amount of fat transferred is controllable as the procedure can be repeated until the desired result and shape is obtained. Adding fat not only replaces the fat you have already lost, it gives you a buffer so that when you lose fat in the future it is not noticeable.
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Fat transfer to cheeks. Notice how effectively it rejuvenates the hollow, gaunt appearance of the face and how natural it looks. |
6. Naso-labial Folds
CustomLift's® approach to the naso-labial folds, aka "parenthesis deformity," is dramatically different than the current standard treatment. The mainstay of the current treatment is injecting a soft tissue filler to plump up the crease. This does not treat the root cause of the problem; it is a short term cammouflage.
These folds are not actually caused by the crease getting deeper. It is caused by the fold above the crease hanging down making it appear deeper. Therefore, just filling in the crease does not make sense. In addition, soft tissue fillers rarely improve the look for more than two months.
The fold above the crease begins to hang because of loss of cheek fat. Once the volume of the cheek has diminished the skin begins to hang exagerating the crease. Therefore, CustomLift's® long term treatment to the problem is to replenish the lost fat. This will significantly improve the hanging folds by inflating the cheeks.
By correcting the cause of the problem, facial rejuvenation looks much more natural.
Testimonial
Dear Dr. Cruise,
I just had to let you know about my recent good fortune since my face lift. Everyone who sees me is losing it, they all think I look at least 15 years younger and at age 74, I'll take it. When you released me after a quick recovery, I went bowling on my league, my average was 135, I bowled a 181 & 189! Then the next morning I was up reading my morning paper and noticed I didn't have on my glasses that I've needed for the last 30 years and my vision was great!! So you get the credit for making me look 15 years younger, improving my bowling scores and my eyesight!! What a star you are!! You are now a true friend for life. Thanks to you and your crew for the professionalism, kindness and consideration shown to me and my daughter.
Sincerely,
Betty
Lower Face Rejuvenation>> |
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Face Lift Cosmetic Surgery Information Resource for Southern California including Newport Beach, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Beverly Hills.