Cheek Enhancement
Endotine� Cheek
Enhancement
What is an Endotine� Cheek Lift? The area between your
lower eyelids and your mouth is considered the midface.
As you age, the effects of gravity, repeated muscle
contraction, and lifestyle cause the skin, fat, and
muscle in this region to move downwards. When this
occurs, the cheeks begin to look saggy or flat, lower
eyelids can become puffy or hollow, circles begin to
appear under the eyes, and the lines between the nose
and the corner of the mouth deepen.
The Endotine� Cheek Lift restores the natural curves and
fullness in the cheeks by moving soft tissues back to
where they were earlier. This is achieved by elevating
the soft midface tissue from the bone, repositioning it
upward towards the eyes, and fixating it in place until
it readheres naturally to the bone. This restores cheek
volume and establishes more youthful midface contours.
The result will be a natural, revitalized appearance
that doesn’t appear overdone or “pulled.”
When performed
skillfully, a cheek lift will deliver a natural but
noticeable improvement. It is frequently performed with
other surgeries, such as a lower face lift, eyelid
surgery, or a browlift. However, for many younger
patients, under 45 years old, midface suspension is
often a standalone procedure.
How is a Endotine� Cheek Lift Performed?
During a midface
suspension procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions
in the area above the ear or the lower eyelid and in
some cases, through the underside of the upper lip. A
small endoscope and other instruments are introduced
through the incisions to lift the delicate midface
tissues off the cheekbones. Once lifted, these tissues
are repositioned upward (toward the eye) and to the side
(toward the ear).
Midface suspension
surgery is often performed in office based surgical
suites, and can be done with general anesthesia or with
local anesthesia and sedation. Patients typically return
home on the same day. Surgical dressings, if used, are
removed soon after surgery, and any tissue swelling
related to the procedure gradually diminishes.
Am I an Endotine� Cheek Lift Candidate?
If your cheeks are
sagging or have flattened over the years, if your lower
eyelids are puffy with dark circles or have “hollowed
out,” or if your smile lines have deepened, you’re
probably a good candidate for a midface suspension. Of
course the best way to determine if a midface suspension
is right for you is by a thorough consultation with a
surgeon.
The Endotine� Midface
offers two new approaches to the midface suspension
allowing your surgeon to quickly lift and secure tissue
at a new, more youthful position. These innovative
devices provide your surgeon with a predictable
alternative for cheek suspension, enabling shortened
procedure time and improved aesthetic outcomes.
The Endotine� Cheek Lift
Solution The Endotine� Cheek Lift is a new approach that
gives your surgeon the ability to easily restore sagging
cheek volume to its natural position.
This new approach
features the Endotine� Midface ST and Midface B devices,
which has five small tissue holders, or tines, to grasp
the cheek tissue gently but securely and elevate it (and
all overlying cheek tissue layers) to a new position. In
this way, it can reduce the skin irregularities and
dimpling that commonly occur when sutures are used. The
tines also distribute the tissue forces evenly,
minimizing the chance of surgical failure and possible
injury caused by sutures.
It typically takes 30 to 60 days for the tissue to
reattach to the bone. Once implanted, the device
gradually absorbs until it is completely gone. This is
an improvement over non-absorbable sutures, which remain
permanently implanted long after they are no longer
needed for fixation.
An experienced surgeon can place the Endotine� Midface
device in minutes. This can shorten the length of the
procedure by up to 30 to 40 minutes and possibly reduce
the swelling associated with more prolonged techniques.
The tips of the tines are
rounded to create a gentle grasping surface for the
cheek tissue and reduce the chance of discomfort. While
patients may feel the tines when they push down on the
cheek, there is very little tenderness. Perhaps most
importantly, patients report a very high level of
satisfaction with their results.
What Can I Expect After Surgery?
Immediately after
surgery, you will experience some temporary swelling and
bruising in your midface region, which may take several
weeks to completely resolve. The first night, it’s
important to rest with your head elevated to decrease
swelling and bruising. You can use a cold compress for
comfort and to help control swelling. Additionally, pain
medication may be prescribed for post - operative pain.
You can usually take a
shower within a few days and most patients are ready to
return to work in about two weeks. At this point, you
may feel the Endotine� Midface device under the cheek,
but it is not likely to be visible. It will become less
palpable as it begins to absorb in the months following
surgery.
How does the Endotine� Midface Lift compare to a
barbed-suture lift? There are a number of differences
between a true Endotine� Midface Lift and a
barbed-suture lift. First, with the Endotine� Midface,
the sagging midface tissue is released from the
cheek-bone and repositioned at a higher (elevated)
level. A natural healing process ensues that fixes the
cheek tissue naturally at this new location. The result
is a rounder cheek with more projection which translates
to a more youthful appearance. Once healing has
occurred, the Midface Device begins to be absorbed
naturally by the body.
With barbed suture, there
is no release of tissue, instead the suture passed
through the cheek’s upper tissue layer and then
tightened by pulling upward. Cheek elevation is
dependent upon the “strings” of suture being tied to the
temporal area above the ear. Since there has been no
movement of the underlying tissue to a new location, the
long term results of this surgery has not been
established. The suture is permanent, meaning it will
remain under the skin until it is removed. Since the
suture is constantly under tension lifting the cheek, it
could remain palpable until removed. Once removed, the
cheek would return to its original position.
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