What endoscopic facelift is
An endoscopic facelift, or mid facelift, lifts the cheeks through small incisions hidden in the hairline at the temples. Compression bandages stay on until your Day 1 dressing visit, and the sutures at the temples come out at your Day 7 visit.
Through these incisions a small camera (endoscope) guides the release and lift of the cheek tissue, which is then fixed in its new position. It treats the midface; when the jawline and neck need correcting too, a deep plane face and neck lift does more.
Every procedure is performed at True Surgical Center, our AAAHC-accredited surgical center in Beverly Hills. About True Surgical Center
Who it is for
Your surgeon tells you at your consultation whether endoscopic facelift fits your goals, and says so when another approach would serve you better.
Endoscopic Facelift (Mid Facelift) in Beverly Hills: the essentials
- Where
- True Surgical Center, the AAAHC-accredited surgical center at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 220, Beverly Hills.
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia with MAC (monitored anesthesia care) and IV sedation, given and watched throughout by a board-certified anesthesiologist. Someone takes you home or to your hotel and stays nearby the first day.
- Incisions
- Small incisions hidden in the hairline at the temples, closed with sutures that come out at your Day 7 visit.
- Dressing
- Compression bandages until your Day 1 dressing visit, when your surgeon removes them.
- If you travel
- You can typically fly home the day your sutures come out (Day 7) or the day after.
- Hair
- Remove all hair extensions, weaves and add-ons before surgery. No hair color, and no heat on your hair or scalp, for 1 month.
- Exercise
- Light cardio from Day 14; strenuous exercise typically at 3 weeks, once your surgeon clears you. No bending, lifting or straining for 3 weeks.
- Final result
- The cheeks settle over months; full healing takes about 6 months.
Every plan is personal, so your surgeon confirms each of these for you at your consultation. Recovery, week by week
What happens on the day
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01Before you go in
Remove all hair extensions, weaves and add-ons; your hair must be completely natural on surgery day. Follow the Pre-Op General Instructions.
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02Lifting the cheeks
The cheeks are lifted through small incisions hidden in the hairline at the temples, closed with sutures.
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03Going home
Compression bandages go on until your Day 1 visit. Sleep on your back with your head raised on 2 to 3 pillows, ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for 5 days to a week, and don’t pull down on your cheeks or press on your temples for at least a month.
Preparing for surgery · Out-of-town patients · Post-operative care guide
Recovery, week by week
This comes from the written instructions our patients receive before surgery, so it changes only when those instructions change.
Swelling and bruising of the cheeks, around the eyes and at the temples are expected, and it may be hard to open your eyes fully until the swelling goes down. Mild headaches should improve with your medication. Day 1 dressing visit: bandages off, and you may shower and gently wash your hair in cool water. Sutures at the temples out at your Day 7 visit.
Keep sleeping with your head raised for 2 weeks, move your head and shoulders as a unit, and avoid bending, lifting or straining for 3 weeks. Light cardio from Day 14, with light lymphatic massage away from the incisions; strenuous exercise typically at 3 weeks, once your surgeon clears you.
No hair color or chemical treatment, and no heat on your hair or scalp, for 1 month: the skin around the incisions is numb for a while, so you may not feel how hot it gets. No massage, rubbing or tension on the incisions for at least 4 weeks. Your eyes may feel dry for several weeks; a natural tear solution can help. Wear SPF 50, add a hat whenever possible, and limit direct sun. A scar that becomes thick, raised or painful, or stays itchy after the first few weeks, can be an early keloid. Call us: a steroid injection given early prevents it.
Tightness and numbness may last 2 to 3 months. The cheeks settle over months, and full healing takes about 6 months.
Difficulty breathing, chest pain, or bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure means call 911. For anything else that worries you, call us at (424) 363-4112, day or night. When to call us right away
Endoscopic Facelift (Mid Facelift) risks, and how we keep you safe
Every procedure carries risk. Your surgeon goes through the risks that apply to your plan at your consultation, and each one is written in the consent you read and sign. For endoscopic facelift, the consent lists:
- Hair Loss. Hair loss (alopecia) along the incisions in the scalp is possible; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Nerve Injury. Weakness of the forehead or brow from injury to a branch of the facial nerve is possible; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Numbness. Numbness of the cheek, upper lip or upper teeth is possible; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Lower Eyelid. The lower eyelid pulling down is possible.
- Cheek Contour. Temporary bunching or fullness of the cheeks, hollowing at the temples, or asymmetry is possible.
- Hemosiderin Staining. Hemosiderin staining is possible: iron left in the skin after bruising can leave a brown or yellow-brown discoloration that may last months or be permanent, and may need a lightening cream or laser treatment.
- Fixation Points. Fixation points that can be felt under the scalp are possible.
Risks of any operation
- Bleeding. Bleeding during or after surgery is possible. A collection of blood under the skin (hematoma) may need drainage or a return to the operating room, and severe bleeding may need emergency treatment or a blood transfusion.
- Infection. Infection is possible and may need antibiotics, drainage or further surgery.
- Bruising and Swelling. Bruising and swelling are expected. They may last several weeks, and swelling or discoloration may persist longer.
- Scarring. Every incision or entry point leaves a permanent scar. A scar may be raised, widened, darker, lighter or more visible than expected, and takes at least 3 months to mature.
- Keloid or Raised Scar. Itching, thickening, pain or a growth along any incision can be the first sign of a keloid (a thick, raised scar). Let us know right away so it can be injected with a steroid to stop the keloid from forming. A keloid is more likely if you have had one before and may need further injections or treatment.
- Change in Skin Sensation. Numbness, tingling or a change in skin sensation around the treated areas is possible; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Delayed Healing. Delayed healing or separation of an incision is possible and much more likely with nicotine in any form.
- Allergic Reactions. Allergic reactions to tape, sutures, skin cleansers, latex or medications are possible.
- Blood Clots. Blood clots in the legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) are possible and more likely with longer surgery; your surgical team uses the clot-prevention plan chosen for you.
- Anesthesia. Risks of anesthesia and sedation are possible; the anesthesia provider reviews them with you separately.
- Pain. Pain after surgery is expected and should settle over several days; pain that lasts longer is possible.
- Result and Revision. A result that does not meet your expectations is possible: healing differs between people, no result is guaranteed, and a revision may be advised, with the fees described in your patient policy.
- Serious Complications. Serious complications, including death, are possible with any surgery or anesthesia.
- Heart and Lung Problems. Heart or lung problems, such as pneumonia or an irregular heartbeat, are possible after surgery and anesthesia.
- Medication Side Effects. Side effects of the medications used during and after surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness or trouble urinating, are possible.
- Injury to Deeper Structures. Injury to deeper structures, such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles or glands, is possible.
- Persistent Sutures. A deeper stitch may work its way to the surface and need to be removed.
When to call us right away · Before & after gallery · Request a consultation
Endoscopic Facelift (Mid Facelift) FAQ
A mid facelift that lifts the cheeks through small incisions hidden in the hairline at the temples.
An endoscopic facelift treats the cheeks and midface through incisions at the temples. A deep plane face and neck lift also corrects the jawline and neck, through incisions around the ears and under the chin. Your surgeon tells you which fits your face at your consultation.
You may shower and gently wash your hair in cool water from Day 1, once your dressing is off. No hair color or chemical treatment, and no heat on your hair or scalp, for 1 month.
Your sutures at the temples come out at your Day 7 visit, and you can typically fly home that day or the day after.
The consent you read and sign lists these possible complications: hair loss along the incisions in the scalp, weakness of the forehead or brow from injury to a branch of the facial nerve, and numbness of the cheek, upper lip or upper teeth, each of which may be temporary or permanent; the lower eyelid pulling down; temporary bunching or fullness of the cheeks, hollowing at the temples, or asymmetry; hemosiderin staining; and fixation points that can be felt under the scalp. It also lists the risks of any operation, including bleeding, infection, blood clots and the risks of anesthesia. Your surgeon reviews each one with you.
Related Procedures
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