Midface Lift in Chicago

What Is a Midface Lift?

A midface lift is a specialized facial rejuvenation procedure designed to elevate sagging cheeks, restore youthful volume, and smooth the lower eyelid to cheek transition. Unlike traditional facelifts that primarily tighten the skin, Dr. Byun’s approach addresses the underlying muscle and connective tissue, repositioning them up and toward the midline for a natural, balanced result.

The midface lift is ideal for patients experiencing early to moderate midface descent, hollowing of the cheeks, or flattening of the midface contour.

Learn more about Dr. Byun’s facelift philosophy →

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How the Midface Lift Works

Dr. Byun’s midface lift focuses on restoring the structural support of the cheeks by:

• Repositioning sagging muscles and fat compartments
• Elevating the cheek tissue back toward its natural origin
• Preserving the natural orientation of muscles and connective tissue
• Minimizing tension on the skin for smooth, long-lasting results

Using endoscopic visualization, Dr. Byun can see the underlying anatomy and carefully lift and secure tissues in a physiologically correct position, achieving results that look youthful without appearing pulled or artificial.

See Midface Lift before & after →

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Benefits of a Midface Lift

A midface lift with Dr. Byun can help:

• Restore youthful cheek volume and contour
• Reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds
• Smooth the lower eyelid–cheek transition
• Lift sagging midface tissues naturally
• Achieve long-lasting, subtle rejuvenation

Because Dr. Byun focuses on repositioning tissues rather than pulling or filling, results are more natural and maintain facial harmony over time.

Explore other facelift options →

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Who Is a Candidate?

Ideal candidates for a midface lift include patients who:

• Are experiencing sagging or flattening of the cheeks
• Have nasolabial folds or hollowing in the midface
• Want natural rejuvenation without excessive skin tightening
• Are in good overall health and have realistic expectations

Patients with more significant lower face or neck aging may be better served with a deep plane or central facelift, which can also be combined with a midface lift for a full restorative result.

Learn about Deep Plane Facelift →

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Recovery After a Midface Lift

Recovery from a midface lift is generally shorter and less intensive than a full facelift. Patients may experience mild swelling and bruising for several days. Because Dr. Byun respects tissue anatomy and uses precise techniques, most patients notice natural, gradual improvement without prolonged downtime.

View full facelift recovery guide →

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How Is Dr. Byun Different?

Dr. Byun’s approach goes beyond a standard midface lift. While he is experienced with multiple facelift techniques, he applies the principles of his BYUN Method, integrating deep plane, SMAS, and central lift strategies to restore tissues back to their native midline position.

This method ensures:

• Natural midface contours
• Preservation of facial expression
• Harmonious, long-lasting results

Learn more about the BYUN Method →

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Why Choose Dr. Byun for a Midface Lift

Dr. Byun is recognized globally for his restorative facial surgery techniques. Patients choose him because his midface lift:

• Restores structural support rather than simply tightening skin
• Honors natural tissue orientation
• Produces subtle, natural results that age gracefully

Whether for early signs of midface descent or combined facial rejuvenation, Dr. Byun’s approach ensures balanced, long-lasting, and authentic results.

Meet Dr. Byun →

Dr. BYUN’s Message to Future Patients

Plastic surgery is a captivating field—both celebrated and, at times, a bit misguided. While many popular procedures promise an unending fountain of youth, they aren’t always the healthiest options for our aging faces and bodies. The motives of manufacturers and media often skew the truth, prioritizing profit over patient safety. After 25 years in this industry, I can confidently say that many of these popular procedures are not only unnecessary, but potentially harmful. Always remember: “not all that glitters is gold.” When considering cosmetic procedures, it’s crucial to be selective. If you find yourself uncertain, do yourself a favor and hit the brakes! This advice might sound radical coming from a plastic surgeon, but it is true that in most cases, the best decision is to walk away from unnecessary procedures. 

I often joke with my friends who are internists about their patients who are juggling 35 different medications, saying, “They might be healthier if they just stopped taking half of those!” The same logic applies to cosmetic surgery. When initial results don’t meet expectations, patients often find themselves on a never-ending quest for the perfect look, chasing one procedure after another. This cycle can quickly spiral into a dangerous path. If you’re in a hole, the best advice is simple: stop digging.

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on reversing this trend. My innovative technique involves repositioning facial muscles back to their original midline. It’s been a tough sell in a competitive field where every surgeon thinks they’re the best. But the proof is in the results—just look at my patients as they age. Now, even my competitors are reaching out to observe my methods.

As I enter the next chapter of my career, I’m committed to spreading the word: facelifts shouldn’t mean pulling your facial structures in unnatural directions. It’s vital that we stop or limit procedures that can harm our unique, irreplaceable tissues.

To help patients who may not have access to my practice, I’ve been writing articles encouraging them to ask their cosmetic surgeons about the BYUN Face Restoration Technique. This approach focuses on putting those muscles back to the midline in multiple layers, ensuring a more natural result.

While you’re waiting for restorative surgery, steer clear of common treatments like lasers, radiofrequency (RF) procedures, and certain injections that can fry valuable cells. These treatments often lead to cell death rather than rejuvenation. For example, PDO threads might create unsightly lines under the skin—who benefits from that? It’s time to call out what I refer to as “The Crime of the Century.” The industry has brainwashed the masses into believing that plastic surgery is always beneficial, when in fact, it can be quite the opposite.

And let’s not forget about traditional facelifts. Whether it’s a ponytail lift or a weekend facelift, these methods often pull your face in the wrong direction, leaving you with an unnatural appearance. Fat grafts may seem safe, but they can become lumpy and calcify, making your face look heavy. Fillers? Some linger indefinitely, giving the face a squared-off look and leaving under-eye bags that can appear blue and lumpy. None of these approaches are truly anti-aging—they might even accelerate the aging process!

Reflecting on my time at Northwestern University, I have immense respect for my professors, but I wasn’t a fan of their facelift techniques or the way their patients aged. Now I understand why: they often repositioned muscles incorrectly, leading to dependency on fillers and fat grafts to compensate for lost volume. Instead, they should have returned tissues to their original positions. As we age, our tissues naturally fall; they should be lifted back to their rightful places—not pulled sideways.

I urge you to encourage your surgeons to explore more effective methods—like mine. I call my technique “cell plastic surgery” because it aligns with the principles of physiology and cell biology. It’s working, and other surgeons are eager to learn my approach. Patients are flocking to my practice because they see the real difference.

By advocating for better practices, we can hope that in 25 years, we’ll see a decline in ineffective cosmetic procedures. The goal is to foster an environment where treatments genuinely support healthy cellular function rather than disrupt or damage tissues. Every procedure should be grounded in a true understanding of anatomy and physiology, emphasizing real anti-aging benefits.

Changing industry norms won’t be easy—there are plenty of biases and financial motivations at play. But together, we can push for a future where cosmetic procedures are performed with integrity and a genuine commitment to enhancing natural beauty. Let’s make sure we nurture our bodies rather than jeopardize them.

What Is Dr. BYUN’s Famous Midface Lift?

You might not be feeling it, but are you looking tired, sad, or upset? Does your facial structure seem to have an emotion of its own? Is your face not representative of the younger person inside? If you answered yes to any of these, we might have a solution for you!

The midface lift, or vertical face lift, can provide an answer to all of the above issues. This lift has been studied, developed, and applied for over 20 years by famous facial plastic surgeon Dr. BYUN. It targets the cheek and jowl areas that often suffer from drooping, by pulling the tissues Up and In. This significantly changes the appearance of these areas, reversing the effects of age on the face. A common misconception is that facelift procedures are only for those who are older, and have aged significantly. However, Dr. BYUN’s midface lift is for anyone who is beginning to notice the signs of aging, from the early stages to the later stages. Everyone deserves to age well, forever!

Patient 2038

Midface Lift Candidacy

You may be a good candidate for a midface lift if you are bothered by sagging or drooping in your upper cheek and lower eyelid area. You might have a “heaviness” under your cheeks, prominent nasolabial folds, or “hollowness” in the area under your eyes.

To qualify for surgery, you should be in good health and not have any chronic medical conditions that could affect your healing process. You should have reasonable expectations of surgery that you discuss with Dr. BYUN during your pre-operative consultation.

How to Prepare for a Midface Lift

To prepare for a midface lift with Dr. BYUN, you must stop smoking several weeks prior to surgery. You also need to stop taking certain medications or adjust your current medications if they raise the risk of surgical complications like bleeding. Dr. BYUN’s team will provide you with a complete list of medications to avoid.

Dr. BYUN may ask you to undergo lab testing or see your primary care provider for a medical evaluation prior to your surgery.

The Midface Lift Procedure Details

A midface lift is an outpatient procedure performed with anesthesia. It is a slightly shorter surgery than traditional facelift.

Dr. BYUN utilizes techniques that he researched and developed himself. After making an incision along the hairline near the forehead, Dr. BYUN inserts the suture into the cheek area as it will hold the cheek and malar fat pad in the correct position while the tissues heal and reattach. This procedure provides structure and vigor to the cheek area. Then, a more standard facelift incision is made at the side of the face by the ear. If needed, excess skin is then excised in order to lift jowls along a sagging jaw, which, along with the cheek procedure, gives the face an altogether more youthful appearance.

Will I Have Scars from a Midface Lift?

Dr. BYUN is careful to place the surgical incisions in the natural creases and transitions of the skin, so scarring is very discreet. With the proper scar management, your scars should fade very well over time.

How Long do Midface Lift Results Last?

To maintain your midface lift results, you should follow healthy lifestyle habits. These habits include, and are not limited to, eating a nutritious diet, staying active, protecting your face from the sun, and maintaining your weight. Using professional-grade skin care is also wise. Dr. BYUN and his team can recommend a suitable product regimen as well as other procedures or treatments to help prolong your results.

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Can I Combine a Midface Lift with Other Procedures?

Patients often opt to combine a midface lift with other rejuvenating procedures for more transformative results. For instance, a midface lift can be combined with a forehead lift to elevate a sagging or low brow position, and smooth the skin of the forehead. Another option is to combine a midface lift with a blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) to remove excess eyelid skin and “open up” the eyes. Dr. BYUN’s Midface Lift can also be combined with other Zones. For example, lower eyelid surgery can be combined with Zone III (Midface). Upper eyelid issues can be treated with a Zone IV as well.

Dr. BYUN focuses on 4 areas of the face (4 Zones):

Zone I – Neck & Lower Face: (Best for someone with a “turkey neck” – the Platysma Muscle from the Neck to the Face)

Zone II – The Mouth Area, Chin and Jaw: (Best for someone with a Marionette Line, or a sad/mean look)

Zone III – Midface, Lower Eye & Cheek: (Best for someone with a tired look or dark circles, a heavy smile line(s) called Nasolabial Fold)

Zone IV – Upper face, Forehead, Upper Eyes & Brows: (Someone with heavy lids, sad eye shape, hooded brow or forehead lines)

Dr. BYUN’s Midface Lift Technique

Dr. BYUN first presented this technique to the National Plastic Surgery Meeting at the American College of Surgeons in Orlando in May 1998. He demonstrated how the aging of the midface involves the interconnected muscles and tissues of the lower eye, the cheek, and the corner of the mouth, and lifting this area meant all of these issues needed to be managed simultaneously. Therefore, Dr. BYUN proposed that elevating the malar cheek pad using small incisions would solve all of these problems, reshaping the central face and restoring youth to the cheek.

Schedule A Midface Lift Consultation With Dr. BYUN

For more information about midface lift cost and the midface procedure, please request a consultation with Dr. BYUN today.

Midface Lift for Acne Scars

Dr. BYUN uses his own “Polish & Pull” technique that he has developed using his Endoscope assisted Midface Muscle Lift. 

This specialized procedure, specific to Dr. BYUN allows individuals that suffer from acne scars and divots to have clean, restored, and polished looking skin.

While many patients often seek out dermabrasion, lasers, or fillers, very few know that the permanent scar tissue underneath actually needs to be detached and cut away to smooth out the craters in the skin. Rather than fillers that cannot reverse the permanent damages of acne, Dr. BYUN’s process allows for the careful detachment or lifting of the scarred skin from the old scar tissue sitting on top of muscles. The midface muscles are placed back to where they fell from (due to the aging process). Dr. BYUN then meticulously tugs on the skin to redrape it over the new structure and form of the new muscle position. Because the skin now sits on top of a plumper muscle surface, the acne scars, and pits are tremendously improved. Surgical incisions are hardly seen as they are small in size and well hidden in one’s hairline.

His approach truly repairs the damaged skin that is a full thickness injury from the old acne scars. He often wishes that we had ‘spare parts’ to replace the damaged tissues, but we don’t. Therefore, we have to make sure we do not damage what we have, but improve the functionality without damaging tissues any further.

What to Stay Away From:

• Lasers only work on ‘normal skin’, and unfortunately do very little to help restore thinned out, damaged skin from the acne.
• Accutane often damages normal skin.
• Fillers dissolve and migrate, thus only putting a ‘band aid’ on the actual problem.

Patient 1850

This Patient’s acne scars were a daily reminder of her teenage acne. With Chicago’s top plastic surgeon Dr. BYUN’s “Polish and Pull” Technique, this patient’s confidence has been restored.