Expert Spotlight

Dr Gavin Chan
Cosmetic Physician

Rejuvenating the mid-face

When physicians talk about different areas of the face, they tend to divide the face into thirds horizontally. The forehead, eyebrows and eyes form the upper face; the under-eye area, cheeks and nose form the mid-face and the lower face consists of the mouth area, lips, chin and jawline.

“The mid-face is one of the most important areas in facial rejuvenation and is actually my favourite area to treat,” explained Dr Chan. “It’s one of the most noticeable areas of the face, and even a small amount of treatment in this area can make a significant change in a person’s appearance or perceived age.”

“As we age, one of the main changes that takes place in our faces is volume loss. When you’re young, your face is like a grape; round smooth and full of volume. As you get older, you start to lose some of the volume and wrinkles start to form— your face becomes more like a sultana.  An effective and natural looking way of rejuvenating the appearance is to replace the lost volume and restore the youthful contours of the face.”

The impact of ageing in the mid-face

Replacing the lost volume using dermal filler injections is now the corner-stone of mid-face rejuvenation. The most popular type of dermal filler is made from a naturally-occurring complex sugar that is manufactured into a gel-like substance. Results can last between 6 months and up to 1 year or longer, depending on the area treated.

“The treatment process is relatively simple and relatively painless,” explained Dr Chan. “The results are seen straight away and the procedure can be completed in half to one hour, depending on the area. There are minimal side effects – you may have mild swelling or bruising afterwards.”

“For younger patients, treatment options could include filling the under-eye hollows (tear troughs) to give a more refreshed and alert appearance, or lessening the depth of the nasolabial folds. We can also use fillers to enhance the existing shape of the cheeks, giving an even more appealing and attractive appearance overall.”

“In older patients, we may look at filling in the nasolabial folds, lines or depressions in the cheek area, or hollows around the eye-socket. Anti-wrinkle injections can be used in combination with fillers to address the lines and wrinkles caused by muscle action, but it’s important to remember that volume loss is often one of the main causes of facial wrinkling and sagging, and this needs to be addressed with fillers.”

“It’s important to be aware that facial appearance is not just about one area of the face. When you see a doctor, he or she should help you think about the whole of your face and its balance,” concluded Dr Chan. “There is no point completely rejuvenating one area when another area is not addressed. The face should be considered as one unit, rather than individual parts.”