Aesthetic Surgery
Cheek Lift and Face-Neck Lift
A lift for cheeks, jawline and neck
At a Glance
In Brief
Lift of cheeks and neck in five variants
Treatment Duration
Approx. 2–5 hours, depending on the variant
Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia or twilight sedation, depending on variant
Downtime
Socially presentable after approx. 2–3 weeks
Results
Visible once swelling settles, final after 6–9 months
Duration of Effect
Long-lasting, depending on the variant
Sessions
Usually a single procedure
Price
On request
A cheek lift and a face-neck lift, often referred to as a facelift, are surgical procedures in which sagging tissue of the cheeks, jawline and neck is lifted and excess skin is removed. The goal is a clearer contour of the cheeks and jawline, with your facial expression staying natural.
Aesthetics Medical offers the procedure in five variants, from the cheek lift to the face-neck lift combined with a temple and brow lift. The variant that suits you depends on which regions have lost firmness and how pronounced the change is. In a consultation at Utoquai 37 in Zurich, Dr. med. (I) Ranieri Mazzei discusses this with you.
Surgical Procedure
This treatment is a surgical procedure performed under medical direction. Procedure, anaesthesia and aftercare are discussed in detail during your personal consultation.
Variants
The five variants differ in the region lifted and in the extent of surgery; a temple and brow lift alone and a neck lift alone are each described on a page of their own.
Cheek Lift
This variant lifts the cheeks in the middle third of the face by raising tissue that has descended. It is meant for sagging cheeks and deepened nasolabial folds, the lines between nose and mouth, when jawline and neck are still firm.
Mini Face-Neck Lift
The lower cheeks, the jawline and the upper neck are lifted to a limited extent. This variant suits early laxity that is still mild, with the first jowls.
Full Face-Neck Lift
The cheeks, the jawline and the whole neck are lifted together and to the full extent. This variant is meant for pronounced sagging with marked jowls and lax skin on the neck.
Mini Cheek, Temple and Brow Lift
Here the cheeks are lifted to a limited extent together with the temple region and the eyebrows. This variant suits you if the brows have descended along with the cheeks and the neck needs no lifting.
Face-Neck Lift with Temple and Brow Lift
This variant combines the lift of the cheeks, jawline and neck with raising the temples and brows in a single operation. It may be considered when the upper, middle and lower thirds of the face have all lost firmness.
What is a cheek lift and face-neck lift?
Over the years the skin loses elasticity and the tissue beneath it descends: the cheeks look flatter, jowls form along the jawline and the neck skin slackens. A cheek lift or face-neck lift raises this tissue and removes excess skin.
The words mini and full describe the extent of the lift. In the mini variants, often called a mini facelift, a limited area is tightened; they are meant for early laxity that is still mild. The full variants cover the cheeks, jawline and whole neck and may be considered when sagging is pronounced. If the brows and temples have descended as well, lifting them can be included in the same operation.
Which surgical method and incision suit your findings, and where the scars will lie, is explained by Dr. med. (I) Ranieri Mazzei in the consultation. The same conversation settles which regions are to be lifted.
- Five variants, depending on the findings
- Lift of cheeks, jawline and neck
- Mini variants for early laxity
- Full variants for pronounced laxity
- Temples and brows can be included
Why a cheek lift and face-neck lift at Aesthetics Medical?
Graduated Variants
Five variants are available, from the cheek lift to the combination with a temple and brow lift, ranging from a limited to a comprehensive lift.
Planning by Findings
Before a variant is chosen, we assess which regions of the face are affected and how far the laxity has progressed. The lift is confined to the regions where the findings call for it.
Combination in One Operation
If the temples and brows have descended too, they can be lifted in the same operation. We clarify beforehand whether this makes sense in your case.
FMH Specialist
The procedure is performed by Dr. med. (I) Ranieri Mazzei, specialist FMH in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Natural Expression
The aim is a face that looks fresher and keeps its own expression. We want you to look refreshed, not changed.
What does the procedure involve?
Consultation
In a personal consultation at Utoquai 37 in Zurich, we assess your skin, tissue and facial proportions and recommend the appropriate variant. You then decide in your own time and without obligation.
Preparation
You receive clear instructions on medication, smoking and sun. You should avoid nicotine for 6–8 weeks before the procedure; blood-thinning medication is paused only after consulting the doctor.
Anaesthesia
The full variants are usually carried out under general anaesthesia, while a mini lift is also possible under twilight sedation with local anaesthesia. Anaesthesia is given by specialists in anaesthesiology in a certified surgical centre.
Procedure
In the operation the agreed regions are lifted: sagging tissue is raised and excess skin removed. Depending on the variant, it takes about 2 to 5 hours.
First Days
A head bandage usually stays on for 1 to 2 days. After a full lift you normally stay 1 to 2 nights for monitoring, and after a mini lift you may be able to go home the same day.
Aftercare
For the time at home you receive instructions on cooling, sleeping position and rest. Follow-up appointments accompany healing until the outcome can be judged after several months.
| Cheek lift | on request |
| Mini face-neck lift | on request |
| Full face-neck lift | on request |
| Mini cheek, temple and brow lift | on request |
| Face-neck lift combined with a temple and brow lift | on request |
The cost depends on the extent of the procedure and is set out for you transparently after the consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the procedure work and how long does it take?
During the procedure, the sagging tissue of the chosen regions is lifted and excess skin is removed. Depending on the variant, the operation takes about 2 to 5 hours, with the mini lifts being shorter than the full and combined ones. After a full lift you normally stay 1 to 2 nights for monitoring. The surgical approach and incision are chosen according to your findings and discussed with you beforehand, as is the later position of the scars.
What type of anaesthesia is used for the procedure?
The full lift and the combined variant are usually carried out under general anaesthesia. For the mini variants, twilight sedation is also possible, meaning sedation together with local anaesthesia. Anaesthesia is given by specialists in anaesthesiology in a certified surgical centre. The form intended for you is decided when the operation is planned.
What risks and side effects are possible?
Swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness are among the usual reactions and generally subside within 2 to 3 weeks. Numbness of the skin over the cheeks and ears can last from a few weeks to a few months. The risks include bleeding after the operation, infection, wound-healing problems, conspicuous scars and, rarely, impairment of facial nerves. Your individual risks are discussed in detail in the consultation before the procedure.
What should I consider before the procedure?
You should stop smoking 6–8 weeks beforehand, as nicotine impairs wound healing. Blood-thinning medication, including products containing acetylsalicylic acid, is paused about 14 days before the appointment, always after consulting the doctor. You receive all further instructions on preparation from us in good time.
What should I consider after the procedure?
Sleep with your head raised for the first few days and cool your face gently, as both help the swelling to go down. Sport and physical exertion should wait about 4 to 6 weeks. You should avoid strong sun and saunas for the first 3 months. At the follow-up appointments we check how healing is progressing.
How long does recovery take after the procedure?
After about 2 to 3 weeks, swelling and bruising have usually receded enough for you to be socially presentable again. You should allow a similar period before returning to work. Recovery after a mini lift is generally quicker than after a full or combined variant. We discuss beforehand how much time you should allow in your case.
Show all 11 questions
When do results become visible?
The new contour becomes apparent as the swelling recedes during the first few weeks. It takes about 6 to 9 months for the tissue to settle and for the final outcome to be judged. Like any operation, the procedure leaves scars, which fade over time.
How long do the results last?
The effect is long-lasting, while the natural ageing process continues. With the mini variants it is generally shorter than with the full ones. The quality of your skin and changes in weight influence how long the outcome is maintained.
Is more than one procedure needed?
A single procedure is normally sufficient. Cheeks, neck, brows and temples can be lifted in the same operation, and the lift is frequently combined with eyelid surgery. If signs of skin ageing reappear after some years, the procedure can be repeated.
Who is the procedure suitable for?
The procedure may be considered by women and men whose cheeks, jawline or neck have become lax and whose skin still has some elasticity. Good general health and realistic expectations are important; smokers have a higher risk of wound-healing problems. Which of the five variants suits your findings is clarified with you during the consultation.
How much does the procedure cost?
The price is available on request. The cost depends on which variant is chosen, that is, on the extent and method of the procedure. You receive a transparent breakdown of costs after the consultation.
Personal Consultation
Start now.
Every treatment starts with a conversation and a 3D analysis.