Should I Get Custom Infraorbital-Malar Implants or A Midface Lift First?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Given that I am planning to undergo a comprehensive facial rejuvenation, including a midface lift and a neck lift, how should the suggestion for custom infraorbital-malar implants be evaluated?

Specifically, will the soft-tissue repositioning achieved by the midface lift be sufficient to address my volume concerns in the infraorbital and malar areas, potentially making a custom implant unnecessary, or are the implant and the lift considered complementary procedures to address different components (skeletal vs. soft tissue)?

A: The simple answer is….you can’t lift away a volume deficiency issue…and often such attempts make the volume deficiency worse. The reverse, however, is more true. By adding volume (custom infraorbital-malar implants)  the need for a lift is reduced or at the very least greatly reduced.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon