Washington DC Plastic Surgeon Says Cheek Lift Procedures Enhance Youthful Appearance

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Apr 25, 2012) - Dr. Mark Richards, a plastic surgeon in Washington, DC, says the cheeks are a pivotal yet often overlooked focal point in facial structure. However, patients at his practice quickly become aware that the mid-face area is the key to a natural and attractive appearance. Dr. Richards says as patients have witnessed unattractive and pulled celebrity facelifts highlighted as undesirable, they have begun requesting a younger look that cannot be achieved through the traditional facelift, which only targets the lower areas of the face and neck. Backed by statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Dr. Richards says he has seen an increase in procedures such as cheek lifts in Washington, DC as more patients are educated about the benefits of repositioning the skin and sagging cheek structures.

According to the latest statistics from ASPS, cheek implant procedures increased by 47% in the past year to almost 12,000 performed by plastic surgeons in 2011. At his Washington, DC plastic surgery practice, Dr. Richards says cheek implant, cheek lift, and injections that rejuvenate the cheeks and mid-face have become popular choices for patients looking to restore a more youthful appearance. Dr. Richards states, "Sagging cheeks have the tendency to make people look prematurely tired and haggard. Most patients desire to reflect the vibrancy and youth they feel on the inside through to their outward facial appearance." Dr. Richards adds that a procedure such as a cheek lift can help patients achieve a look that exudes confidence and vitality, which is simply not obtainable any other way.

"Patients are becoming more aware of the importance of the mid-face or cheek area as the key to having a natural and attractive appearance. They do not often describe it that way, but they usually have a 'eureka moment' when they realize that cheek fat repositioning through a cheek lift surgery will restore the natural, youthful appearance they seek. This delays the need for a face lift in many cases," says Dr. Richards.

Performed by creating two small incisions inside the mouth and two above the hairline, the cheek lift elevates the drooping fat and muscle tissue and repositions the cheeks to a higher, more youthful placement. Importantly, this procedure also corrects the tired appearing elongation of the lower eyelids by shortening the vertical height of the lower eyelid from lash line to cheek.

Dr. Richards says facial implants or injectable fillers can also help restore the fullness of younger looking cheeks for patients who are suffering from severe cheek volume deflation. He also says many patients have been requesting Sculptra® (an innovative treatment option that has increased in popularity by over 20% in the past year according to ASPS statistics) to help add long lasting volume to hollowed areas of the face. With results that can last up to two years or more, Dr. Richards feels Sculptra® is an effective, non-invasive alternative to surgical procedures in restoring collagen and deep soft tissue in the face.

"This discussion of the mid-face also opens the door to consideration of long lasting tissue stimulators such as Sculptra injections, which stimulate the face's own tissues to increase collagen production so as to 're-inflate' the sagging cheeks that make people look prematurely tired. In some patients, Sculptra can re-inflate the cheek tissues so that they can give a better result with a subsequent cheek lift," says Dr. Richards.

Dr. Richards says advancements in modern medicine have revealed a host of new and better options for patients looking to feel more confident about their appearance. Regardless of their aesthetic goals, he says cheek lifts and facial implants or injections are just a few of the many available procedures for helping patients improve their quality of life. Dr. Richards adds that the most important factor in achieving the proper results is choosing a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon for one's procedure. He says consulting with a dedicated and personalized practice can offer patients the safety and security required for looking their best through cosmetic surgery.

About Mark E. Richards, MD

Dr. Mark Richards earned his undergraduate degree with honors from Yale University and his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, after which he completed a five-year general surgery residency and two additional years of plastic surgery residency. He has been board-certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery, in addition to being a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the National Capitol Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Richards has been selected to the Consumer's Research Council of America Guide to America's Top Surgeons every year since 2002, and is recognized by the Washingtonian Magazine as one of the Washington, DC metropolitan area's "Best Plastic Surgeons."

Located at 11300 Rockville Pike Suite 912 in N. Bethesda, MD, Dr. Richards' practice can be reached at (301) 468-3458. He can also be contacted online via the websites faceliftusa.com, plastic-surgeon.us, or facebook.com/drmarkrichards.