The Ascend Lift™ in Honolulu, Hawaii

The face ages in three ways: tissue drops, facial volume diminishes, and skin quality declines over time. The Ascend Lift™ corrects these changes together by lifting deeper structures, restoring lost facial volume, and supporting healthier skin.

logo for ascend lift

Most Facelifts Only Lift. The Ascend Lift™ Lifts, Sculpts, and Regenerates.

At Asia Pacific Aesthetics in Honolulu, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Shim Ching created The Ascend Lift™ after decades of surgical experience and training at leading centers across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. His approach focuses on restoring facial structure rather than simply tightening skin. By combining deep plane lifting, structural fat grafting, and regenerative biology, The Ascend Lift™ is designed to create balanced, natural-looking rejuvenation. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ching to learn whether this technique is right for you.

The Ascend Lift™ Before and After

What Is The Ascend Lift™?

The Ascend Lift™ is Dr. Ching’s comprehensive facelift technique that restores facial structure while improving skin quality over time. Instead of tightening skin alone, the procedure repositions deeper facial anatomy, rebuilds lost facial volume, and uses regenerative biology from your own tissue to support healthier skin.

Lift

The lifting component uses a true deep plane technique. Facial retaining ligaments are carefully released so the midface, cheeks, and jawline can be elevated as a single anatomical unit. By repositioning deeper structures rather than tightening skin alone, the face is restored to a more youthful position while maintaining natural expression and movement.

Sculpt

Aging and weight loss gradually deplete the fat compartments that support facial structure. The Ascend Lift™ restores this support with SVF stem cell–enriched fat grafting using your own purified tissue. Dr. Ching sculpts six key facial zones: the upper eyelids, cheeks, temples, lips, the piriform area around the nose, and the jawline. Rebuilding these areas restores youthful contour without synthetic fillers or foreign substances.

Regenerate

Adipose tissue contains regenerative cells that help support collagen production, elasticity, and vascular health in the skin. When transferred during surgery, these cells continue contributing to tissue quality as healing progresses. Many patients notice that the skin itself becomes thicker, healthier, and more resilient over time.

Why Many Facelift Results Look Unnatural

Despite decades of innovation, facelift surgery still produces disappointing results for some patients. Studies have suggested that roughly 31 percent of facelift patients are unhappy with their results, and revision procedures are not uncommon. Dr. Sam Hamra, who helped popularize the deep plane technique, noted that conventional facelift procedures often produced "unfavorable" results when deeper facial structures were not properly addressed.

Several common failure modes explain why:

Skin-only lifting: Tightening the skin without repositioning deeper structures can create visible tension.
Limited midface elevation: When the cheeks are not properly repositioned, the midface can appear flat or hollow.
Untreated volume loss: Many facelifts lift tissue but do not restore the structural fat that supports the face.
Ongoing skin deterioration: Skin quality continues to decline with time.
Filler used instead of structural correction: Volume may be replaced with fillers rather than rebuilding facial structure.

The Ascend Lift™ was designed to address these limitations by lifting descended tissue, restoring facial structure with fat grafting, and supporting healthier skin through regenerative biology.

Benefits of The Ascend Lift™

Comprehensive correction: Addresses sagging, facial deflation, and declining skin quality together.
Structural restoration: Rebuilds facial architecture using your own living tissue rather than synthetic fillers.
Regenerative support: Adipose‑derived cells encourage collagen production and healthier skin over time.
Natural facial movement: Deep plane repositioning preserves authentic facial expression.
No foreign substances required: Volume is restored using your own fat instead of temporary injectable materials.

Comparing Facelift Techniques

Technique	Primary Approach	Limitations
The Ascend Lift™	Lifts, sculpts, and regenerates facial structure	Addresses the three biological dimensions of aging
Skin-only facelift	Tightens surface skin	Often produces tension and short-lived results
Deep plane facelift	Repositions deeper facial structures	Does not restore lost facial volume
SMAS facelift	Repositions superficial muscular layer	Limited improvement in the midface

Am I a Good Candidate for The Ascend Lift™?

Patients who notice sagging cheeks, jawline laxity, hollowing of the temples or midface, or overall facial aging may be good candidates for The Ascend Lift™. Many individuals seeking this procedure want a structural solution rather than relying on repeated fillers or ongoing injectable maintenance. During consultation, Dr. Ching evaluates facial anatomy, skin quality, and aesthetic goals to determine whether this technique is appropriate.

Why Choose Asia Pacific Aesthetics for The Ascend Lift™?

Dr. Ching is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been recognized among the Best Doctors in America and Honolulu’s Top Doctors for many years. His training spans leading surgical centers in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. This international experience shaped the development of The Ascend Lift™, a procedure designed to address the full structural process of facial aging.

Your Consultation

Your consultation begins with a detailed analysis of facial structure, volume distribution, and skin quality. Dr. Ching also discusses your goals, medical history, and surgical options to determine whether The Ascend Lift™ or another procedure will best achieve the outcome you want.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of The Ascend Lift™ varies depending on surgical complexity, anesthesia, and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time. A detailed treatment plan and exact pricing are provided during your consultation after Dr. Ching evaluates your anatomy and goals.

What to Expect During The Ascend Lift™ Procedure

The Ascend Lift™ is performed in an accredited surgical facility under anesthesia. Dr. Ching releases facial ligaments, repositions deeper facial structures using the deep plane technique, and performs structural fat grafting to restore lost facial support. Incisions are placed discreetly around the ears and hairline so they remain well concealed after healing.

The Ascend Lift™ Recovery and Results

Swelling and bruising are expected in the early stages of healing and typically improve over several weeks. As tissues settle and grafted fat establishes a blood supply, facial contours become more balanced and natural. Over the following months, patients often notice continued refinement as structural support improves and skin quality gradually strengthens.

Complementary Facial Procedures

Eyelid surgery: Removes excess eyelid skin and fat to refresh tired or heavy eyelids.
Neck lift: Improves the contour of the jawline and neck by tightening deeper structures.
Facial fat transfer: Restores facial volume using purified fat from another area of the body.
Hair restoration: Rebuilds natural hair density using advanced follicular transplantation.
BOTOX: Relaxes facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles.

FAQs

How is The Ascend Lift™ different from a traditional facelift?

Many facelifts focus primarily on lifting sagging tissue. The Ascend Lift™ addresses three dimensions of aging by combining deep plane elevation, structural fat grafting, and regenerative biology. This approach lifts descended tissue, rebuilds lost volume, and supports healthier skin using your own tissue.

Why is restoring facial volume important during a facelift?

Aging reduces the fat compartments that support facial structure. If this volume is not restored, lifting alone may leave the face appearing flat or hollow. Structural fat grafting rebuilds these contours.

Can weight loss or GLP‑1 medications make someone look older in the face?

Significant weight loss, including the facial deflation sometimes seen with GLP‑1 medications, can reduce the fat that supports the cheeks and temples. This may create hollow areas or exaggerate sagging that benefits from structural correction during surgery.

Will my results look natural?

Natural results depend on repositioning deeper facial structures rather than tightening skin alone. The deep plane technique allows tissues to move together so facial expressions remain authentic.

Is fat grafting safe for facial rejuvenation?

Fat grafting has been used safely in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery for many years. Because the tissue comes from your own body, it integrates naturally when properly processed and placed.

Can The Ascend Lift™ be combined with other facial procedures?

Yes. Procedures such as eyelid surgery or neck contouring are often performed during the same operation to create balanced facial rejuvenation.

How long do facelift results typically last?

Facelift surgery restores facial structures to a more youthful position. While the aging process continues, patients generally maintain their improved contours for many years.

Why do some patients seek revision facelift surgery?

Revision procedures are sometimes needed when the initial surgery did not adequately reposition deeper structures or restore lost volume.

How important is surgeon experience for facelift surgery?

Facelift surgery requires a precise understanding of facial anatomy including nerves, ligaments, and vascular structures. Experience plays an important role in achieving natural-looking outcomes.

Lift, Sculpt, and Regenerate at Asia Pacific Aesthetics

If you are considering facial rejuvenation that addresses more than sagging alone, Dr. Ching at Asia Pacific Aesthetics offers a distinctive approach designed to lift, sculpt, and regenerate facial structure using your own tissue. Schedule a consultation to learn whether The Ascend Lift™ is right for you.