Contact & assessment

If the change is recent, or one-sided

Do not book a cosmetic consultation first. A fold that appeared over weeks rather than years, a fold clearly present on one side and not the other, weakness on one side of the face, numbness in the cheek or lip, drooling, difficulty closing an eye, or a lump that can be felt needs medical assessment. Where the weakness is new and involves the whole side of the face, that assessment is urgent and emergency care is the right route.

Arranging an ordinary assessment

Where the fold has been present for years and is broadly the same on both sides, appointments are made through the hospital outpatient line or through the appointment service described on the appointments page. Say that you are asking about the midface so that the right clinic time is booked. If you are travelling from outside Chongqing, say so when you book, because the assessment can sometimes be arranged alongside any dental or sinus review in fewer visits.

What to bring

Bring a list of your current medicines and allergies, the names of any conditions you are being treated for, any dental treatment you have had recently, and any previous treatment records for the face, including injectable treatments and when they were given, because the timing changes how the area is assessed. Old photographs of your face are more useful than you would expect, because they show whether this fold is recent or has always been there.

What happens at the consultation

Expect an examination rather than a presentation. The face is looked at at rest and in a smile, in profile as well as from the front; the position of the cheek and the elasticity of the skin are assessed; and the mouth, teeth and bite are asked about, because they change the support under the upper lip. You should leave knowing what is producing your fold, whether anything should be done about it, and what the options and their limits are.

Questions without booking

Questions about the content of this site, including any correction you believe should be made to it, are welcome through the hospital administration line. Clinical questions about your own case are best answered in person, and we will say so rather than guess.