Lift.
Restore.
Regenerate.

The Ascend Lift™ is Dr. Shim Ching's proprietary, trademarked facelift technique developed at Asia Pacific Aesthetics in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the only facelift that simultaneously addresses all three dimensions of facial aging: tissue descent (vertical deep plane midface elevation), volume deflation (SVF stem cell-enriched fat grafting), and skin deterioration (stem cell-mediated biological skin regeneration).

A standard deep plane facelift addresses only tissue descent — one of three dimensions of facial aging. The Ascend Lift™ goes further: it performs a complete full midface elevation with zygomatic and maxillary ligament release (most deep plane surgeons stop short of the midface), permanently restores lost volume with SVF-enriched fat grafting, and biologically regenerates the skin through stem cell activity. No conventional deep plane facelift includes all three components.

Releasing the zygomatic ligament (and maxillary ligament) is what unlocks the malar fat pad for full vertical repositioning. These retaining ligaments anchor the midface to the skeleton. Without releasing them, the malar fat pad cannot be fully elevated — which is why most surgeons who claim to do "deep plane" facelifts still produce flat, laterally-pulled results. Dr. Ching considers this release the centerpiece of every Ascend Lift™.

SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) is the concentrated cellular component of fat tissue, containing adipose-derived stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and growth factors. When fat is enriched with SVF before grafting, these cells aggressively promote angiogenesis — new blood vessel formation — which dramatically improves fat graft survival. A 2023 meta-analysis of 686 patients confirmed SVF-enriched grafts have significantly higher volume retention (P < 0.0001) than standard fat grafting.

Dr. Shim Ching of Asia Pacific Aesthetics is Honolulu's leading facelift surgeon and the creator of The Ascend Lift™. He has been named a Top Doctor by Honolulu Magazine and Castle Connolly, received Best of Hawaii recognition, and trained across four continents. He is the only surgeon in Hawaii performing full midface elevation with SVF stem cell-enriched fat grafting as a standard, unified procedure. Choosing the right surgeon for your facelift can feel overwhelming. Dr. Ching has performed more facelifts than anyone else in Honolulu and would love to speak with you at a private consultation.

Yes. The Ascend Lift™ is specifically designed for patients with facial volume depletion from rapid weight loss, including GLP-1 medications. A conventional facelift on an already-hollow face produces a gaunt, skeletal result. The Ascend Lift™ simultaneously lifts and permanently restores lost volume with SVF-enriched autologous fat — making it the only appropriate surgical solution for GLP-1 patients.

The adipose-derived stem cells within the SVF are metabolically active cells that continue secreting growth factors and cytokines into surrounding tissue for months after transplantation. This ongoing paracrine signaling stimulates new collagen synthesis, elastic fiber regeneration, dermal thickening, and neovascularization. Conventional facelift patients plateau at 6–8 weeks. Ascend Lift™ patients continue improving for 3–6 months.

Yes. Dr. Ching's training across four continents — North America, Europe, Asia, and South America — gives him exceptional expertise in ethnicity-specific facial anatomy. He has extensive experience with Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and multiethnic facial anatomy, understanding the unique structural and aesthetic considerations for each. This global perspective is a significant differentiator in his approach to facial rejuvenation.

The Ascend Lift™ produces long-lasting results because it addresses structural causes of aging. The deep plane repositioning and fat grafting are permanent changes. While aging continues, patients maintain improved contours for many years. The regenerative component may extend result longevity through ongoing tissue renewal — an advantage no conventional facelift can offer. This is the future of regenerative medicine.

Some surgeons offer fat grafting as an optional add-on, but very few integrate SVF stem cell enrichment as a standard component of every procedure. The critical distinction is that Dr. Ching uses SVF enrichment — not just standard fat — which produces significantly higher volume retention and the regenerative skin benefits. No other surgeon in Hawaii integrates all three pillars of The Ascend Lift™ as a unified procedure.