Recommendation for a specialized facelift surgery clinic in Korea
Humans all age. However, the direct experience of this is when looking in the mirror. The act of lifting a sagging face is an experience that anyone may have.
Aged faces result from the degeneration of elastic and collagen fibers in the dermal layer of the skin, leading to a loss of elasticity. Tissues supporting the skin and connective tissues weaken, causing sagging. Drooping upper eyelids and eyebrows can give a tired appearance, while sunken cheeks and eyes can make one look lifeless and angular. Additionally, bulging eyelids and deep forehead wrinkles can make a person appear older. Accumulated fat under the jawline can create a double chin, becoming a significant concern.
What is facelift surgery in Korea?
To overcome aging, thread lifting, lifting lasers and similar procedures are popular, but due to temporary effects or repetitive treatments, patients are increasingly turning to facelift surgery.
Facelift surgery is a procedure designed to improve sagging skin and wrinkles on the face by designing the surgical area, making incisions, dissecting tissues, and pulling and securing the skin and underlying tissues.
Types of facelift surgeries in Korea for Anti-Aging
-Full face lift
-Mid face lift
-Mini face lift
-Forehead lift
-Neck lift
The principle of facelift surgery
A facelift surgery involves incisions made around the ears, both in front and behind, followed by partial dissection of the skin and separation of the retaining ligaments within the sagging skin due to aging. The next step is cutting or tightening the thin fibromuscular layer called the SMAS layer, which covers the surface of the face, and securing it either shorter or higher. The remaining skin is then repositioned, and any excess skin is trimmed and sutured.
*SMAS
The SMAS layer is a membrane containing the upper layer of muscles that spreads throughout the entire face just beneath the skin, is crucial in this process. Aging of the SMAS manifests directly through the skin.
Facelift surgery is recommended for
Individuals with facial wrinkles, including forehead lines, glabellar lines, nasal bridge wrinkles, crow’s feet, under-eye wrinkles, nasolabial folds, laugh lines, marionette lines, jawline wrinkles, lip and chin wrinkles, neck wrinkles, and more. In particular, facelift surgery in Korea boasts noticeable results while minimizing incision areas, attracting a continuous influx of foreigners.
Points to note before facelift surgery
The surgical scope is determined based on the patient’s condition, often involving incisions along the temporal hairline and preauricular hairline to address wrinkles and sagging skin around the cheeks and jaw. This may result in visible scars. For individuals aged 40-50 and above, comprehensive facial rearrangement from the midface to lower face, addressing double chin and neck, may be more effective than partial lifts.
Customized incision areas
Facelift surgery can be tailored by a specialist, taking into account individual factors such as the position of the preauricular hairline, skin thickness, pore size, and more to determine the most suitable method.
-hairline/temporal line incision
-scalp/temporal line incision
-hairline/preauricular incision
-scalp/preauricular incision
Surgical Procedure of Korean facelift surgery
*Retaining ligament
The retaining ligament is a tough fibrous tissue extending from deep fascia or periosteum to the dermis. It plays a role in firmly anchoring connective tissues and exists below the SMAS layer. As aging progresses, the retaining ligament also elongates, allowing some flexibility in its tissue. In youth, the retaining ligament securely anchors tissues, maintaining a youthful appearance. However, during facelift surgery, it can act as an impediment when attempting to pull the tissue associated with the retaining ligament. Therefore, for a successful facelift, it is essential to separate and cut the retaining ligament so that tissue movement is natural, yielding good and long-lasting results. Precise separation and cutting of the retaining ligament require dissection below the SMAS layer, making correction of SMAS and retaining ligament crucial in facelift surgery.
When a facelift is necessary
-When skin sagging is pronounced, making one appear than their age
-When results are not achieved with alternative lifting procedures
-When one desires improvement in deep wrinkles across the entire face
-When seeking permanent results rather than temporary effects
-When aiming to remove complications from past foreign substance injections and achieve a definitive lifting effect.
Plastic surgeries in Korea that can be considered alongside facelift surgery
-Wide forehead: Forehead reduction surgery, hairline transplantation
-Forehead and glabellar wrinkles: Endoscopic forehead lift surgery
-Drooping double eyelids: Endoscopic forehead lift surgery
-Double chick, neck wrinkles: Neck lift through liposuction and submental incision
-In cases of excess fat: Accompanied by liposuction
-In cases of well-developed masseter muscles: Accompanied by masseter reduction surgery
-In cases of prominent submandibular glands: Accompanied by partial submandibular gland resection
-In cases of excess buccal fat: Accompanied by buccal fat removal and repositioning
-Double chin: Accompanied by submental fat removal and liposuction
Precautions after facelift surgery
-After surgery, be cautious not to raise your head too high and avoid lying on one side
-Please refrain from activities that may stimulate the surgical site for the first week after the surgery, including consuming hard and tough foods. Applying pressure to the face can raise blood pressure.
-Avoid rubbing or scratching the treated area
-For a swift recovery, refrain from smoking and alcohol consumption for one month
-Saunas, steam rooms, and massages are prohibited for one month
-Avoid opening your mouth too wide, as it may cause tissue stretching, potential damage, or the release of previously secured tissues.
-Immediately after surgery, the area around the face may appear uneven or larger. However, improvement begins around 2-3 weeks post-surgery, resulting in a more natural appearance.
-Swelling can persist for a month after surgery. It is common for swelling to subside unevenly on both sides, leading to a temporary asymmetrical appearance.
-It is normal to experience a firm or lumpy sensation in the operated area for 1~3 months after surgery.
- For 3~6 months after surgery, there may be reduced facial sensation, tingling pain, and residual asymmetry. However, improvement is expected over time.
Recommended clinics for Korean facelift surgery
Comfort SMAS Face Lift Surgery
