Wrinkle Improvement for Your 40s to 60s: SMAS Facelift Lifting

As we enter the era of 100-year lifespans,

more middle-aged and older adults are taking care of their appearance.

As a result, procedures that improve overall facial wrinkles—such as deep nasolabial folds, sagging facial contours, and neck wrinkles—

for a more youthful appearance than one’s age

are drawing attention.

The procedure often performed to improve facial wrinkles and sagging is

lifting using threads and laser devices.

Because the procedure time is short and no incision is made, it is less burdensome,

and it is popular not only among middle-aged and older adults but also among people in their 20s and 30s.

However, the effect is somewhat modest and the duration is also short,

so it had the drawback of needing to be performed repeatedly at regular intervals.

A facelift surgery is a wrinkle-improvement surgery that complements

these limitations of lifting procedures.

The face is composed, from the outside, of the skin layer, subcutaneous fat layer, muscle layer,

the space containing retaining ligaments, and the periosteum.

A facelift surgery is a procedure that separates the retaining ligaments to pull the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer, including the muscle layer beneath the fat layer,

allowing for more definite wrinkle improvement and

long-lasting results.

Compared with laser lifting or thread lifting,

facelift surgery requires an incision and takes a relatively long time—about 4 to 5 hours. Therefore, to achieve more effective and satisfying surgical results, careful selection of the medical team and planning a surgical method that suits you are of utmost importance.

Facelift surgery method

1. An incision is made inside the scalp and along the folds of the ear, extending to the back so that the scar is not visible.

2. The sagging skin and SMAS layer are dissected deeply.

3. The loosened retaining ligaments are excised.

4. The dissected SMAS layer is pulled upward,

rolled, and then fixed in place.

5. After removing the excess skin, the area is sutured.

Facelift surgery: Key points to check before surgery!

A scar that is not noticeable

Facelift surgery is a procedure that improves wrinkles spread across the face and sagging facial contours, so the incision area tends to be wide. A small incision cannot produce a definite lifting effect, which is why the surgery is performed with a wide incision and deep dissection. Because of this, many people worry about the scar left after surgery. JW Garden Plastic Surgery’s SMAS facelift lifting minimizes visible scarring by using an incision method that follows the scalp and ear folds to the area behind the ear.

Dissection of retaining ligaments

The face has retaining ligaments that connect the skin, subcutaneous fat, and muscle layer to the bones. These retaining ligaments help keep various tissues in their proper place, but as we age, the ligaments also loosen, causing the skin and other tissues to sag downward.

For more definite and long-lasting results during facelift surgery, the retaining ligaments must be cut. If the retaining ligaments are not excised, the SMAS layer does not pull well, and it is difficult to improve nasolabial folds, sagging cheeks, or mouth-area wrinkles.

Retaining ligaments are located deep within the skin and are difficult to excise properly because many nerve fibers pass nearby. This is exactly why the medical team’s extensive experience and skilled technique are so important.

Rolling and fixation of the SMAS layer

Facelift surgery is not simply about lifting sagging skin; it requires pulling the SMAS layer located deep within the skin to fundamentally improve wrinkles and sagging. JW Garden Plastic Surgery’s facelift procedure uses a method in which the remaining portion of the pulled SMAS layer is not cut away but rolled and then fixed in place. This method has the advantage of pulling and securing the SMAS layer more tightly, increasing fixation strength, and maintaining the improvement in sagging for a longer period. In addition, the rolled portion can be positioned to suit each person’s face, creating a volumizing effect at the same time.

Facelift surgery can be partially performed depending on the extent of sagging or wrinkles. If you want a stronger lifting effect than laser lifting or thread lifting, if you are concerned about deep nasolabial folds and neck wrinkles, or if you want to improve a sagging jawline and an overall drooping facial contour, facelift surgery can provide effective and satisfying improvement.

All surgeries may have side effects.

In the case of facelift surgery, side effects such as simple hematoma or scarring may occur,

and side effects such as facial nerve damage

can also occur.

To prevent these side effects,

choosing the medical team and the hospital is more important than anything else.

To reduce the risk of side effects, the surgery must be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience and skilled know-how, following an accurate diagnosis and a surgical method suited to that diagnosis.

JW Garden Plastic Surgery Director Kang Hong-dae,

who focuses on youthful-appearance plastic surgery,

delivers stable and satisfying results

through customized surgical plans and his own distinctive technique.

With 20 years of accident-free operation, JW Garden Plastic Surgery has established various safety management systems so that patients can undergo surgery with peace of mind,

based on a thorough commitment to safety.

In addition, we provide personalized medical services from preoperative testing to postoperative care.

Click to connect to KakaoTalk consultation.

*Plastic surgery may cause side effects such as bleeding and infection,

depending on the individual.