[E-DongA] Facelift Surgery: Choosing a Customized Surgical Method According to the Condition of Facial Aging Is Important

As spring begins and outdoor activities increase, there is a period when facial exposure naturally becomes more common.

In particular, under bright natural light, changes in facial contours or reduced elasticity that are not usually noticed can appear more clearly than expected, and interest in facial sagging and contour changes is also rising.

Facial aging does not simply mean an increase in wrinkles; it appears as a change in the overall facial contour as the soft tissue of the face moves downward.

During this process, loss of midface volume, a blurred jawline, a double chin, and neck wrinkles may occur in combination, and as aging progresses, a more surgical approach such as a midface lift or lower facelift may be required.

When aging affects not only the skin surface but also deeper tissues, the range of improvement may be limited with lifting procedures alone. Accordingly, a surgical approach that more fundamentally corrects the position of sagging tissue may be necessary.

Facelift surgery is a representative method for improving these structural changes associated with facial aging, and it is performed by moving the deep layers of facial tissue together to organize the overall contour.

The key is not simply to pull the skin, but to reposition the sagging areas upward while considering facial volume and balance, and the quality of facelift surgery can also vary depending on this structural approach.

Facelift surgery may involve different methods and ranges depending on the patient’s age, the degree of skin sagging, and the extent of reduced elasticity.

Because facial aging progresses differently for each person, a customized surgical plan that comprehensively considers the degree of muscle and skin sagging and the scope of the sagging areas is important.

Accordingly, facelift surgery is broadly divided into full SMAS lifting, semi-full lifting, and mini lifting, and each is selected appropriately depending on the depth and extent of sagging.

Full SMAS lifting is a method in which not only the skin but also the SMAS (SMAS) layer is pulled together, allowing for a stronger and more fundamental lifting effect,

and it is applied when overall improvement is needed, including the face and neck.

Semi-full lifting is a form that adjusts the scope somewhat compared with full SMAS lifting and is suitable for improving moderate to severe sagging. Mini lifting is aimed at relatively early-stage sagging and focuses on local improvement by reducing the incision and dissection range.

Recently, Quick Mini Lift (Quick Mini Lifting) is also being considered for sagging prevention and early aging improvement.

Quick Mini Lift improves only facial wrinkles and sagging skin by making an incision inside the hairline or in front of the ear, reducing the burden of scarring. It is a relatively simple lifting procedure that lifts only the skin and is limited to a narrower area, mainly around the eye area.

In contrast, methods such as full SMAS lifting, semi-full lifting, and mini lifting differ in that after the incision, the skin and the SMAS layer are pulled at the same time, allowing for a stronger lifting effect.

In this way, facelift surgery is not performed in a uniform manner; rather, various surgical methods are applied according to the degree of aging and the facial structure of each individual.

In particular, since the pattern of sagging differs by area, a customized approach that considers overall balance and harmony can determine a natural result.

Dr. Lee Jong-ho of AB Plastic Surgery said, “Facial aging should be understood not simply as a skin problem, but as a change in the overall facial structure,” and added, “Precisely setting the surgical method and scope appropriate for an individual’s facial condition is an important factor in creating natural results.”

He continued, “In particular, when changes also appear in the jawline or neck area, planning that considers the overall balance is necessary,” and added, “Rather than excessive change, it is important to improve while maintaining the harmony of the original face.”