[Medical Today] The Importance of Choosing a Customized Lift for Mini Facelift and Sagging Cheek Improvement

Some people experience unexpected cheek sagging over time after contouring surgery or facial line procedures.

They may assume it is simply a loss of elasticity and repeatedly undergo laser or thread lifting, but remain unsatisfied and continue to worry.

Recently, as more people face these concerns, interest has grown in surgical approaches that directly improve areas affected by skin sagging. In particular, the mini facelift is being mentioned as an alternative that reduces the burden of incisions, making it an option for those who value natural improvement and recovery.

In fact, facial sagging after contouring surgery often becomes more noticeable over time.

Even if the facial line appears more defined after facial contouring surgery, sagging cheeks can develop as the tissues in the midface descend, making nasolabial folds and lines around the mouth appear more prominent as well. These changes result not only from a loss of elasticity on the skin’s surface but also from a combination of changes in facial structure and the movement of soft tissue, so short-term procedures alone may not provide satisfactory results.

As concerns about sagging cheeks increase, the methods used for sagging cheek lifting have also become more diverse.

Laser lifting and thread lifting, which are relatively less burdensome, offer the advantage of a quick return to daily activities. However, when sagging has progressed or tissue displacement is involved, the desired changes may not be sufficient. By contrast, a facelift is a skin-lifting surgery that aims to improve the overall appearance by lifting not only sagging skin but also the supporting layers. It may be considered when stronger lifting is desired. However, many people hesitate to decide because of concerns about the extent of the incision, recovery period, and scarring.

Against this backdrop, the mini facelift is attracting attention as a skin-lifting procedure that reduces the burden of a full facelift while directly improving areas affected by sagging. A mini facelift improves sagging tissue through incisions and skin undermining, and is relatively suitable for localized sagging.

On the other hand, when the area of sagging is extensive or the sagging of the fascial layer (SMAS) must be improved along with the skin, the surgical plan can be expanded to include a semi-facelift, ponytail facelift, or full SMAS facelift, which involve undermining the SMAS layer in addition to the skin.

Thus, accurately analyzing the current degree of sagging and the facial structure and selecting the appropriate lifting method are considered key factors in increasing satisfaction.

Because the pattern of skin sagging and the layer requiring improvement differ from patient to patient, a customized surgical plan suited to each individual’s condition is important rather than a uniform procedure. A mini facelift may be suitable for relatively early sagging, while a semi-facelift, ponytail facelift, or full SMAS facelift may be considered by expanding the surgical scope when sagging covers a wider area or improvement of the SMAS layer is needed. Rather than making a choice based solely on the extent of the incision, it is important to comprehensively analyze skin elasticity, the condition of the soft tissue, and facial structure before determining the appropriate method.

Interest in sagging cheek lifting is also increasing. Sagging cheeks can affect the central impression of the face, so it is important to accurately analyze the location of the sagging and use a strategy that lifts only the necessary areas. If cheek sagging became prominent after facial contouring surgery or the improvement from repeated procedures was limited, more people are considering surgical improvement beyond simple elasticity care.

Jung Yeon-woo, director of AB Plastic Surgery, explained, “A mini facelift is a lifting surgery that directly improves sagging areas through incisions and skin undermining, making it a relatively suitable method for early or localized cheek sagging. The important point is not the extent of the incision but accurately analyzing the cause of the sagging and the layer requiring improvement. After sufficiently assessing not only the skin but also whether the SMAS layer is sagging, it is necessary to select an appropriate surgical method—from a mini facelift to a semi-facelift, ponytail facelift, or full SMAS facelift—to increase satisfaction.”

He added, “Cheek sagging that appears after facial contouring surgery is difficult to address with the same method for everyone because each person’s facial structure and pattern of tissue sagging are different. Rather than insisting on an unnecessarily small procedure or, conversely, choosing excessive surgery, it is important to accurately diagnose the current condition of the face and create a customized plan that improves only the necessary areas in order to achieve natural and satisfactory results.”