Before and After a Facelift: The Difference in Naturalness Is Determined by “This”

Before and after a facelift,

the difference in naturalness is determined by

“this”

Hello, this is Obje Plastic Surgery.

Lately, when you look in the mirror,

have you been feeling increasingly worried

because your face looks more saggy than before?

You may have looked into thread lifting or laser procedures,

but

if you’ve found yourself thinking,

“Wouldn’t that still be a bit insufficient...?”

then you may have started looking into facelift surgery as well.

Among people who visit us with concerns about a facelift,

many often ask how much lifting effect they can expect,

and how long the recovery period will be.

So today, we will go over the facelift process,

changes before and after, and the recovery process,

step by step.

Q1: “Where is the incision made in facelift surgery?”

In facelift surgery, the first important step is

to accurately identify which area has sagged.

Over time, the tissue around the cheeks and neck

gradually sags downward due to gravity.

As a result, the sagging cheek and neck area

blurs the overall facial contour

and makes the face look older.

If this sagging tissue is pulled

in the correct direction,

the sagging cheek line rises,

and the jawline and neck line are refined,

giving the overall face a clearer

and more youthful appearance.

To effectively lift sagging tissue,

the key is deciding in which direction

and by what method to pull the area.

If you simply pull upward

in a vertical direction,

problems can arise.

For example, if the tissue beside the cheek

is lifted vertically,

tissue may gather around the cheekbone,

making the cheekbones look swollen

or

creating an unnatural sense of volume.

Therefore, for a more natural

and smooth result,

pulling diagonally toward the back

is much more effective.

In other words, for natural results,

the sagging tissue must be lifted diagonally

toward the ear, outward from the line connecting

the outer corners of the eyes and the corners of the mouth.

To do this, the incision line is usually designed

to start inside the scalp,

pass in front of the ear,

and continue behind the ear.

This design creates a structure that allows the sagging tissue along the facial line

to be pulled in the correct direction.

If the neck tissue also needs to be lifted,

the incision line may be extended further

down below the hairline behind the ear.

Another important point is scarring.

The reason the incision line is designed

along the hairline is to make the scar

from surgery as inconspicuous as possible

in daily life.

Then the scar is hidden by the hair and behind the ear,

allowing for natural healing and making it less noticeable

in everyday life.

There is one thing to keep in mind.

A facelift is not simply a procedure that pulls only the skin.

Because skin is thin and has limited elasticity,

pulling only the skin means that, over time,

it will inevitably sag again quickly.

Just as wrapping an object in thin plastic wrap may make the outer surface look tight,

if the inside remains unchanged, the shape will quickly collapse.

Skin is the same.

That is why the core of facelift surgery is

to pull and secure the SMAS layer beneath the skin as well.

Facial skin is composed, from the outside inward, of

epidermis → dermis → subcutaneous fat → SMAS layer → muscle.

Among these, the SMAS layer is a tissue

that is much firmer than skin,

and because it directly contacts the muscles,

it is closely connected to facial expressions.

Therefore, lifting and securing this layer together

can fundamentally improve structural sagging

throughout the face and help the surgical results

last longer.

However, there is one part that requires

the greatest caution when working with the SMAS layer.

That is the facial nerve.

Near the SMAS layer,

the facial nerve that creates facial expressions runs through the area.

If this nerve is damaged,

temporary sensory loss or even facial paralysis can occur,

so extreme caution is needed.

That is why the process of dissecting the SMAS layer

is the most important and skill-demanding part

of facelift surgery.

At Obje Plastic Surgery,

we place the highest priority on performing

the dissection and fixation of the SMAS layer

with delicacy and safety.

Based on extensive clinical experience

and precise anatomical understanding,

we focus on minimizing the risk of facial nerve damage

while creating natural, long-lasting results.

Also, after lifting the SMAS,

the excess skin must be appropriately trimmed

and sutured,

and as a skilled plastic surgeon, the suturing process can also be entrusted with confidence.

Q2. I have to go to work — how long is the recovery period?

You may be just as curious about the recovery process

as about the surgery itself.

A facelift involves a wide surgical area

and takes quite a bit of time,

so recovery also requires time.

First, immediately after surgery,

the first and second day are the most important period to be careful.

The main thing to watch for during this period is a hematoma.

A hematoma is swelling like bruising caused by pooled blood at the surgical site,

so early stabilization is very important.

During surgery, as tissue is dissected,

small blood vessels can be damaged.

In most cases, bleeding is well controlled,

but in some cases, bleeding may continue

and blood can collect at the surgical site.

If blood pressure suddenly rises at this time

or strenuous activity is performed,

the risk of hematoma increases further.

That is why resting during the first two days

is truly important.

About 7 to 10 days after surgery,

the stitches are removed.

At this stage, daily activities become possible little by little.

However, bruising and swelling may still remain.

Bruising varies from person to person,

but it usually fades gradually within 2 to 3 weeks.

Swelling also begins to subside gradually

after about 10 days.

So most people can return to daily life

about 2 weeks after surgery.

This is also the time when returning to work may be possible,

if you cover bruising with light makeup

or use a mask.

There are also people who worry about scarring.

As mentioned earlier, the scar follows the hairline,

so it is not as noticeable as you might think.

It may take a few months to fade completely,

but for most people it gradually becomes lighter over time

and recovers to the point where it is not a major concern in daily life.

Today, we looked at the changes before and after a facelift

and the recovery process.

Facelift surgery is not something that can be decided lightly.

Factors such as skin elasticity and the degree of sagging

must be considered comprehensively.

Also, when choosing a clinic,

not only surgical skill but also

how systematically postoperative recovery is managed

must be carefully checked.

So before deciding on surgery,

we recommend that you make sure to ask about the points mentioned today during your consultation.

At Obje Plastic Surgery,

from the process of carefully examining the patient’s condition

to the recovery period that helps you return to daily life

based on extensive surgical experience,

we stay with you throughout.

We hope this article was even a little help

with your concerns.

Thank you for reading this long post.

This has been Obje Plastic Surgery. Thank you.

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• This post is medical information written by Obje Plastic Surgery Clinic in compliance with the Medical Advertisement Act.

• The effects of the procedure may vary depending on the individual, and side effects may occur. It is recommended that you consult thoroughly with medical staff in advance before deciding on the procedure.