Mini Facelift, Gangnam Facelift: 3 Features That Create a Youthful Effect

Hello.

I’m Director Lee Seong-jun from Liting Plastic Surgery Seoul Branch.

“Is it just me, or does my facial line bother me especially in summer?”

“My skin doesn’t feel as firm,

and my nasolabial folds and cheeks

seem to sag more than before.”

These are the kinds of comments we really hear often in the clinic

during summer.

When the weather gets hotter,

sweat and sebum secretion increase,

and people tend to wash their face more often.

As a result, the skin feels oily,

and wrinkles or sagging become

more noticeable when looking in the mirror.

In particular, in summer,

people wear clothes that expose the neckline,

or tie their hair up more often,

which makes the facial line more visible

due to seasonal habits.

When you look in the mirror under strong light,

the jawline that has become less defined

and the blurred facial contour

stand out even more.

Facing this appearance,

many people end up considering a lifting consultation,

wondering, “Has my face really changed this much?”

During summer, when we naturally

look at ourselves more often,

many people begin to ask about lifting-related concerns such as

“mini facelift” and “Gangnam facelift.”

But when it comes to surgery,

the thought of “Will it hurt?”, “Will there be scars?”,

or “Will I recover in time for vacation?”

is also a very real concern.

So today,

for those wondering,

“Isn’t there a lifting method that reduces the burden of surgery,

recovers quickly,

and still suits my facial line?”

I’ll clearly and accurately organize the differences and features

of three lifting surgeries that can be selected by area,

based on the actual concerns of patients.

1. Mini Facelift

“I’m not ready for a full facelift,

but I’d like to tighten just my nasolabial folds,

cheeks, and jawline a little.”

This is when many people inquire about

the mini facelift.

A mini facelift

aims at lifting specific areas rather than the entire face,

mainly sagging in the cheeks, nasolabial folds,

and jawline,

through a small incision.

It is performed through a horizontal incision of about 2–3 cm

inside the scalp or in front of the sideburns,

where it can be hidden by hair,

minimizing the incision area.

Anatomical principle and incision direction

The most important feature is that it lifts

up to the SMAS layer (the fascial layer).

The SMAS layer is

just beneath the skin,

and is a key structure that determines

facial elasticity.

Compared with procedures that only pull the skin,

it can provide changes that feel more natural and last longer.

A mini facelift focuses on the pulling force from bottom to top,

and the incision is also made horizontally,

concentrating mainly on clearly improving

the cheeks and jawline.

It may be considered for people like this.

📌 People concerned about nasolabial folds, cheek sagging, and jawline sagging
📌 People who find a full facelift burdensome
📌 People who want a quick return to daily life
📌 People who want more noticeable improvement than a procedure can provide, but do not want a major surgery

2. Smile Mini Lift

“The skin around my eyes is fine-lined,

and it feels like my nasolabial folds and cheekbone area

are getting deeper and deeper.”

“People often say I look tired

as I get older.”

If these concerns are starting to appear,

the Smile Mini Lift can be a good alternative.

The Smile Mini Lift

was developed and studied as a surgical method that can improve a broader area

than the mini facelift,

especially sagging in the central face

(nasolabial folds, cheekbone area, and eye area)

through a small incision.

Incision direction and anatomical differences

The biggest differences from the mini facelift are

the incision location and direction,

and the lifting range.

An incision is made diagonally near the sideburns

(hidden by hair toward the hairline),

and because the lifting direction is horizontal + diagonal,

it can lift the entire central area of the face at once,

including the nasolabial folds, cheekbones, and eye area.

In other words,

while the mini facelift

pulls only upward from below to improve mainly the jawline and cheeks,

the Smile Mini Lift

has a broader range of improvement,

covering the nasolabial folds, cheekbones, and eye area,

as well as the midface.

It may be considered for people like this.

📍 People concerned about wrinkles or sagging in the central face,

such as the nasolabial folds, cheekbones, and eye area

📍 People who want to improve an appearance that looks tired or worn out

📍 People who want more effect than what the mini facelift alone provided

📍 People who want a lifting procedure with a quick return to daily life and minimal scar concerns

The Smile Mini Lift

may help improve overall facial balance

when performed together with upper blepharoplasty

(eyelid lifting) or brow lifting,

thereby helping improve the overall impression.

Of course, after Gangnam facelift surgery,

recovery period, bruising, swelling,

scarring, and results

all vary depending on the individual’s skin condition,

lifestyle habits, and constitution.

3. Smile Lift

The Smile Lift

is a procedure that can be expected to improve volume and three-dimensionality

at the same time.

“My facial line gets pulled tighter,

but it actually looks flatter.”

“I heard that volume is also important

for a youthful face—is that true?”

For people with these concerns,

the Smile Lift can be considered as one option.

As we age,

not only the skin but also the volume of the subcutaneous fat layer gradually decreases.

What is needed at this time is

this three-dimensional lifting procedure called the Smile Lift.

Compared with the procedures introduced above,

the Smile Lift has a wider incision range,

and its biggest difference is that it lifts

the SMAS layer under the skin

and the subcutaneous fat layer at the same time.

Simply put,

it is not just pulling the skin,

but a more advanced lifting method that tightens sagging skin

and restores lost volume as well.

The Smile Lift may be considered for people like this.

Not just simple skin sagging,

✅ People concerned about sunken cheeks, a double chin, and deep wrinkles together

✅ People who did not feel the desired three-dimensionality or youthful effect from Gangnam facelift lifting

✅ People who expect changes over a long period of time

The Smile Lift

can improve fullness, facial line, and elasticity at once,

but depending on each person’s facial structure,

skin thickness, and fat distribution,

results and recovery speed may differ.

Post-surgery care and return-to-daily-life Q&A

Q. What symptoms can occur after surgery?

In the early stage, swelling, bruising, a pulling sensation,

and pain may occur.

These symptoms are mostly temporary,

and vary from person to person.

Q. When can I wash my face or wear makeup?

Face washing, makeup, and hair washing

should be started gradually

according to the medical team’s instructions.

Before the wound area has fully healed,

please minimize irritation.

Q. Are there any care instructions that must be followed after surgery?

To recover quickly after surgery

and maintain the results for a long time,

be sure to follow these four care points.

🔸 Strictly protect against UV exposure 🔸 Keep the area clean 🔸 Avoid excessive irritation 🔸 Refrain from smoking and drinking

Surgery is a choice for “me.”

Rather than anyone else’s standards,

I hope you make a safe and careful decision

that fits your own face and lifestyle.

I hope the features of

mini facelift, Smile Mini Lift,

and Smile Lift introduced today

have been helpful in easing your concerns even a little.

I hope you become more naturally youthful

tomorrow than today,

and today than yesterday.

This was Director Lee Seong-jun

of Seoul Liting Plastic Surgery.

This post is

content intended to provide general information

about mini facelift surgery.

Whether to actually undergo surgery

should be decided based on the individual’s health condition

and purpose,

and should be determined through consultation

with a medical professional.

If you would like more details,

please check the YouTube link below

for more detailed information.

https://youtube.com/shorts/xSXcFyM06Ig?si=oW4XxndgC0FGlAM