Why Does the Lower Face Collapse First? A Structural Approach with Cheongdam Mini Lifting and V-Line Lifting



Hello.

I am Dr. Lee Seongjun of ReTING Plastic Surgery Seoul Branch.





As the end of the year approaches,

there naturally become more occasions to meet people.



With year-end gatherings, company dinners, and other face-to-face appointments increasing,



when you see familiar faces after a long time,

you may find yourself thinking,

'Did I change a lot more than others?'





Especially when looking in the mirror,

the change that stands out first is

the lower part of the face, the lower facial line.



This is because, as time passes naturally,

the muscles, fat, ligaments,



and skin layers that make up the face

undergo changes at different speeds.





Among them, the lower face is

the area that reveals changes in shape

the earliest.



This is because the facial muscles and

fat in the lower face are intricately intertwined,



and the SMAS layer supporting them is a structure

that is easily affected by gravity.





The SMAS layer is a fascial structure beneath the skin,

and it can be considered a key foundation

that maintains facial movement and shape.



When this layer loosens,

the cheeks and jawline gradually

shift downward,



and as a result, the contour of the lower face

becomes less defined.





However, these changes can vary

depending on an individual's skin thickness,

fat distribution,



and muscle-use habits.



That is why it is helpful to understand changes in the lower face

not by the surface,

but by the 'flow of structure.'





Today, based on the principles of these structural changes,



I will organize, step by step,

the lifting methods that approach the lower face,

the jawline, and the neck line.



|  Table of Contents  | 1. Understanding 'Mini Lifting' Anatomically | 2. Why Does Focusing Only on the Jawline Feel Imbalanced? | 3. The Expansive Perspective of V-Line Lifting | 4. Structural Comparison of Mini Lifting and VN Lifting | 5. Types That Should Consider the Lower Face and Neck Line Together | 6. Understanding Aging Anatomically | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |





1. Understanding 'Mini Lifting' Anatomically



If you look at changes in the lower face

only from the surface,

it is easy to miss the cause.





'Cheongdam Mini Lifting' is known as a method

that approaches by considering the direction and movement

of this fascial layer, that is, the SMAS layer,

together.





Unlike procedures that pull only the skin surface,



it takes an anatomically informed approach that understands

the movement of the lower facial fascial layer

and organizes the necessary areas.





Cheongdam Mini Lifting is characterized by

focusing on the 'mild sagging' of the lower face.



By adjusting the fascial layer that has moved downward over time

toward the more stable upper area,



it guides the overall impression of the lower facial line

toward a more refined direction.





In this process, the incision range is about 1 to 2 cm

in the sideburn area inside the scalp,



and the range of access may vary depending on

the individual's facial structure and degree of sagging.





A small incision or a small degree of adjustment does not mean

that the surgery is 'simple.'



The key lies in 'how precisely the structure is understood

and approached.'





Because Cheongdam Mini Lifting targets changes in the lower face,



the results can vary depending on the individual's fascial condition

and skin elasticity.



If you understand the structure of the lower face,



it is necessary to examine together how the jawline

and the structures below it are connected.





2. Why Does Focusing Only on the Jawline Feel Imbalanced?



Many people strongly feel blurring of the jawline,

but at the same time,



they often think of the 'neck line' below it as a separate matter.



However, anatomically,

the jaw and the neck are not completely separate structures.





The fascial and fat layers beneath the jaw extend

toward the front of the neck,



and changes in the lower face in the direction of gravity

also affect the neck area.



So when only the jawline and midface are adjusted,



the boundary under the jaw may appear even more prominent.





Even if the facial line is refined,

if the neck line remains unchanged,

a relatively larger contrast may appear.





For this reason, when an approach centered only on the lower face

does not lead to improvement,



a perspective that looks at the connection between the jaw and neck

becomes necessary.



Based on this flow,



it is worth examining how an approach that addresses the lower face

and the neck line together is connected.





3. The Expansive Perspective of V-Line Lifting



For this reason, the approach that considers

the lower face and neck line together

is the 'VN lifting.'



VN lifting is a structural lifting procedure

that addresses the lower face and neck together,



and interprets the contour extending from the jawline to the neck line

as one continuous area.





If Cheongdam Mini Lifting focuses on

mild sagging of the lower face,



V-Line Lifting can be considered

a broader concept that extends

to the connecting area below it.





Approaching along the area in front of and behind the ear,

and the hairline at the back of the neck,



it adjusts the SMAS layer upward

to address the gentle flow of the neck line as well.





The important point here is not

'how widely it is treated,' but rather

'how balanced the organization is.'



The connecting area between the jaw and neck differs from person to person

in fat volume, fascial thickness,

skin elasticity, and more,



so the same method does not produce

the same result for everyone.





Ultimately, the direction of VN lifting is

about understanding the face and neck line

as a connected flow and adjusting that relationship.



Now, let's organize the structural differences

between the two approaches by item.





4. Structural Comparison of Mini Lifting and VN Lifting



Category	Mini Lifting	VN Lifting
Treatment area	Focus on the lower face	Lower face + neck line
Incision location	Sideburn area inside the scalp	In front of and behind the ear, and along the nape hairline
Layer treated	Mainly the SMAS layer	SMAS layer + connection area of the neck line
Purpose	Organize vertical sagging	Harmonize the facial-neck connection line
Application direction	Localized approach	Expanded approach



Both methods are the same in that they organize the structure

around the fascial (SMAS) layer,





but VN lifting differs in that it assumes

that the lower area of the face and the neck line

are one structure.





This difference becomes the 기준 for determining

the range of approach depending on the individual's condition.





5. Types That Should Consider the Lower Face and Neck Line Together



✔️ When there is a lot of soft tissue below the jawline,

making the boundary of the contour appear blurred



✔️ When a pattern is observed in which the lower face and a double chin

sag downward together



✔️ When the elasticity of the neck area decreases

and wrinkles begin to form



✔️ When the distinction between the jaw and neck

looks unclear from the side



✔️ When sagging under the chin becomes more noticeable

after weight changes





Changes in the lower face and neck line are not

a fragmented issue,



but begin with understanding the structural flow

of facial aging.



The common point among these types is



that the changes appearing in the lower face and neck line

show up first in movement,

not in appearance.



Understanding this point makes the next stage

of structural approach clearer.





6. Understanding Aging Anatomically



Changes in the face begin deeper than the surface.



Changes in the position of the fascial layer lead to

the movement of skin and fat,



and as a result, they create visible

changes in contour.





'Cheongdam Mini Lifting'

is a lower-face-centered approach that addresses

these structural changes,



and 'VN lifting' can be understood as an expanded approach

that examines the connection between the jawline and neck line

together.



The common point of the two methods is not

'drawing the skin tight,' but rather



'understanding and adjusting the structure.'





In the end, lifting is not about

going back in time,



but can be understood as a process of

reorganizing the structure of the face.



This perspective makes lifting seem not as a simple change,

but as a procedure that corrects the flow

of facial structure.





What is needed in that process is



not speed, but direction, and a perspective that respects

the face's inherent balance.



An approach that considers one's own structural characteristics

and lifestyle ultimately leads to the most natural result.



I hope you become naturally younger,

more so tomorrow than today,

and today more than yesterday.



This was Dr. Lee Seongjun

of Seoul ReTING Plastic Surgery.



This article is

content intended to provide general information

about mini lifting and V-line lifting procedures.



Whether surgery is actually performed

should be determined according to the individual's health condition

and purpose,



and please make your decision

through consultation with a medical professional.



If you would like more details,

please check the more detailed information

at the YouTube link below.



https://youtube.com/shorts/Xi8vGKSuOUM?si=xdYBXGW7XgAL0eDT