Improving Smile Lines Caused by Sagging Cheeks with a Partial Facelift

<Actual partial facelift case at DM Plastic Surgery>

Aging is said to begin gradually after the growth period ends, and while many people look into facelifts as a way to address signs of aging, it can be difficult to decide on one right away because of the different types and concerns about scars. Everyone wants to keep a youthful appearance and does not want to look older, so interest in anti-aging continues to rise these days. Among middle-aged and older adults, interest is also growing in laser lifting procedures, thread lifts, and incision-based lifts.

Sagging and wrinkles progress from the forehead down to the neck, and signs of aging appear in a very wide range of areas such as the forehead, around the eyes, nasolabial folds, cheeks, mouth area, jawline, and neck. Because each person has different concerns due to reduced skin elasticity and the degree of severity also varies, it is very important to look into the right lifting method with these factors in mind.

In particular, the mouth area, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines are the most representative areas of concern, and they are typical signs of aging that appear along with sagging in the lower face, creating a stern-looking impression. They can stand out not only in people in their 50s and 60s but also in younger people, making them look older than they really are and leading to more visits for improvement.

There is a medical treatment for improvement called a lift procedure, and before surgery, the most important thing is to properly understand how much improvement in sagging you want and which areas you want to improve. This determines clear improvement and post-surgery satisfaction. To improve overall facial laxity, a full facelift can be considered, while for improvement in specific areas, a partial facelift or mini facelift may be used!

Today, we would like to introduce the SMAS partial facelift, which may be of interest to people especially concerned about fine wrinkles and to those who felt burdened by the incisions of a full facelift.

What Is a SMAS Partial Facelift?

As mentioned above, the SMAS partial facelift is a lifting procedure recommended for those who feel burdened by the incisions of a full facelift and have many concerns about fine wrinkles.

The difference between a full facelift, partial facelift, and mini facelift lies in the treatment range. Unlike a full facelift, which makes an incision from inside the hairline along the ear line and behind the ear, a partial facelift makes a 5–7 mm incision from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, so there is less concern about visible scarring, and it dissects the SMAS layer as well as part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and masseter retaining ligament.

Because the incision area is smaller than the overall treatment range, large-area improvement may be difficult. However, it can address the root cause of skin sagging and help prevent wrinkles, making it effective for people with fine wrinkles rather than deep wrinkles. With the know-how of Director Yoo Won-min of DM Plastic Surgery, who has extensive clinical experience, it is a surgical method with a high level of satisfaction and strong reviews because it increases both duration and effectiveness.

What Is the SMAS Layer?

The SMAS layer is a thin fibromuscular layer located between the subcutaneous fat and the muscle layer. It functions to transmit muscle movement to the skin and is very closely attached to the skin, making it vulnerable to gravity.

For patients in their 30s to early 40s, if sagging under the chin is not severe or facial contour changes due to reduced elasticity are not significant, we recommend improving the cheek area and nasolabial folds through a partial facelift.

If only the skin is lifted, the improvement may not be sufficient, and it may be difficult to achieve a highly satisfying result. Since the fundamental problem of facial sagging is resolved only when the SMAS layer is lifted, DM Plastic Surgery identifies each patient’s facial structure through consultations with specialists who have extensive clinical experience and performs customized surgery.

Why DM Plastic Surgery’s Facelift Has High Satisfaction

Retaining ligaments are firm fibrous tissues that extend from the deep fascia or periosteum to the dermis. If a lift is performed without addressing these retaining ligaments, tissue movement is obstructed and the sagging tissue cannot be pulled up.

At DM Plastic Surgery, Director Yoo Won-min, a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of clinical experience, combines his expertise by dissecting part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and masseter retaining ligament to achieve a stronger lifting effect, leading to high satisfaction.

Before & After of DM Plastic Surgery’s Partial Facelift

1 month before surgery + 1 month after surgery

[Actual partial facelift case at DM Plastic Surgery]

The case shown here chose DM Plastic Surgery’s partial facelift because they were concerned about sagging around the mouth in everyday life.

Through the photos, you can see that the wrinkles in the area of concern have become softer and the skin has improved to look firmer.

※Please note that the degree of swelling and recovery may vary from person to person.※

I’m Curious About the Recovery Process for a SMAS Partial Facelift

With an incision of 5–7 cm from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, there is almost no visible scarring during recovery, and it is a lifting procedure with high satisfaction due to its short recovery period.

How Is the SMAS Partial Facelift Performed?

As mentioned above, the procedure begins with an incision from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, separating the skin tissue and dissecting part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and masseter retaining ligament.

After firmly pulling and fixing the SMAS layer together with the skin, the remaining skin is removed and the procedure is completed with careful suturing.

The SMAS partial facelift is recommended for:

• People concerned about wrinkles around the eyes and sagging eyelids
• People who did not see results from lifting procedures
• People concerned about nasolabial folds
• People who want a semi-permanent effect
• People who feel burdened by the incisions of a full facelift
• People who want to return to daily life quickly after surgery

DM Plastic Surgery Anti-Aging Center Chief Director

If you are currently considering a partial facelift, we recommend visiting our clinic and receiving sufficient one-on-one consultation with our experienced medical team.

Choosing a hospital with an experienced specialist leads to a more customized plan that takes into account each person’s degree of sagging and skin condition, which is why DM Plastic Surgery’s lifting reviews are so good.

Actual partial facelift case at DM Plastic Surgery

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