If Half Facelift or Facelift Scars Feel Burdensome

<Real-life half facelift case from DM Plastic Surgery>

Aging is said to begin gradually after the growth period ends, and while many people consider lifts to address signs of aging, it can be difficult to make the decision because of the different types and concerns about scars. In these days, when everyone wants to maintain a youthful appearance and does not want to look older, interest in anti-aging continues to rise. Among people in their middle age and older, interest is also growing in laser lifting procedures, thread lifting, and incision lifting.

Sagging and wrinkles progress from the forehead down to the neck, and signs of aging appear in a very wide range, including the forehead, eye area, nasolabial folds, cheeks, mouth area, jaw, and neck. Because the areas people worry about differ depending on the individual’s reduced skin elasticity, and the degree of severity also varies, it is very important to look into the right lifting method while taking these factors into account. In particular, the mouth area, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines are the most representative trouble spots, and as typical aging areas that appear along with sagging in the lower face, they can create a grumpy impression. These signs 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 creating an aged appearance, which is why visits for improvement are increasing.

There is a surgical method for improving these concerns, called a lifting procedure. Before surgery, the most important thing is to properly determine how much improvement in sagging is desired and which areas are to be improved, as this affects both the extent of improvement and satisfaction after surgery. To improve overall facial laxity, a facelift can be considered, while improvement in specific areas can be addressed through a half facelift or mini facelift!

Today, we would like to introduce the SMAS half facelift for people who are especially concerned about fine wrinkles and for those who felt burdened by the incision involved in a facelift.

What Is a SMAS Half Facelift?

As mentioned above, the SMAS half facelift is a lifting procedure recommended for people who find the incision of a facelift burdensome and have many concerns about fine wrinkles.

The difference between a facelift, half facelift, and mini facelift lies in the treatment range. Unlike a facelift, which involves an incision from inside the hairline along the ear line to behind the ear, a half facelift makes a 5–7 mm incision from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, so there is no burden of visible scarring, and it also dissects part of the SMAS layer as well as some of the zygomatic and masseter retaining ligaments.

Because the incision area is smaller than the overall range, improving a large area may be difficult. However, since it addresses the root cause of skin sagging and helps prevent wrinkles, it is 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 procedure with strong satisfaction and reviews because it enhances both the duration and the effect.

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 because it is very closely attached to the skin, it is vulnerable to gravity.

For patients in their 30s to early 40s, if sagging under the chin is not severe or there is not much change in facial shape due to loss of elasticity, we recommend improving the cheek area and nasolabial folds through a half facelift.

If only the skin is lifted, the improvement may not be sufficient and it may be difficult to achieve highly satisfying results. Since the fundamental problem of facial sagging is resolved by tightening the SMAS layer, DM Plastic Surgery performs customized surgery after identifying each patient’s facial structure through consultation with a specialist with extensive clinical experience.

Why DM Plastic Surgery’s Lifting Procedures Have High Satisfaction

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

At DM Plastic Surgery, Director Yoo Won-min, a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of clinical experience, applies his expertise by dissecting part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and masseter retaining ligament, resulting in a more powerful lifting effect and higher satisfaction.

Before & After of DM Plastic Surgery’s Half Facelift Half facelift before surgery + 1 month after surgery

[Real DM Plastic Surgery half facelift case]

The patient, who had been worried about jowls and mouth lines caused by sagging cheeks, chose DM Plastic Surgery’s half facelift.

Through the photos, you can see that the wrinkles in the trouble areas have become firmer and lighter, and the skin has improved with greater elasticity.

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

I’m Curious About the Recovery Process After a SMAS Half 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.

What Is the Surgical Method for a SMAS Half Facelift?

As mentioned earlier, the procedure proceeds by separating the skin tissue through an incision from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, and dissecting part of the zygomatic and masseter retaining ligaments.

After the skin and SMAS layer are pulled firmly and fixed, the remaining skin is removed and the procedure is completed with careful suturing.

The SMAS half facelift is recommended for people who:

• are concerned about wrinkles around the eyes and sagging eye lines
• did not see results from lifting procedures
• are worried about nasolabial folds
• want a semi-permanent effect
• feel burdened by the incision of a facelift
• want to return to daily life quickly after surgery

Director of the Anti-Aging Center at DM Plastic Surgery

If you are currently considering a half facelift, we recommend visiting our clinic and receiving 충분한 1:1 consultation with our experienced medical team.

Choosing a clinic with an experienced specialist makes it possible to receive a customized plan that takes into account the degree of sagging and skin condition for each person, which is why DM Plastic Surgery has such good lifting reviews.

Real-life half facelift case from DM Plastic Surgery

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