Partial Facelift: Less Worry About Scars, More Lifting Effect!

<Actual partial facelift case at DM Plastic Surgery>

It is said that aging begins gradually after the growth period ends. As signs of aging appear, many people look into facelifts, but it can be difficult to make that decision due to the various types and concerns about scars. Since everyone wants to maintain a youthful appearance and does not want to look older, interest in anti-aging continues to rise these days. Among people in their middle age and older, interest is also growing in laser lifting procedures, thread lifting, and incision-based lifting.

Sagging and wrinkles progress from the forehead down to the neck, and signs of aging appear in a wide range of areas, including the forehead, eye area, nasolabial folds, cheeks, around the mouth, jawline, and neck. Because each person is concerned about different areas due to reduced skin elasticity, and the severity also varies, it is very important to look into the lifting method that suits your needs. In particular, the corners of the mouth, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines are the most representative problem areas, and they are typical signs of aging that appear together with sagging in the lower face, giving a stern impression. They can be noticeable not only in people in their 50s and 60s but also in younger people, and because they can make someone look older than they are, visits to improve this concern are increasing.

There are medical lifting procedures to improve this, and the most important thing before surgery is to correctly determine how much improvement in sagging you want and which areas you want improved. This determines the success of the improvement and satisfaction after surgery. To improve overall facial loss of elasticity, a full facelift can be considered, while for specific areas, improvement can be achieved through a partial facelift or mini facelift!

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

What Is the SMAS Partial Facelift?

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

The difference between a full facelift, partial facelift, and mini facelift lies in the range treated. Unlike a full facelift, which involves 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. At the same time, it releases part of the SMAS layer and part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and masseter retaining ligament.

Because the incision area is smaller compared with the overall range, improvement over a large area may be difficult. However, it addresses the fundamental cause of skin sagging and can help prevent wrinkles, making it effective for people with fine wrinkles rather than deep wrinkles. With the know-how of Dr. Yoo Won-min of DM Plastic Surgery, who has extensive clinical experience, this procedure offers longer-lasting results and strong effect, leading to high reviews and satisfaction.

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 early 30s to 40s, if sagging under the jaw is not severe or facial contour changes due to loss of elasticity are not significant, a partial facelift is recommended to improve the front cheek area and nasolabial folds.

If only the skin is lifted, the improvement may not be sufficient and satisfactory results may be difficult to achieve. Because the fundamental problem of facial sagging is solved by lifting the SMAS layer, DM Plastic Surgery performs customized surgery by identifying each patient’s facial structure through consultation with a specialist who has extensive clinical experience.

Why the Facelifts at DM Plastic Surgery Have High Satisfaction

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

At DM Plastic Surgery, the expertise of Dr. Yoo Won-min, a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of clinical experience, is applied to release part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and the masseter retaining ligament, resulting in a stronger lifting effect and higher satisfaction.

Before & After of DM Plastic Surgery's Partial Facelift Partial facelift before surgery + 10 days after surgery

[Actual partial facelift case at DM Plastic Surgery]

The patient, who had long been concerned about deep-set wrinkles, chose the partial facelift at DM Plastic Surgery.

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

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

I’m Curious About the Recovery Process of the SMAS Partial Facelift

With a 5–7 cm incision from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, scar exposure during recovery is minimal, and this is a lifting procedure with a short recovery period and high satisfaction.

How Is the SMAS Partial Facelift Performed?

As mentioned above, the procedure involves an incision from inside the hairline to the front of the ear, separating the skin tissue and releasing part of the zygomatic and masseter retaining ligaments.

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

The SMAS partial facelift is recommended for:

those who are concerned about wrinkles around the eyes and sagging eyelids, those who did not see results from lifting procedures, those who are concerned about nasolabial folds, those who want a semi-permanent effect, those who feel burdened by the incision required for a full facelift, and those who want to return to daily life quickly after surgery.

Chief Director of the Anti-Aging Center at DM Plastic Surgery

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

You should choose a hospital with experienced specialists, as a customized plan that takes into account each person’s degree of sagging and skin condition leads to greater satisfaction, which is why the lifting reviews at DM Plastic Surgery are so good.

Actual partial facelift case at DM Plastic Surgery

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