What Are the Differences Between a Mini Facelift and a Facelift, and What Should You Consider?

<Actual mini facelift patient at DM Plastic Surgery>

Aging is said to begin gradually after the growth period ends, and as people look into lifts to address signs of aging, it may be difficult to make the decision because of the various types and concerns about scarring. Since everyone wants to maintain a youthful appearance and does not want to look older, interest in anti-aging continues to rise these days. In middle age and older age groups, interest in laser lifting procedures, thread lifts, and incision-based lifting procedures is also increasing.

Sagging and wrinkles progress from the forehead down to the neck, and signs of aging appear in a very wide range, including the forehead, around the eyes, nasolabial folds, cheeks, around the mouth, jawline, and neck. Because each person has different concerns due to decreased skin elasticity and the degree of severity also varies, it is very important to look into the right lifting method based on these factors. In particular, the areas around the mouth, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines are the most common concern areas, and they are representative aging areas that appear along with sagging in the lower face, creating a stern 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 actually are and creating an aged appearance, which is why more people are visiting clinics for improvement.

There is a medical method to improve this, called a lift procedure. Before surgery, the most important thing is to properly identify how much sagging you want improved and which areas you want improved, as this determines whether you will achieve clear results and satisfaction after surgery. To improve overall facial laxity, a facelift can be considered, while specific areas can be improved with a mini facelift or a mini lift.

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

What Is a SMAS Mini Facelift?

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

The difference between a facelift, mini facelift, and mini lift lies in the scope of the procedure. Unlike a facelift, which makes an incision from within the hairline along the ear line and behind the ear, a mini facelift makes a 5–7 mm incision from within the hairline to the front of the ear, so there is less concern about visible scarring. At the same time, it dissects the SMAS layer and part of the zygomatic retaining ligament and masseter retaining ligament.

Because the incision area is smaller than the overall range, improving a large area may be difficult. However, it can address the underlying cause of skin sagging and help prevent wrinkles, making it effective for those 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 high satisfaction and good reviews because it improves both the duration of results and the effect.

What Is the SMAS Layer?

The SMAS layer is a thin fibromuscular fascia located between the subcutaneous fat and the muscle layer. It transmits muscle movement to the skin and is very closely attached to the skin, which makes it vulnerable to gravity.

For patients in their 30s to early 40s whose sagging under the chin is not severe or whose facial contour has not changed significantly due to loss of elasticity, a mini facelift is recommended to improve the mid-cheek area and nasolabial folds.

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

Why DM Plastic Surgery’s Lift Procedures Have High Satisfaction

Retaining ligaments are tough 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 hindered and the sagging tissue cannot be pulled effectively.

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 stronger lifting effect and high satisfaction.

Before & After of the Mini Facelift at DM Plastic Surgery

Mini facelift before surgery + 3 months after surgery

[Actual mini facelift patient at DM Plastic Surgery]

The patient, who had long been concerned about deep nasolabial folds, chose the mini facelift at DM Plastic Surgery.

You can see from the photos that the wrinkles in the concerned area have become smoother 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 of the SMAS Mini Facelift

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

How Is the SMAS Mini Facelift Performed?

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

After strongly 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 mini facelift is recommended for people who are 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 semi-permanent effects, people who feel burdened by the incision of a facelift, and people who want to return to daily life quickly after surgery.

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

If you are currently considering a mini facelift, please visit our clinic and receive sufficient one-on-one consultation with our experienced medical team.

Choosing a clinic with experienced specialists allows for a customized plan that takes into account each person’s degree of sagging and skin condition, which is why DM Plastic Surgery has strong reviews for its lifting procedures.

Actual mini facelift patient at DM Plastic Surgery

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