Nasolabial Folds That Make You Look Older: Improve Them Smoothly with a Half Facelift

<Actual half facelift case from DM Plastic Surgery>

It is said that aging begins gradually after the growth period ends. When people think about lifting procedures for aging concerns, the variety of options and worries about scars can make it difficult to decide on a lift right away. 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-aged and older age groups, 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 very wide range of areas, including the forehead, eye area, nasolabial folds, cheeks, mouth area, jawline, and neck. Since each person worries about different areas due to reduced skin elasticity, and the degree of severity also varies, it is very important to look into the lifting method that suits those concerns. In particular, the mouth area, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines are the most representative areas of concern, and they are typical aging areas that appear along with sagging in the lower face, giving a displeased expression. They can stand out not only in people in their 50s and 60s but also in younger people, which can make them look older than they really are and create an aged appearance, leading to more visits for improvement.

There are medical procedures for improvement called lifting surgery, and before surgery, the most important thing is to accurately determine how much sagging you want improved and which areas you want improved. This determines whether you will achieve clear improvement and satisfaction after surgery. To improve overall facial laxity, a full facelift can be considered, while specific areas can be improved through a half facelift or mini facelift.

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

What Is a SMAS Half Facelift?

As mentioned earlier, the SMAS half facelift is a lifting procedure recommended for those who feel burdened by the incision of a full facelift and are concerned about fine wrinkles.

The difference between a full facelift, half facelift, and mini facelift lies in the scope. Unlike a full facelift, which involves an incision from inside the hairline along the ear line and behind the ear, a half facelift makes a 5–7 mm incision from inside the hairline to the area in front of the ear, reducing concerns about visible scarring. At the same time, it dissects the SMAS layer and part of the zygomatic and masseter retaining ligaments.

Because the incision area is smaller than in a full procedure, improvement over a large area may be limited. However, it addresses the root cause of skin sagging and can 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, the procedure increases the duration of results and effectiveness, leading to strong reviews and satisfaction.

What Is the SMAS Layer?

The SMAS layer is a thin fibromuscular layer located between the subcutaneous fat and muscle layers. 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 jaw is not severe or the facial shape has not changed greatly due to reduced elasticity, we recommend improving the front cheek area and nasolabial folds through a half facelift.

Simply lifting the skin alone may not produce proper improvement, 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 conducts customized surgery by identifying each patient’s facial structure through consultation with a specialist with extensive clinical experience.

Why Satisfaction Is High at DM Plastic Surgery

Retaining ligaments are firm fibrous tissues that connect 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 up.

At DM Plastic Surgery, Director Yoo Won-min, a plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of clinical experience, applies his know-how by dissecting 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 Half Facelift

Before surgery + 9 months after surgery

[Actual half facelift case from DM Plastic Surgery]

The patient, who had long been bothered by deep nasolabial folds, chose the half facelift at DM Plastic Surgery.

Through the photos, you can see that the wrinkles in the concern area have become much less pronounced and the skin has improved with greater elasticity.

※The degree of swelling and recovery may vary from person to person, so please keep this in mind.※

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 area in front of the ear, there is almost no visible scar during recovery, making this a highly satisfying lift with a short recovery period.

How Is the SMAS Half Facelift Performed?

As mentioned above, the procedure is performed by making an incision from inside the hairline to the area in front of the ear, separating the skin tissue, and dissecting part of the zygomatic and masseter retaining ligaments.

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 half facelift is recommended for people who are concerned about eye wrinkles and drooping eyes, those who did not see results from lifting procedures, those worried about nasolabial folds, those who want a semi-permanent effect, those burdened by the incision of a full facelift, and those who want a quick return to daily life after surgery.

Director of the Anti-Aging Center at DM Plastic Surgery

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

Choosing a hospital with experienced specialists leads to higher satisfaction because they can create a customized plan that takes into account each person’s degree of sagging and skin condition, which is why DM Plastic Surgery has such good lifting reviews.

Actual half facelift case from DM Plastic Surgery

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