SMAS Facelift Effective for Improving Facial Sagging and Wrinkles

Provider: 입체성형외과의원

A facelift surgery is

known as the highlight of anti-aging plastic surgery,

and it is a procedure that requires

refined judgment and advanced technique.

Aging begins in your 20s

Why doesn’t skin improve even after using cosmetics or visiting a dermatology clinic?

As we age, not only the skin’s elastic fibers (collagen and elastin), but also

the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) underneath it become loosened together,

causing the entire facial structure to sag downward and wrinkles to deepen. For this reason, there are limits to dermatology procedures and cosmetics,

and long-lasting, natural lifting is only possible when the layer that supports the face’s original structure is corrected first.

This is not simply pulling up sagging skin,

but a facial redesign that restores volume, erases wrinkles,

and brings back the lines of youth.

A facelift is the most powerful lifting surgery. Because it directly improves facial sagging, its effect is excellent, and it is a highly satisfying anti-aging procedure that also improves skin laxity in a youthful way.

By reducing not only the SMAS layer under the skin but also nasolabial folds, marionette lines, neck wrinkles, and other volume-related facial concerns, it does more than make you look younger—it can also create a more refined and elegant impression.

During surgery, the loosened SMAS layer is dissected and firmly pulled upward to restore the sagging tissue to its original position,

and the jowl area, nasolabial folds, and double chin are neatly addressed.

As a result, the facial contour becomes more defined, and the youthful three-dimensionality and lively expression return naturally.

This is not a surgery that simply pulls the skin,

but one that corrects the facial structure itself.

A facelift requires different surgical methods depending on the degree of facial sagging and aging, skin thickness, muscle structure, and more.

Because it restores the positions of the muscles and fat as well as the skin,

a more natural and longer-lasting result can be expected.

Customized selection is important based on the face’s anatomical condition (skin thickness, fat distribution, muscle elasticity) and the degree of change the patient wants.

After direct examination by an experienced plastic surgery specialist,

the dissection range and pulling direction for the facelift surgery may be adjusted and applied in combination.

A facelift delivers significant results,

which is why it is a procedure that requires great delicacy.

(1) Incision and dissection

Usually, the incision is made along the natural wrinkle lines in front of the ear, behind the ear, and in the temporal area.

In these areas, the scars are hidden by the hairline and the boundary of the ear, so they become barely noticeable over time.

After that, the skin layer and fascial layer are dissected twice to return the sagging tissue to its original position.

(2) SMAS layer lifting

The SMAS layer is an important support layer that connects the facial muscles and skin,

and as we age, this layer stretches, causing the entire face to sag.

Therefore, rather than pulling only the skin, the SMAS layer is firmly pulled inward and fixed to

restore the mid-to-lower face (nasolabial folds, jawline, neck wrinkles, etc.).

This process is the most important stage of the surgery.

(3) Skin trimming and suturing

After pulling the SMAS layer, the remaining skin is naturally adjusted and sutured without excessive tension.

At this time, care is taken to avoid an artificial facial expression or an obvious pulled look,

and the suture line is designed to distribute skin tension and minimize scarring.

01

When there are many wrinkles across the face, such as nasolabial folds and mouth-area wrinkles

02

When midface sagging due to reduced skin elasticity is prominent

03

When the cheeks and jaw have sagged significantly due to aging

04

When the skin under the chin down to the neck has sagged

05

When a large amount of bone reduction was performed during facial contouring

06

When you are concerned about looking older or want to regain youthful beauty for a long time

Endoscopic forehead lift,

for a bright impression without wrinkles

As you age, the forehead muscles sag and skin elasticity decreases, causing the eyebrows to droop downward,

which can deepen forehead wrinkles or make the brows and eyes appear closer together, creating an angry-looking expression.

1. A small 1 cm incision inside the hairline 2) Muscle excision and dissection using an endoscope

2. Pulling the forehead tissue upward and fixing it

Through this process, sagging tissue is corrected from the deep layer inside the forehead, the eyebrow position is lifted,

and the muscles that create wrinkles are adjusted to create a brighter, more youthful impression.

Precise and safe endoscopic forehead lift surgery

✔ Minimal scarring

Because the incision is small, there is less concern about scarring.

✔ Fast recovery

By minimizing tissue damage, recovery is quick and returning to daily life is easier.

✔ Combined anti-aging effect

It improves forehead wrinkles and eyelid drooping at the same time.

Endoscopic forehead lift surgery is performed to improve drooping of the forehead and eyebrows, deep wrinkles, and a tired-looking eye appearance.

It is a procedure that lifts the forehead muscles and skin layer using an endoscope through small incisions.

Compared with traditional forehead lift surgery, the incision is smaller, recovery is faster, and the 특징 is that there is almost no visible scar.

As a result, the forehead proportions become more harmonious,

and the entire face can appear smaller and more three-dimensional.

01

When the eyebrows droop and the eyes look heavy or tired

02

When forehead wrinkles or glabellar wrinkles are deeply set

03

When the face always looks angry or frowning

04

When the feeling of opening the eyes still feels heavy even after eye surgery

05

When the eyebrows or forehead line is asymmetrical

06

When the effects of non-surgical lifting (Botox, thread lifting, etc.) are short-lived or limited

4th-generation lower blepharoplasty and midface lift,

simultaneously correct under-eye fat and wrinkles.

As we age, the skin under the eyes becomes thinner and fat protrudes, causing puffiness under the eyes or

wrinkles such as indented lines and tear troughs.

Traditional lower blepharoplasty simply removed under-eye fat,

which had the drawback of leaving the under-eye area flat and awkward over time, but

recently, with the 4th-generation lower blepharoplasty method, aegyo-sal can be preserved,

and a midface lift can also improve sagging of the front cheek at the same time.

✔ 4th-generation lower blepharoplasty

After making an incision just below the eyelashes, the sagging skin and fat are repositioned,

and ✔ Midface lift

The sagging cheek fat and SMAS layer under the eyes are pulled upward to restore volume to the midface.

Through the incision for lower blepharoplasty alone, the midface lift can be performed at the same time,

improving under-eye fat, under-eye hollows, under-eye wrinkles, and sagging simultaneously, and making the eye area look clearer while changing a tired impression into a softer and more youthful one.

Why should lower blepharoplasty and midface lift

be done together?

Lower blepharoplasty alone is effective for addressing protruding under-eye fat.

However, when the volume under the eyes is hollow or the tear trough is deeply set,

a midface lift must be performed together to achieve a true anti-aging effect.

A midface lift improves both the nasolabial folds and under-eye hollows by lifting the descended fat layer back to its original position,

and the center of the face is lifted upward again to complete a soft and youthful impression.

It is the lifting philosophy of 입체성형외과 to solve these concerns harmoniously with a single surgery.

By correcting under-eye fat and wrinkles while restoring volume to the midface,

it changes the face into a livelier and brighter impression.

01

When under-eye fat is puffy or there is shadowing

02

When the skin under the eyes is thin and has many wrinkles

03

When the under-eye area is hollow or the tear trough is deep

04

When the skin has stretched due to reduced under-eye elasticity

05

When the nasolabial folds are deep and the cheeks have sagged downward

06

When improvement is difficult with fillers or lasers alone

Board-certified plastic surgeon Director Heo Jae-won

Through extensive clinical experience and delicate technique in facelift, neck lift, midface lift, forehead lift, middle-aged eye surgery,

and the lifting field, we create high satisfaction.

• Graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine / Master of Medicine

• Board-certified plastic surgeon at Severance Hospital

Through active participation in many academic societies, including the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,

we perform safe and precise lifting surgery based on anatomical understanding.

Promise of 입체성형외과

✔ We do not compromise on safety and principles.

With patient safety as our top priority, we thoroughly prepare for every surgery.

✔ 1:1 customized consultation and careful treatment

By precisely analyzing each person’s facial structure, skin condition, and degree of aging,

we present the most suitable lifting solution.

✔ No unnecessary treatment!

We do not mislead patients and recommend only the procedures that are truly needed.

✔ We promise the best results.

With the unique know-how of 입체성형외과의원,

you can expect natural and highly refined results.