Facelift Center treatment guide

Plastic Surgery

Facelift Center

Facelift Center

DIVA's core practice, treating sagging across the whole face at its root.

Not surgery that pulls, surgery that restores

We lift the sagging SMAS layer back into place, not just the skin, for a lift that lasts.

0103

Full Facelift

Full Facelift

The signature lift that fundamentally improves sagging across the whole face

Surgery timeAnesthesiaSuture removalDaily life
approx. 2–3 hoursSedation · general anesthesiaafter 7–14 daysafter approx. 7 days

Home the same day · 3 to 4 follow-up visits

WHAT IS FACELIFT

Surgery that addresses the structure of sagging, not just the skin

A full facelift is a surgery that lifts the SMAS layer beneath the skin to address sagging across the whole face at its structure. Once the SMAS is lifted, only the excess skin is tidied.

Pull the skin alone and it sags again. DIVA corrects the cause of sagging first.

Korean female model still with the jawline and neckline shown naturally

SMAS LAYER

What is the SMAS layer?

A thin fascia between skin and muscle. When it loosens, the skin sags with it.

Medical illustration showing the depth of the skin, subcutaneous fat and SMAS layer as a soft 3D cross-section
  • Skin
  • Fat
  • SMAS (fascia)
  • Bone

DIVA METHOD

DIVA lifts from the SMAS layer beneath the skin

We lift the deep layer first, then tidy only the excess skin.

Minimal skin tensionLifts deep saggingSoft facial line

PROCESS

The facelift procedure

Every step is performed by the director personally.

  1. Precise analysis · design

    The amount of skin to remove and the direction of the lift are decided based on skin laxity and the shape of the fat.

    The facelift procedure 01 — Precise analysis · design
  2. Minimal incision around the ear

    A minimal incision is made along the natural contours around the ear.

    The facelift procedure 02 — Minimal incision around the ear
  3. SMAS lift · fixation

    The SMAS layer is lifted upward and sutured, and sagging skin and protruding fat are refined.

    The facelift procedure 03 — SMAS lift · fixation
  4. Closure · follow-up

    After careful closure you go home the same day. You return 3–4 times through recovery so we can check your progress together.

    The facelift procedure 04 — Closure · follow-up

RECOMMENDED

If this sounds like you, a full facelift is where we start

  • Sagging cheeks that darken the expression
  • Sagging beyond your age, looking older
  • Deep wrinkles across the whole face
  • A blurred line between jaw and neck
  • Threads or lasers were not enough

AFTERCARE

Recovery guide

  1. Day of surgerySame-day discharge

    Home the same day, with a compression bandage

  2. Approx. day 7Daily life

    Light daily life resumes

  3. Days 7–14Suture removal

    Stitches out, incision checked

  4. AfterwardsFollow-up

    3 to 4 follow-up visits

The pace and schedule of recovery vary from person to person.

0203

Half Facelift

Mini Facelift

A tailored lift that concentrates on only the areas that need it

Surgery timeAnesthesiaSuture removalDaily life
approx. 2–3 hoursSedation · general anesthesiaafter 7–14 daysafter approx. 7 days

Home the same day · 3 to 4 visits · recovery may be shorter depending on scope

WHAT IS A MINI FACELIFT

A facelift programme designed around your own folds

Mini facelift is a facelift surgery planned one to one: we assess your skin and folds, then design only the areas that need it.

One area or the whole face; either way the SMAS layer is lifted with the skin.

Korean female model still with a soft, relaxed impression

RELATED UPPER-FACE LIFT

Forehead lift

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Lifting from the forehead, endoscopically

Lifting from the forehead, endoscopically

A small incision inside the hairline, then endoscopic release and fixation. Treats forehead lines together with brow and eyelid sagging.

  • Surgery timeapprox. 1 hour
  • AnesthesiaSedation
  • Suture removalafter 7 days
  • Daily lifeafter approx. 1 week

RECOMMENDED

If this sounds like you, a half facelift may be enough

  • You want to improve folds and skin firmness at the same time
  • You want to address the folds across your whole face
  • Sagging differs from area to area, so a single approach is not enough
  • You want a more youthful impression
  • You want a one-to-one, tailored surgical plan

AFTERCARE

Recovery guide

  1. Day of surgerySame-day discharge

    As a guide, you go home the same day without a hospital stay.

  2. Approx. day 7Daily life

    Light daily activities can begin from around day 7.

  3. Days 7–14Suture removal

    Sutures are removed and the incisions are checked.

  4. AfterwardsFollow-up

    You return 3–4 times so we can check your recovery.

The recovery schedule may vary with the extent of surgery and your condition.

TARGET AREAS

Designed differently for each area

These are the six areas a tailored lift covers. How far the scope should reach is prioritised together at consultation.

Designed differently for each areaCheek sagging · mouth-corner linesNasolabial foldsDouble chin · jawlineCrow's feetForehead linesNeck lines

Cheek sagging · mouth-corner lines

Softer mouth-corner folds · refined cheek line

Nasolabial folds

Cheek tissue lifted back to soften the fold

Double chin · jawline

Tissue below the jaw tidied · clearer face-to-neck line

Crow's feet

Softer crow's feet · lifted outer eye corners

Forehead lines

Softer horizontal forehead lines · refined brow line

Neck lines

Loose neck skin tidied · refined neckline

0303

Mid Facelift

Mid Facelift

A precise lift that improves nasolabial folds and mid-face sagging

Surgery timeAnesthesiaSuture removalDaily life
approx. 2–3 hoursSedationafter approx. 7 daysafter approx. 7 days

Home the same day · 1 to 2 visits · the fastest recovery of the three

WHAT IS MID FACELIFT

A lift that addresses nasolabial folds and tear-trough lines at once

Mid facelift is a surgery that lifts and fixes the SMAS layer at the center of the face, where cheeks, mouth corners, nasolabial and tear-trough lines gather, to address mid-face sagging.

As the cheeks come up, nasolabial folds soften and the line from under the eyes to the cheekbones smooths out.

Korean female model still with the contours under the eyes and cheeks shown naturally

MID-FACE LIFTING

Mid facelift features

  • 01

    Lifting effect for sagging cheeks

  • 02

    Improvement of deep folds

  • 03

    One-to-one care and facial line design

  • 04

    A natural, youthful impression

PROCESS

The mid facelift procedure

We check the degree of mid-face sagging and the scope needed, then proceed step by step.

  1. SMAS incision design

    The SMAS incision line is designed according to the degree of sagging of the skin and face.

    The mid facelift procedure 01 — SMAS incision design
  2. Dissection · lift

    The skin and SMAS layer are dissected along the design line, then lifted to the desired position and fixed.

    The mid facelift procedure 02 — Dissection · lift
  3. Closure · follow-up

    After careful closure you go home the same day. Sutures are removed after about 7 days, with 1–2 visits to check progress.

    The mid facelift procedure 03 — Closure · follow-up

RECOMMENDED

If this sounds like you, a mid facelift may be the answer

  • Cheek, mouth-corner and nasolabial folds have deepened
  • The tear-trough line running from under the eyes to the cheekbones concerns you
  • The chin area looks saggy and loose
  • The center of the face looks hollow and droopy for your age
  • You want a sharper jawline and a tidier cheek line

AFTERCARE

Recovery guide

  1. Day of surgerySame-day discharge

    You go home without a hospital stay and rest while protecting the surgical area.

  2. Approx. day 7Suture removal

    Sutures are removed and the incisions are checked.

  3. After day 7Daily life

    Light daily activities can begin from around day 7 after surgery.

  4. AfterwardsFollow-up

    You return 1–2 times so we can check your recovery together.

Swelling, the pace of recovery and when the result settles in vary from person to person.

OUR PRINCIPLE

Not the surgery that pulls the most, but the one that lasts the longest.

Even at the same age, the layer and the degree of sagging differ. We set the extent that suits that face first, and treat only that extent precisely.

Facelift Center

Compare at a glance

Surgery time, anaesthesia and recovery side by side. Select a procedure name to jump to its section.

Full FaceliftMini FaceliftMid Facelift
Surgery timeapprox. 2–3 hoursapprox. 2–3 hoursapprox. 2–3 hours
AnesthesiaSedation · general anesthesiaSedation · general anesthesiaSedation
Suture removalafter 7–14 daysafter 7–14 daysafter approx. 7 days
Daily lifeafter approx. 7 daysafter approx. 7 daysafter approx. 7 days
VisitsHome the same day · 3 to 4 follow-up visitsHome the same day · 3 to 4 visits · recovery may be shorter depending on scopeHome the same day · 1 to 2 visits · the fastest recovery of the three

Visits

Full Facelift
Home the same day · 3 to 4 follow-up visits
Mini Facelift
Home the same day · 3 to 4 visits · recovery may be shorter depending on scope
Mid Facelift
Home the same day · 1 to 2 visits · the fastest recovery of the three

DIVA Plastic Surgery is located at 7F, 584 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Sinsa Station Exit 3 · Nonhyeon Station Exit 9). Facelift Center consultations are conducted personally by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kim Jong Myeong, by appointment only.

Last updated

The information above reflects the clinic guidance as of the date below and is updated on this page whenever it changes.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

QWhere are the facelift incisions, and will the scars show?
Full Facelift
Incisions follow the natural contours around the ear. They fade over time, and we choose positions hidden by the hairline and the outline of the ear. How visible a scar is can vary with skin type and the individual.
QHow soon can I return to daily life after surgery?
Full Facelift
Light daily activities are usually possible around 7 days after surgery, and sutures are removed after 7–14 days. How long swelling and bruising take to settle varies widely and is explained at consultation.
QHow is this different from a thread lift or laser?
Full Facelift
Thread lifts and lasers stimulate the skin and the tissue beneath it without incisions. A facelift directly lifts and fixes the SMAS layer that causes sagging, so it suits cases where sagging is more pronounced. We decide the right approach together at consultation.
QCould my expressions look unnatural afterwards?
Full Facelift
DIVA's principle is to lift only as much as needed within the balance of the whole face. We never lift so far that expressions change, and we explain the expected range of change in advance at consultation.
QHow do the three facelift options differ?
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift is not one fixed technique but a tailored programme in which the areas to treat are designed around your folds. Where a full facelift lifts the SMAS layer across a standard whole-face scope, a mini facelift adjusts that scope to the individual, which sometimes ends up covering the whole face.
Mid Facelift
The extent of fascia dissection differs. A full facelift covers the whole face including the lower face and jawline, while a mid facelift concentrates on the center of the face: cheeks, nasolabial folds and tear-trough lines. If sagging extends across the whole face, a full facelift may be more suitable.
QHow long is recovery?
Mini Facelift
It depends on the areas included and the scope. At consultation we outline the expected recovery period and visit schedule for your individual plan.
Mid Facelift
Sutures are removed after about 7 days, when daily activities can resume, and you return 1–2 times so we can check your progress. How long swelling and bruising take to settle varies widely and is explained at consultation.
QCan I add other areas later?
Mini Facelift
Yes. Sagging progresses at a different pace in each area, so additional areas can be planned when the time comes.
QWhy a mid facelift instead of filler for nasolabial folds?
Mid Facelift
If the folds are caused not by lost volume but by sagging cheeks, filling alone has its limits. Returning the sagging tissue to place can be the more fundamental approach. We check the cause together at consultation.