SMAS facelift

SMAS facelift of the face and neck is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting signs of aging. During the SMAS facelift, not only the skin but also the muscles are tightened, allowing for natural-looking results and turning back the clock by 10-15 years.

The procedure effectively eliminates skin sagging, smoothens wrinkles, and restores a youthful and fresh appearance to the face and neck. It is particularly suitable for middle-aged patients aged 35-40 who have started to show signs of aging, such as changes in facial contours, the appearance of jowls, and neck rings.

It is important to note that SMAS facelift is an invasive surgical procedure and has nothing to do with laser stimulation. Patients need to undergo a thorough medical examination before the operation, consider the need for scar care, and be prepared to take at least a few days off. The recovery period may include swelling, bruising, and restrictions on physical activity.

In South Korea, unlike Russia, SMAS facelift does not include forehead lifting; this operation is considered separate and is discussed with the surgeon as an additional plastic surgery procedure.

The procedure is often combined with others, such as breast lift or abdominoplasty.

You can watch our videos about SMAS facelift here YouTube.

Brief information about the surgery

• Surgery Duration: 3-4 hours

• Type of Anesthesia: General anesthesia

• Hospitalization: 24 hours

• Return to Normal Life: 4-5 days

• Clinic Visits: 3-4 times

• Stitches Removal: Day 14

Why patients consider face and neck lifts?

Patients may consider face and neck lifts for several reasons:

• Aging of the skin: With age, the skin loses its elasticity and firmness, leading to skin sagging and the appearance of wrinkles. A facelift helps restore a younger and tighter appearance, reducing signs of aging.

• Improving facial and neck contours: A facelift can correct skin laxity and changes in contours caused by weight loss or natural aging, providing more defined and harmonious features.

• Boosting self-esteem and confidence: Appearance plays a significant role in self-perception. Improving one’s appearance through a facelift can significantly boost self-esteem and confidence.

• Minimizing the impact of external factors: Harmful habits, environmental factors, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can accelerate skin aging. A facelift helps eliminate the visible effects of these factors.

• Desire to meet personal beauty standards: In some cases, patients aim to achieve a specific look or beauty standards they consider personal, leading them to opt for a facelift.

Who is a candidate for the surgery?

A candidate for SMAS facelift typically:

• Is aged 40-60: Patients in this age group often experience moderate signs of aging that can be effectively corrected with this procedure.

• Has sagging skin and altered facial contours: Suitable candidates have sagging skin and less defined facial and neck contours, usually due to aging or significant weight loss.

• Is in good overall health: Candidates should be in good physical and mental health, without serious medical conditions that could increase the risk of complications.

• Has realistic expectations: It is important to understand the procedure’s capabilities and limitations and have realistic expectations regarding the results.

• Is a non-smoker: Smoking can increase the risk of complications and slow the healing process, so ideal candidates do not smoke or are willing to quit smoking for a period before and after the surgery.

Why South Korea?

South Korea annually performs more cosmetic procedures and surgeries than any other country in the world. Local doctors are considered the most educated and competitive globally because only 0.01% of medical school graduates can become plastic surgeons here. Korea’s equipment and medical devices are of the same quality as those in the USA and Germany, ranking it in the top 3 countries with the best technical equipment in clinics.

All anti-aging procedures are carried out in accredited clinics that have permission to work with foreign patients and have staff anesthesiologists. All surgeons who operate on our patients have 15 to 30 years of experience specializing in soft tissue surgeries and perform no more than 2 surgeries a day. Fill out the questionnaire so that we can calculate the cost of treatment for you, conduct a preliminary consultation, and prepare a plan for your trip to South Korea for the surgery.

How to prepare for a lifting surgery in South Korea

• Refrain from eating and drinking for 10 hours before the procedure. Take a shower.

• Avoid taking Aspirin, Ibuprofen (including medications like Advil or Motrin), and other drugs that can increase the risk of excessive bleeding for 2 weeks before the surgery. Tylenol is only prohibited for 3 days before the surgery.

• Do not smoke, including hookah and electronic cigarettes. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and can slow down tissue healing. If you smoke, the doctor will recommend quitting smoking before the surgery. Some doctors refuse to perform surgery on smoking patients due to the high risk of complications. It is unsafe to be around smoking relatives and friends or in public places designated for smoking.

• Review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past illnesses, as well as any surgeries you have undergone. Tell them about any medications you are currently taking or have taken recently. Please do not hide this information from the surgeon and coordinators.

• Visit the surgeon for an examination and show them photos of the desired result.

• If you have had tests done less than a month ago, you can bring them with you. If not, we will conduct all the necessary tests in Korea.

• Ask someone to drive you to the clinic or help you after the surgery if you plan to arrive by car.

• Place items next to the bed that you may need during your rest, such as lip balm, water, a chocolate bar, or a mobile phone.

How the surgery is performed

Before the surgery, you undergo a minimum of 2 consultations with the surgeon and take tests to gain access to the procedure. In the morning on the day of the surgery, the surgeon marks the face, answers questions, and hands you over for preparation to the medical coordinator. You are taken to the restroom, asked about your well-being, and the time of your last food and water intake is checked.

Then you are taken to the operating room, where they help you lie on the operating table, secure your arms and legs to ensure your safety and prevent involuntary movements during the surgeon’s work, and insert a catheter into your hand through which medications and anesthesia will be administered.

After the anesthesiologist puts you to sleep, the surgeon starts the operation: using a scalpel, several incisions are made – from the skin to the deep muscle layer (the incision line follows the contour of the earlobe, around the ear, and extends into the hairline for facelift and along the lower hairline for neck lift), excess tissues are removed, and stitches are applied. In some cases, fat or fillers are added to areas of the face and neck where volume is lacking.

After the surgery is completed, a special bandage is applied to the face, which helps protect the surgical area from damage, keep the tissues together, and reduce swelling. The patient wakes up, and they are escorted to the recovery room.

What to expect after the surgery

After the surgery, a translator or medical nurses wake you up and help you move to your room. Most patients do not remember this moment and feel like they woke up in a warm bed – this is the effect of anesthesia.

In the first 10-20 minutes after waking up, you may feel chills, but this quickly passes, and there is a warming mattress on your bed to make this period more comfortable. Some degree of pain may be present, although it is dulled by pain relieving injections and medications used during the surgery. In addition to discomfort, you will notice that your face starts to swell – this is normal, as the body begins its regeneration process.

You may also feel discomfort due to the compression bandage – many clients complain that it presses on the neck under the chin. You can adjust the bandage slightly or ask to put a cotton pad under it, but under no circumstances should you remove it. It will be with you for only three days, so be patient and wait. You will stay in the clinic for about another day after the surgery, with a catheter in your hand delivering medications. The next day, the coordinator and medical nurses will check your condition. If there are no symptoms such as dizziness and nausea, you can prepare for discharge: change clothes, collect your medications, and follow postoperative recommendations.

After discharge, pain sensations may increase slightly, so be sure to put several pillows under your head to reduce swelling and take the pain relievers prescribed by the surgeon, which contain pain relievers. You may experience a mild headache, and your eyes or nose may swell, but these are normal symptoms, so do not be alarmed and continue to follow the rules of rehabilitation.

Don’t forget that during the first few days after the surgery, you should avoid solid food, so prepare porridge, soups, juices, smoothies, and chocolate in advance to get through this period.

By the end of the week, you will look much better, so try to walk as much as possible and continue sleeping with your head elevated. After 14 days, the surgeon will remove the stitches. By this time, most of the swelling and hematomas will have subsided, and you will look almost normal and will be able to return to your normal life.

Rehabilitation process and description of post-operative procedures

Immediately After the Procedure: You will have a compression bandage on your face, and there may be moderate pain. You will spend the first night in the clinic under medical supervision. Your face will start to swell, and you may feel pressure under the bandage. Unfortunately, you will have to tolerate this discomfort for several days.

Days 1-2: After approximately 24 hours, the hospitalization period ends, and if you are feeling well, you will be discharged home. Swelling will reach its peak, spreading across your entire face. This is normal, so continue to follow the rehabilitation guidelines.

Days 3-7: Swelling gradually starts to decrease. The surgeon assesses tissue healing, and medical nurses remove the bandage. Avoid sports and activities that require lowering your head. Continue to sleep with your head elevated. Try not to laugh or open your mouth wide.

Days 7-14: Reduction of swelling, disappearance of discomfort, and a gradual return to normal life. Regular and extended walks are recommended for faster recovery. Do not smoke under any circumstances for 25-30 days after the operation. If you introduce an infection, a repeat operation may be required. Vaping, hookah, and other forms of smoking are strictly prohibited. If you couldn’t resist and additional swelling occurs, contact the coordinator immediately and do not hide the cause of infection.

Days 14-21: Removal of stitches. Continue to avoid intensive workouts and physical exercises. Follow the rehabilitation rules, do not smoke, and do not consume alcohol. Swelling and hematomas decrease to the point where the fact that you had surgery is not noticeable to outsiders.

Days 21-30: Your face may periodically swell, depending on which side you slept on. Swelling may shift to the left or right side each day differently. Do not be alarmed; this is normal. Eyes and nose may still occasionally swell. Be patient and wait for the results.

Days 31-60: Swelling almost completely disappears, and you forget that you had surgery. You can start eating regular food, engage in sports, laugh, and use facial expressions.

Days 60-90: You can swim in the sea and sunbathe, do regular exercises, and lead a normal life. During this period, your face may still swell in the mornings, especially after consuming alcohol. Do not worry; the swelling will completely subside one year after the operation.

1 Year After the Operation: Full completion of rehabilitation