Types of Surgical Facelift
Introduction
Facelift surgery is not a single procedure. In modern aesthetic surgery—especially in Korea—multiple facelift techniques exist, each designed to address different aging patterns, facial structures, and severity of sagging.
Choosing the wrong type of facelift can lead to:
- Under-correction
- Over-tight results
- Short-lived improvement
This guide explains all major types of surgical facelifts, how they differ, and who each is best suited for.
1. Mini Facelift (Short-Scar Facelift)
What It Is
A mini facelift is a limited facelift that focuses on early sagging, especially around the jawline and lower cheeks.
What It Targets
- Mild jowls
- Early jawline laxity
- Lower cheek sagging
Key Features
- Shorter incisions (around the ear)
- Limited skin lift
- May include light SMAS tightening
Best For
✔ Late 30s–40s
✔ Mild aging
✔ Patients wanting subtle improvement with shorter downtime
Limitations
- Not suitable for advanced sagging
- Limited neck improvement
2. SMAS Facelift (Standard / Traditional Facelift)
What It Is
The SMAS facelift lifts both the skin and the deeper SMAS layer (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), which provides more durable, natural results than skin-only lifting.
What It Targets
- Moderate facial sagging
- Jowls
- Nasolabial folds
- Lower face aging
Key Features
- Structural tightening
- More natural contour
- Longer-lasting than mini facelift
Best For
✔ 40s–50s
✔ Moderate sagging
✔ Patients seeking balanced, long-term improvement
3. Deep Plane Facelift
What It Is
A deep plane facelift releases and repositions deeper facial structures rather than simply pulling them tight. This technique restores youthful anatomy rather than stretching skin.
What It Targets
- Deep nasolabial folds
- Midface descent
- Advanced jowling
- Significant facial sagging
Key Features
- Lifts cheeks and jawline together
- Preserves natural facial movement
- Longest-lasting results
Best For
✔ 50s–60s+
✔ Moderate to advanced aging
✔ Patients wanting the most natural, durable result
Considerations
- More complex surgery
- Requires highly experienced surgeon
4. Extended SMAS / High SMAS Facelift
What It Is
An advanced variation of the SMAS facelift that extends dissection higher into the midface for stronger lifting.
What It Targets
- Midface sagging
- Heavy jowls
- Cheek descent
Best For
✔ Patients needing more lift than standard SMAS
✔ Those not ideal for full deep plane
5. Mid Facelift
What It Is
A mid facelift focuses on lifting the cheek and under-eye area, rather than the jawline.
What It Targets
- Cheek sagging
- Tear trough descent
- Flattened midface
Key Features
- Often combined with lower blepharoplasty
- Improves youthful cheek contour
Best For
✔ Hollow or sagging cheeks
✔ Patients whose aging is mainly midface-focused
6. Neck Lift (Often Combined With Facelift)
What It Is
A neck lift is frequently performed alongside a facelift to address sagging below the jawline.
What It Targets
- Loose neck skin
- Platysmal banding
- Loss of neck-jaw angle
Why It Matters
A facelift without neck correction can look incomplete. Many surgeons consider this a lower-face–neck unit, not separate areas.
7. Temporal Facelift (Upper Face Lift)
What It Is
A temporal facelift lifts the outer brow and upper face through incisions hidden in the hairline.
What It Targets
- Lateral brow drooping
- Upper face sagging
- Tired eye appearance
Best For
✔ Early brow descent
✔ Patients not ready for full brow or forehead lift
8. Composite Facelift
What It Is
A composite facelift lifts the skin, SMAS, and muscle layers together as a single unit.
What It Targets
- Severe facial aging
- Multi-layer sagging
Considerations
- Technically demanding
- Less commonly performed
- Reserved for select cases
How Surgeons Choose the Right Facelift Type
Experienced surgeons assess:
- Degree of skin laxity
- Depth of tissue descent
- Midface vs lower face aging
- Neck involvement
- Facial structure and gender differences
Most modern facelift plans are custom combinations, not single techniques.
Common Facelift Combinations
✔ Mini facelift + neck liposuction
✔ SMAS facelift + neck lift
✔ Deep plane facelift + fat grafting
✔ Facelift + eyelid surgery
✔ Facelift + brow or temporal lift
Combination approaches improve harmony and long-term satisfaction.
Recovery Differences (General)
- Mini facelift: ~7–10 days
- SMAS facelift: ~10–14 days
- Deep plane facelift: ~14–21 days
- Full facelift + neck lift: ~2–3 weeks visible recovery
Final refinement continues for several months.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single “best” facelift
- Technique should match aging pattern, not trend
- Deeper techniques = longer-lasting but more complex
- Surgeon expertise matters more than facelift name
Final Thoughts
Understanding the types of surgical facelift helps you set realistic expectations and avoid under- or over-treatment. The best outcomes come from proper diagnosis, conservative lifting vectors, and tailored technique selection, not from choosing the most aggressive option by default.
