Facelift & anti-aging
Mini facelift in Korea
A mini facelift lifts loose skin and the SMAS, the firm layer under it, through a short incision near the temple. The clinic mainly suggests it for lower-face sagging in your 20s to 40s. Surgery takes about 1 hour under sedation. Most people stay 7 to 10 days in Seoul and resume daily life after about a week.
Who is a good candidate for a mini facelift?
- Your sagging is mainly in the lower face, such as the cheeks and jaw. The clinic usually suggests this lift for people in their 20s to 40s
- You have early folds and loose skin around the eyes, cheeks and mouth corners, or deepening smile lines
- You want a shorter scar and a shorter recovery than a full facelift, and accept a smaller change
- Your neck does not need work. The full SMAS facelift is the option that also treats the neck
When it may not be the right choice
- Your mid face and neck have dropped a lot or your neck skin is loose. A full SMAS facelift usually suits this better
- You cannot give up smoking for several weeks around the operation, since smoking slows healing of the temple incision
- You expect the change of a full facelift from a smaller operation
Which method fits you?
The clinic compares its mini facelift with the full SMAS facelift. The surgeon recommends one after checking skin elasticity, where the sagging sits and whether the neck needs work.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini facelift | Through a short incision near the temple, the surgeon lifts loose skin and the SMAS over a smaller area of the lower face, then trims some skin. | Early sagging, mostly in the cheeks and lower face, usually between the 20s and 40s | About 1 week |
| SMAS facelift (full) | A longer incision curves in front of and behind the ear so the SMAS can be lifted across the mid face, lower face and neck, with extra skin trimmed. | Heavier sagging that reaches the mid face and neck, usually from the 50s on | 1 to 2 weeks |
What happens on the day of a mini facelift?
- Consultation with the surgeon, who checks skin elasticity, fat and where the sagging sits before choosing the lift.
- Sedation, so you are drowsy and relaxed for the hour or so of surgery.
- The surgeon makes a short incision near the temple, lifts and fixes the loose skin and SMAS layer, and removes some extra skin, which takes about 1 hour.
- The temple incision is closed with fine stitches, which come out on day 5 to 7. No hospital stay is needed, so you head back to your hotel the same day.
What is recovery like after a mini facelift?
- Days 1 to 3
- Swelling, tightness and some bruising are at their peak. Rest with your head raised and follow the surgeon’s advice on cold packs.
- Days 5 to 7
- Stitches come out. Bruising fades, and most people return to daily life at about one week.
- Weeks 2 to 4
- Remaining swelling and tightness ease. The skin near the incision may still feel numb or firm.
- Months 3 to 6
- The result has settled and the scar keeps fading.
How long should you stay in Seoul after a mini facelift?
A mini facelift fits into 7 to 10 days in Seoul. The stitches near the temple come out on day 5 to 7, and you will have 2 to 3 follow-up visits in all, so agree those dates with the clinic before you book. Most people fly around day 8. Swelling and tightness keep easing over the following weeks at home. If you become breathless, have chest pain, or one leg becomes painful and swollen, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic, and do not fly until a doctor says it is safe.
What are the risks of a mini facelift?
- Swelling, bruising and a tight feeling along the cheek and temple, which are expected and ease over the following weeks
- A hematoma, where blood pools under the lifted skin and may have to be drained. If one side swells quickly and becomes more painful, especially soon after surgery, contact the clinic straight away; if you cannot reach the clinic, get emergency care
- Injury to a facial nerve branch, leaving part of the face numb or weak
- A visible or widened scar, or hair loss near the incision at the temple
- Asymmetry, or sagging that comes back sooner than you hoped and needs a further procedure
- Infection, poor wound healing, a blood clot in a vein or the general risks of sedation. Skin problems are more likely if you smoke
What affects the cost of a mini facelift in Korea?
Mini facelift prices are not on this page yet; you receive a quote once the clinic has viewed your photos. The quote reflects the area to be lifted and anything added in the same session, such as under-eye fat repositioning, fat grafting or fillers. The written version should name the surgeon and include sedation, the 2 to 3 follow-up visits and stitch removal.
More questions
Who is a mini facelift for?
At the clinic, the mini facelift is usually for people in their 20s to 40s whose sagging is mainly in the lower face, such as the cheeks. If your mid face or neck has dropped a lot, the surgeon may suggest a full SMAS facelift instead.
How long does a mini facelift take?
About 1 hour under sedation. You do not need a hospital stay, and stitches come out on day 5 to 7.
When can I fly home after a mini facelift?
Most people fly around day 8, after the stitch check. Expect the cheeks and temples to look a little swollen on the plane.
Is a mini facelift the same as a thread lift?
No. A mini facelift is surgery: an incision is made, the SMAS layer is lifted and extra skin is removed. A thread lift places threads under the skin through needle holes, without an incision or skin removal. The change and the recovery are different, so ask the surgeon which one fits your face.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- An uplifting experience: The ins and outs of mini facelifts. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Comparison of Deep SMAS Lift and MACS in Facelift: A Meta-Analysis. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Facelift (rhytidectomy). NHS
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.