Anti-Aging & Lifting Surgery

Deep Layer Facelift (SMAS Facelift) and Anti-Aging & Lifting Surgery

Reviewer Details

Medically reviewed by Dr. Choi deokho, Representative Director & Plastic Surgeon, Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Registered as the clinic's legal representative in the Korean National Tax Service registry, Full Member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons · Last reviewed 2026-08-18 · Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Anti-aging and lifting surgery at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic addresses facial aging through a spectrum of approaches — led by the deep layer (SMAS) facelift, a surgical procedure that repositions the supporting layer beneath the skin, alongside neck wrinkle removal, mouth corner lifting, thread lifting, and V-OLET fat-dissolving injection, matched individually to each patient's degree of aging.

What Is a Deep Layer Facelift (SMAS Facelift)?

An SMAS facelift lifts and repositions the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) — the connective-tissue and muscle layer beneath the skin — along with the overlying tissue, rather than simply tightening the skin's outer surface alone.

• Addresses age-related sagging, jowls, and loss of jawline definition.

• Repositions the deeper support layer, not just the skin covering it.

• Produces a more natural, longer-lasting result than a skin-only lift.

• Commonly performed with local anesthesia plus sedation or general anesthesia.

• Incisions are placed around the hairline and ear, concealed once healed.

• Does not stop natural aging; it resets visible signs of aging accumulated up to the time of surgery.

Who Performs Facelift and Lifting Procedures at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

Dr. Choi Deokho, M.D.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Choi deokho is the Representative Director and plastic surgeon at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, with approximately 25 years associated with the clinic since its establishment in 2001. His stated core specializations include facial plastic surgery, anti-aging and lifting procedures, rhinoplasty, and facial contouring. He holds full membership in the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the Korean Society for Microsurgery, the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Patients are evaluated individually for skin laxity, jowling, and neck condition before a surgical or non-surgical approach is recommended, since the appropriate technique depends heavily on age and degree of sagging rather than patient preference alone.

Because this category spans everything from a comprehensive surgical facelift to a single injectable session, Dr. Choi's evaluation process places significant weight on correctly identifying which of these categories a patient's concern actually belongs to, rather than defaulting to whichever procedure the patient initially requests. A patient who asks specifically for "thread lifting" but who, on examination, has jowling and jawline laxity beyond what threads can meaningfully address is counseled toward a surgical consultation instead, since threads applied to a case that needs surgical correction tend to produce only a brief, disappointing improvement. Conversely, a younger patient with only mild sagging is generally steered away from a full facelift toward a less invasive option, since surgery carries recovery costs and risks that are not justified when a lighter-touch treatment would achieve a comparable result for that patient's degree of aging.

Anti-Aging and Lifting Options at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

SMAS Facelift	Thread Lifting	Neck Wrinkle Removal
Surgical repositioning of the deep support layer; incisions around hairline/ear	Minimally invasive lifting threads placed beneath the skin; no large incision	Surgical correction of neck lines, laxity, and contour
Best for noticeable jowling and jawline laxity requiring durable correction	Best for mild-to-moderate sagging wanting a subtle lift with little downtime	Best for visible neck aging, horizontal lines, and skin laxity
Longer recovery, longest-lasting result	Shorter recovery, results generally last 12-18 months	Frequently combined with facelift surgery

Beyond these primary options, the clinic separately offers mouth corner lifting — a minimally invasive surgical correction for downturned mouth corners performed under local anesthesia — and V-OLET, a non-surgical deoxycholic-acid injection that reduces localized submental fat (a double chin) without surgery. Patients considering an SMAS facelift are also frequently interested in the deep plane facelift technique discussed in broader facial-rejuvenation literature; a deep plane approach goes beneath the SMAS to release facial ligaments and reposition tissue as a single unit, generally suited to more advanced aging, while an SMAS facelift suits milder-to-moderate cases with a comparatively shorter recovery.

Choosing between an SMAS facelift and a deep plane approach is not a matter of picking the more aggressive-sounding option by default. A deep plane facelift can address deeper signs of aging around the nose, mouth, and cheeks more comprehensively, and is generally associated with longer-lasting results — often cited in the range of ten to fifteen years compared with five to ten years for an SMAS facelift — but it also typically involves a longer operative time and a longer recovery. For patients with milder to moderate aging, an SMAS facelift often achieves a comparable improvement in the areas that matter most to them with less surgical time and a shorter path back to normal activity, which is why the recommendation is grounded in the surgeon's direct examination rather than a general preference for the more extensive technique.

Mouth corner lifting addresses a narrower, more specific concern than the other procedures in this category: a downturned mouth corner that can make a naturally neutral expression look tired, sad, or subtly displeased even when the rest of the face shows no other signs of aging. Because facial shape and lip line vary meaningfully between patients, the incision design and the balance between strengthening the muscles that lift the corner and weakening the muscle that pulls it down are planned individually for each patient rather than applied as a single standard technique.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Anti-Aging and Lifting Procedures?

• Adults with noticeable facial and neck laxity, jowling, and loss of jawline definition, for a full SMAS facelift.

• Patients with mild-to-moderate sagging who want a subtle lift with less downtime, for thread lifting.

• Patients with visible neck lines and skin laxity, for neck wrinkle removal, often combined with facelift surgery.

• Patients with localized submental fullness and reasonably good skin elasticity, for V-OLET injection.

• Patients with naturally or age-related downturned mouth corners seeking a more naturally pleasant resting expression, for mouth corner lifting.

• Generally healthy individuals medically suitable for elective surgery, with realistic expectations about the results.

• Not suitable candidates generally include those with uncontrolled medical conditions, significant healing risk factors, or unrealistic expectations, until these issues are addressed.

What to Expect: Procedure, Recovery, and Results Timeline

Stage	What typically happens
Day of surgery	Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia for facelift/neck surgery; local anesthesia only for thread lift and V-OLET
Day 1-3	Swelling and bruising most noticeable for surgical procedures; minimal downtime for thread lift/V-OLET
Week 1-2	Most patients resume light activity; surgical incision sites continue healing
Month 1-3	Facelift and neck results continue to refine as swelling fully resolves
Month 3-6+	Final surgical result assessed; thread lift and V-OLET results typically stabilize earlier and require less overall settling time

An SMAS facelift generally involves incisions around the hairline and ear, repositioning of the SMAS layer and overlying tissue, removal of excess skin as needed, and careful closure; swelling and bruising commonly improve over the first few weeks with substantial recovery generally taking several weeks and final refinement continuing longer. Thread lifting is performed under local anesthesia with patients feeling pressure or mild discomfort during placement, and results developing gradually with maintenance treatment often needed over time.

Neck wrinkle removal surgery is planned individually according to the patient's neck anatomy and goals, and depending on the specific case may involve incisions, removal or repositioning of excess tissue, and tightening of deeper neck structures before skin closure. Because the neck and lower face are closely connected both anatomically and visually, many patients addressing visible neck aging are also evaluated for whether the lower face should be treated in the same session rather than separately — treating only the neck while leaving significant midface or jowl laxity untouched can sometimes leave the two areas looking mismatched. Mouth corner lifting, by contrast, is typically a shorter, more contained procedure focused specifically on the corners of the mouth, and V-OLET is delivered as a series of injections into the targeted submental fat with no incision at all.

Preparation for any surgical procedure in this category generally includes a full medical history and medication review, with particular attention to blood-thinning medications and supplements that may need to be paused before surgery on the surgeon's advice, and smoking cessation is generally recommended given its effect on healing and blood supply to surgical tissue. For thread lifting and V-OLET, preparation is comparatively minimal, though patients are still asked to disclose medications, allergies, and any prior treatments in the same area.

Combining Facelift and Lifting with Other Treatments

• Facelift surgery is often combined with neck lifting, eyelid surgery, brow procedures, or fat-related facial contouring for a more complete result.

• For deep wrinkles around the mouth, fat removal around the cheeks and chin liposuction may be performed together with facelift surgery.

• Patients interested in a comprehensive facial-rejuvenation plan may also review the clinic's Facial Contouring Surgery page.

Combining procedures within a single surgical session can reduce total recovery time compared with staging the same procedures across separate visits, which matters in particular for international patients who need to plan travel around their recovery. At the same time, combining too many procedures in one session can extend anesthesia time and lengthen recovery in ways that outweigh the convenience, so the surgical team weighs the specific combination against the patient's overall health, the total anesthesia time involved, and each procedure's individual healing requirements before recommending whether to combine or stage treatments. Patients traveling from abroad are encouraged to raise their available time in Korea openly during consultation, since the appropriate combination plan depends partly on how much time is realistically available for recovery and follow-up before departure.

Safety, Precision, and Clinic Standards

Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic is a Registered Medical Institution for Attracting Foreign Patients, certified by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare under the Medical Overseas Expansion and Foreign Patients Attraction Act. Dr. Choi deokho is a full member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Facelift and neck-lift patients are assessed individually for skin laxity, facial structure, and medical history before a surgical plan is finalized. As with any facial surgery, temporary swelling, bruising, numbness, infection, and asymmetry are possible, and a facelift does not stop the ongoing natural aging process — it resets the visible signs of aging that had already accumulated (see ASPS — Facelift Safety).

Postoperative monitoring through scheduled follow-up visits is treated as an integral part of the surgical plan rather than an optional courtesy check, since early identification of unusual swelling, asymmetry, or wound-healing concerns generally allows for simpler management than addressing the same issue later. Patients undergoing thread lifting or V-OLET are likewise asked to attend any recommended follow-up so the treating physician can confirm the treatment is settling as expected. For all procedures in this category, patients are encouraged to report any unusual pain, fever, or rapidly increasing swelling promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit, since prompt evaluation supports a smoother recovery and reduces the chance of a minor issue becoming a more significant one.

The Bottom Line

• Anti-aging and lifting at Good-Line is led by the SMAS facelift, alongside thread lifting, neck wrinkle removal, mouth corner lifting, and V-OLET injection.

• Technique choice depends on age and degree of sagging — surgical options generally provide longer-lasting results, while non-surgical options offer shorter recovery.

• Reviewed and performed under Dr. Choi deokho, an experienced plastic surgeon with roughly 25 years at the clinic.

• Facelift surgery does not stop natural aging; it resets previously accumulated visible signs of aging.

• Combining procedures (facelift with neck lift, eyelid surgery, or fat contouring) is common for a more complete result.

• Mouth corner lifting and V-OLET address narrower, more specific concerns rather than overall facial laxity.

• The right choice depends on an individual physical examination by the surgeon, not on patient preference for a particular procedure name alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is an SMAS facelift different from a regular facelift? "Facelift" is a general term; an SMAS facelift specifically repositions the deeper muscle and connective-tissue layer beneath the skin rather than only tightening the skin's surface, which generally produces a more natural, longer-lasting result than a skin-only lift focused purely on removing excess surface skin.

How long does an SMAS facelift last? Results are generally long-lasting, though natural aging continues afterward. Individual longevity depends on skin quality, age at the time of surgery, sun exposure habits, and other lifestyle factors that influence how quickly skin and tissue continue to age after surgery.

Is thread lifting a substitute for a surgical facelift? Not for patients with significant sagging. Thread lifting suits mild-to-moderate laxity and provides a more modest, shorter-lived lift than surgery; patients with more advanced sagging are generally better served by a surgical facelift rather than repeated thread treatments.

What is mouth corner lifting? A minimally invasive surgical correction for downturned mouth corners, performed under local anesthesia, designed to raise a drooping mouth corner for a more naturally pleasant resting expression rather than a habitually tired or displeased look.

Does V-OLET remove loose skin under the chin? No — V-OLET reduces localized submental fat through an injectable treatment. It does not address loose skin; patients whose main concern is skin laxity rather than fat are generally better served by a different approach, such as neck wrinkle removal surgery or a lifting procedure.

How much downtime does facelift surgery require? Swelling and bruising commonly improve over the first few weeks, with most patients resuming light activity within one to two weeks, though final refinement of the surgical result continues for longer as deeper tissue settles and residual swelling fully resolves.

Can facelift surgery be combined with other procedures? Yes — facelift surgery is frequently combined with neck lifting, eyelid surgery, brow procedures, or fat-related facial contouring depending on the patient's needs and overall health.

How do I know if I need a facelift or if thread lifting is enough? This depends on the degree of sagging present, which is best assessed through an in-person or photo-based consultation rather than self-diagnosis. As a general pattern, thread lifting suits mild-to-moderate laxity in younger patients, while noticeable jowling, jawline laxity, or neck sagging generally responds better to surgical correction rather than a non-surgical option.

Is mouth corner lifting a common procedure outside Korea? It is a comparatively specialized procedure, and many patients researching it internationally note that few clinics outside Korea offer it as a dedicated, named surgical option; most Western practices instead address downturned mouth corners as a secondary effect of broader facial rejuvenation rather than as a standalone, targeted procedure.

How many V-OLET sessions are typically needed? The number of sessions depends on the amount of localized fat present and how the individual patient responds to treatment; the treating clinician outlines a realistic session plan during consultation rather than promising a single-visit result for every patient regardless of their starting anatomy.

What is the recovery timeline for neck wrinkle removal surgery? Swelling and bruising generally improve gradually after neck wrinkle removal, similar to facelift surgery, and while surgical results can be long-lasting, natural aging continues afterward. Recovery specifics vary by the surgical technique used and whether the procedure is combined with facelift surgery.

Will facelift surgery leave visible scars? Incisions are placed around the hairline and ear specifically so that resulting scars are concealed within the hair and natural skin creases once healing is complete, rather than located in a visible open area of the face.

Book a Consultation at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

To discuss whether an SMAS facelift, thread lifting, neck wrinkle removal, mouth corner lifting, or V-OLET injection best fits your goals, contact Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam-gu, Seoul at +82 2 543 1830 or through the clinic's online contact form. A consultation with the surgical team is the only reliable way to determine which technique matches your specific degree of facial and neck aging and your overall aesthetic goals.

Disclaimer

This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Candidacy, technique, and expected outcomes can only be determined through a consultation with a qualified physician. None of the descriptions above should be read as a guarantee of a specific result, timeline, or degree of improvement — they describe what the clinic's stated techniques generally involve and what patients commonly experience.

Sources & Further Reading

• The innovative techniques of the deep plane facelift — American Society of Plastic Surgeons

• Outcomes of polydioxanone knotless thread lifting for facial rejuvenation — PubMed