K Couture's guide to facelifting

[k-couture]

Also interesting fact is according to western surgeons, (Korean surgeons don't really mention this) the cells grafted into your face if prone to expansion via weight gain, say you gain like 10 kg or whatever, there will be more fat distributed to the facial region where the cells have been grafted.

So just to be clear its like ummmm. You use the fat cells from your thighs right? And historically when you gain weight the first place where you get fatter is your thighs. Then you shovethe thigh fat into your face. You see where im going with this lol.....

 

[k-couture]

jacque1969 said: ↑

Thank you for sharing. I'm interested in the same procedure and maybe plan for next year when horrible winter is gone in Korea...your review will definitely help me for my future consultations.

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oh yeh this is acually really horrible. Its been like -12 , - 8, -5, -7, one lucky day of 2 degrees then - 7 again. I can't deal lol

 

[hanalymi]

Gats said: ↑

If the fat graft was okay initially and the sagging appeared after weight gain then your skin could no longer supported the amount of volume in your face so it drooped. Even if you're young, your skin has a limit to how much volume it can support. If you can lose the fat through weight loss or lipo AND your skin can shrink back, that could solve it. If you the fat is removed/lossed and your skin doesn't shrink, yes the skin sagging will look even worse if you don't get a lift.

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Thank girl, I think so too. The sagging already shows by my marionette lines, was so depressed to find a cure but then now I just let it be. I think Im gonna lose the weight and then if I cant bear the sagging I will search for a facelift doc. The thing which sounds most scary to me is the sideburn hair loss.

K Couture said: ↑

Also interesting fact is according to western surgeons, (Korean surgeons don't really mention this) the cells grafted into your face if prone to expansion via weight gain, say you gain like 10 kg or whatever, there will be more fat distributed to the facial region where the cells have been grafted.

So just to be clear its like ummmm. You use the fat cells from your thighs right? And historically when you gain weight the first place where you get fatter is your thighs. Then you shovethe thigh fat into your face. You see where im going with this lol.....

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I agree. Been searching like crazy after my face began to sag and it says the same too. The only reason I could think of is when I gain weight, it shows on my face because of the fat graft, extracted from my thigh. I didnt gain fat on my face before, hardly. My mom and aunties dont have sagging problem, yes they have loose skin but it doesnt look sag, and not visible, their skin still in pretty good condition so its kinda shocking when it occured to me.

 

[jqueen]

Hello, I m 42 years old and gg to Korea in January.

I m troubled over my big round face and also like a facelift. Which clinic is best for SMAS facelift ?
I was quoted horrendous price and I need help pls. Do pm me. Tks a lot

 

[shermainetsj]

Jqueen said: ↑

Hello, I m 42 years old and gg to Korea in January.

I m troubled over my big round face and also like a facelift. Which clinic is best for SMAS facelift ?
I was quoted horrendous price and I need help pls. Do pm me. Tks a lot

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Had full facelift 2mths ago in Korea. Shared my experience here:

#

 

[pjess90]

Thank you for sharing. Have all your senses come back? I've heard that loss of sense happens near the incision area. I'm not 30 yet but I received facial contouring years ago and have excessive skin on cheeks and jaws which makes me to consider mini-face lift...

 

[sheonlylooks25]

Gantz said: ↑

Do you know where he went? I might need a lift after facial contouring ;/

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From reading PF I believe he has started his own clinic, Area888

 

[madambutterfly89]

K Couture said: ↑

I recently got a facelift bout a 2 months ago cos i was dating a younger guy (hehe cougar) and lied about my age () and ppl been asking me lots of questions so I will do a break down for anyone who is looking to undergo the facelift.

First thing to remember is facelift is just a generic term. There's different types of facelifts, most of them are just marketing names. The most important thing to remember is that a facelift, a true lift, deals with the SMAS tissues. Anything that does not correct the underlying SMAS layer is essentially an ineffective lift which is not long lasting. If the SMAS is properly corrected, it can last anywhere from 7-15 years. HOWEVER one thing to note is to communicate this with your surgeon because depending on your tissues and the degree of correction, longevity of the lift can vary between this approximation. My lift for example, because my sagging while noticeable but not significant, over correction would increase the lasting duration of the effect but it would also increase the period whereby my face will look unnatural too. There's a certain degree of correction in one's face where the tissues need to drop down to a natural level for results to be appealing. At the same time, if you look normal and perfect soon after a facelift, then you know its not gonna last long.

In korea few places refer to the SMAS lift as such. Instead it is typically referred to as the mid face lift. This ONLY corrects from the mid face to jowels. Under chin and neck is a neck lift and forehead is a forehead lift. Many ppl think facelift corrects the entire face, that is not the case. They are seperate procedures. When the SMAS lift is branded under the mid face lift, remember there is 2 methods. One is a concentric method where everything is pulled to the mid facial region, while the other is the standard where it is pulled vertically via an incision around the hairline to back of the ears. The first method is typically not suitable for most asians as it creates excessive fullness to the mid facial region, but ideal for many caucasians as the density of facial skin and tissues is thinner than asians.

Another method is the MACS lift, the short scar method that is simpler to perform, doesnt take as long and has a shorter scar. This is actually, considered by many surgeons to be a marketing name. As i mentioned before, selecting what lift is not about choosing these names but rather identifying the degree of correction necessary and how the SMAS layer will be manipulated. To note is that the MACS lift, while a short scar method cannot be easily concealed as the SMAS lift is able to. And the SMAS lift produces indefinitely better results because it enables more correction. But again, this depends on the degree of your sagging. For myself the directional pull had to be unconventional because I have naturally a wider bone contrast (cheek bone to jaw dimension ratio) so if I had done a typical vertical lift i would end up with huge cheekbones because of the new tissue position and completely negate my zygoma reduction I had previously done.

Anyways for the recovery, if you are of those lucky individuals with the ideal bone structure, you won't look too freaky immediatedly post op. However I looked like a freaking lizard monster for a good 2 weeks before everything slowly dropped to a natural stance. One thing to note too is the bunching effect. When the tissues are pulled, some is excised while others are bunched via a dissolvable thread. This takes time to dissolve and you will notice unevenness at the side of your face next to the ear. This is NORMAL and part and parcel of the lift. Once it dissolves is when you will start to look like a younger you. Expect some temporary sensory nerve damage for the next few months. This isn't my first face lift so I am used to it. My first time the temporary dmg to the sensory nerves took about 3-4 months to recover. This time as its a revision I predect it could take 5-6. But I am slowly getting more feeling back which is great.

Be mentally strong because even as a surgical junkie and having done a facelift before, I still had post op depression cos my face was looking like such a monster initially. Although remember everyone's bone structure is different. Ive had friends who did their lift and didnt go through the monster phase because their facial structure is essentially different to mine. Also, lifting is a skin flap surgery so blood thinners and smoking is a big NO NO. You need circulation or the tissues can turn black and die (necrosis). The lift shouldnt be painful at all. Just mild discomfort due to tightness and swelling. If you experience pain then..........its questionable....

Oh something interesting too, I did a neck lift together with my smas lift cos, why the hell not? The incision is from the same site as the smas lift and I had a bit of a double chin. If I did it later then I would have to open up from the similar incision later and induce more premature scarring. Anyways as for my results I love it. Im finally done with my face surgeries and reached the point where I am truly happy. It took nearly 10 years damn it! Now my plastic surgery junkie will be confusing on body enhancements since the face is done. Hehe sounds like im objectifying myself. Oh and don't bother posting on here asking me to show you pictures, if I don't know you I'm not going to post shove anything on here publically.

Ummmm I think that's it really. If I think of anything else to add ill update this thread. Hope this info helps ppl get prepared for their lift.

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Thank you for this. Very informative and so detailed. As someone who had cheekbone and jaw reduction-I'm so conflicted if I should revised my cheekbones or bypass all that and get a facelift along with fat grafting. It's tough to decide which is the best method that will yield a more aesthetically appealing result. I wonder if anyone was able to address skin laxity with a facelift after fc surgery or if actually made things worse.

 

[madambutterfly89]

Kcouture- forgive me if you already answered this question-can you recommend a surgeon for facelift?

 

[k-couture]

Madambutterfly89 said: ↑

Thank you for this. Very informative and so detailed. As someone who had cheekbone and jaw reduction-I'm so conflicted if I should revised my cheekbones or bypass all that and get a facelift along with fat grafting. It's tough to decide which is the best method that will yield a more aesthetically appealing result. I wonder if anyone was able to address skin laxity with a facelift after fc surgery or if actually made things worse.

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the point of a face lift is to address skin laxity so it will never make things worse. In fact, it is quite common for surgeons to do a 2 part program for patients who are older or have bad skin elasticity, whereby 3-6 months following the facial contouring, the patient returns for a facelift to reverse the sagging produced from the facial contouring. Usually id advise using different surgeons if anyone wants to go this route because a facial contouring surgeon is not an anti aging specialist and vice versa. Its also not usually common to have 2 amazing facial contouring and anti aging surgeon at the same clinic/ hospital so i feel its more ideal to use different surgeons for it.

So yes a facelift will improve any side effects you have from the lift so as long as its tissue related. In your case if you are happy with your width and facial shape but can't stand the sagging that came with it, i would totally opt for the lift. I too did a lift after my zygoma reduction and after that everyone was complimenting how much younger i look and how much smaller my face got. I didnt really sag much from my zygoma reduction as i only wanted a subtle change as i do like the angular look and wasnt fond of the korean egg face, hence my facial contouring surgeon made note not to resect too much bone. anyways i digress. Long story short, for older ppl fc + lifting is a beautiful combination but if done at the same time results wont be as accurate. Should be spaced out 3-6 months apart. the longer the better actually

 

[phoebebuffey]

K Couture said: ↑

First thing to remember is facelift is just a generic term. There's different types of facelifts, most of them are just marketing names. The most important thing to remember is that a facelift, a true lift, deals with the SMAS tissues. Anything that does not correct the underlying SMAS layer is essentially an ineffective lift which is not long lasting.

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Hi KCouture! Thank you so much for this post and all your replies. I had a few questions for you...

1. I'm trying to research all these different options for facial surgeries (facelifts, acculift, lipo, power v, etc etc) and I'm so confused as to what each surgery is for and who its best suited for. For example, I had never heard of SMAS tissue! Do you have any tips for my research? This forum is such a great asset for Qs but searching for specific things often brings up so many results, and sometimes I get confused by the layout of RealSelf.

2. I still don't fully understand what you wrote about SMAS tissue and the SMAS procedure (going to research that next) - so my question may be redundant: How do you feel about facial liposuction? Lower cheek and chin, specifically.

I know that a lot of people say that you want to have cheeks for when you get older and your face hollows out, but I'm 25 and my face is HUUUUUGE. (I tried to attach a picture but it kept saying it was too big so here's a link: https://image.ibb.co/jrd0Ky/IMG_1034.jpg) I thought the power v lift would be good for my face, as my lower cheeks (right next to my chin) have "thick" fat and when I touch my jaw beneath it (or "pull up" my fat) I have the jaw I want. I just don't want so much cheeks! And the chin because I have a bit of a double chin and I think losing it will improve my profile view.

Something I'm concerned about is loose skin. I read a woman's experience with TLPS on RealSelf (linked below) - this was for the v-line jaw surgery (chin revision, zygoma, jaw reduction) but it still worried me as this wasn't something I thought of. I'm having a hard time finding info for Korean clinics that perform cheek/chin lipo, it seems to be all about facelifts, acculifts, and power v's (which I thought was cheek/chin lipo + acculift?).
https://www.realself.com/review/south-korea-kr-chin-surgery-korean-plastic-surgery

I've read that in younger patients who do facial lipo, their skin can usually 'bounce back' but older patients may get sagging skin if they don't do a facelift as well. My worry is that my cheeks are so big that they won't be able to bounce back and I'll be left with saggy skin on my cheeks and/or chin!

I thought I wanted a power v (cheek/chin lipo + acculift), rhinoplasty, veneers (not relevant but thought I'd share), a forehead reduction, arm lipo, and a breast augmentation with areola reconstruction, but I'm back to square 1 on how to help fix my lower face. ):

I will definitely go to consults and ask these Qs directly but I'm not planning to go to Korea until Nov at the earliest and Google hasn't been much help (maybe it's the way I'm phrasing my Qs) so if you have any knowledge that would be amazing. I want to be really prepared when I go so I can advocate for myself and what I want!

 

[phoebebuffey]

Ooh also just to add on to this^^^

I've lost about 40 pounds since my highest weight, and although I've put back on a bit of it ~10-15 (in the process of losing it again!), my cheeks have remained. Even at my lowest of 120ish I had cheeks. Slightly less on the sides but.... still in need of help.

 

[madambutterfly89]

K Couture said: ↑

the point of a face lift is to address skin laxity so it will never make things worse. In fact, it is quite common for surgeons to do a 2 part program for patients who are older or have bad skin elasticity, whereby 3-6 months following the facial contouring, the patient returns for a facelift to reverse the sagging produced from the facial contouring. Usually id advise using different surgeons if anyone wants to go this route because a facial contouring surgeon is not an anti aging specialist and vice versa. Its also not usually common to have 2 amazing facial contouring and anti aging surgeon at the same clinic/ hospital so i feel its more ideal to use different surgeons for it.

So yes a facelift will improve any side effects you have from the lift so as long as its tissue related. In your case if you are happy with your width and facial shape but can't stand the sagging that came with it, i would totally opt for the lift. I too did a lift after my zygoma reduction and after that everyone was complimenting how much younger i look and how much smaller my face got. I didnt really sag much from my zygoma reduction as i only wanted a subtle change as i do like the angular look and wasnt fond of the korean egg face, hence my facial contouring surgeon made note not to resect too much bone. anyways i digress. Long story short, for older ppl fc + lifting is a beautiful combination but if done at the same time results wont be as accurate. Should be spaced out 3-6 months apart. the longer the better actually

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Thanks K couture. Your posts have been very informative and educating. I would love to be able to widen my left cheekbone back out-I think my surgeon might have overestimated how much bone to resect- I've seen many girls Ct scan and most don't have an open gap like mine. I'm still dealing with this dilemma on wheather to just leave my cheekbone alone or risk another surgery. I've recieve dao many opinions for different surgeons.

I remember you mentioning having Abbas jaw reduction surgery done at ysnhee hospital. Did you ever end up getting jaw angle implants or did you just leave it as is?

Could you also recommend ansurgeon for facelift? I consulted one of the best facelift surgeon but he cost 30k for a full facelift:/

 

[phoebebuffey]

Does anyone have recommendations for anti-aging specialists?

I'm having a hard time finding someone who specializes in anti-aging and does forehead reduction. I was speaking with Cooki and they thought I meant a forehead implant D:

 

[madambutterfly89]

Korea is not the place for forehead reduction. The US would be good for that. PM for me if you would like doctor recommendation that specialize in this area.