[Column] Facelift: How to Raise the Effect and Satisfaction With Deep Plane Facelift Surgery

With life expectancy extended by advances in medicine, people in their 40s to 60s, referred to as the 'new middle age,' are socially active. Unlike the past, when they were seen as elders who step back and lend strength to younger generations, they now step forward themselves, work as influencers, and show independent, active vitality. Their perception of themselves is not much different from when they were young.

But as the saying goes, you can hide your age but not your wrinkles, and skin aging that progresses over time is a representative source of stress for this 'new middle age' group. Reduced skin elasticity and increased wrinkles not only make one look older but can also give a shabby impression, so many people look for solutions to improve them.

The conventional method, called SMAS lift surgery, dissects and fixes not only the outer skin but also the SMAS layer beneath the skin. The SMAS layer is the fascial layer located under the skin, and only by properly lifting this part can elasticity be maintained without sagging. Because a SMAS lift is effective when sagging is not severe, it may not be suitable for someone with a significant degree of sagging. In addition, while SMAS lift surgery is a relatively simple operation that can deliver a lifting effect within a short time, its drawback of limited effect on nasolabial folds and jowls has been pointed out.

If you want a more dramatic lifting effect that reaches deeper in a single surgery, a deep plane facelift can be considered. This is a method that releases the retaining ligaments holding the soft tissues beneath the skin, then pulls up not only the skin but every tissue layer located under it. Through this, severely sagging facial areas and neck wrinkles can be lifted firmly, giving a lifting effect across the whole face and even the facial expression muscles.

Along with the effect, since it is a surgery that incises the skin, many people worry about scars remaining. Scars remain smaller when blood circulation is good, so it is better to proceed with a method that can help blood circulation. First, check whether the surgical site is closed with tension-free suturing, which uses accurate dissection to pull the skin appropriately and helps blood supply. Second, check whether stem cells are applied to help regeneration, and decide accordingly.

A deep plane facelift using stem cells injects stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into the various cells of our body, and can thereby support rapid blood circulation and recovery at the surgical site. It also reduces side effects such as lumpiness, while helping with volume and improvement of skin texture.

However, since facelift surgery deals with sensitive facial tissues and muscles, if you are considering it, you need to be careful and check various possibilities. It is advisable to plan the surgery after sufficient preliminary examination of risks such as bleeding potential, inflammation, and adhesion, through consultation with medical staff who have abundant anatomical knowledge and skill.

Written by : Dr. Yoosuk Chung, TheLINE Plastic Surgery Source : Jeonmin Ilbo (http://www.jeonmin.co.kr)​