Korea is known worldwide for advanced anti-aging treatments, and facelift procedures are among the most popular for restoring youthful facial contours. Whether you’re noticing sagging cheeks, jowls, or lax skin around the jawline, Korean plastic surgeons offer two powerful options: the full facelift and the mini facelift.

Each delivers impressive rejuvenation — but the best choice depends on your skin condition, aging level, and overall goals. Here’s a complete, easy-to-understand guide to help you decide which facelift procedure is right for you.

What Is a Mini Facelift?

A mini facelift is a less invasive version of the traditional facelift, focusing mainly on the lower face and jawline. It targets early to moderate signs of aging with smaller incisions and shorter recovery time.

What It Improves

• Mild to moderate sagging along the jawline
• Early jowl formation
• Loose skin around the lower cheeks
• Mild marionette lines

Why People Choose It

• Smaller incisions
• Less swelling and downtime
• Natural lift without dramatic changes
• Ideal for patients in their 30s, 40s, or early 50s

Best For

People with early-stage aging who want subtle tightening, not a full correction.

What Is a Full Facelift?

A full facelift is a comprehensive anti-aging surgery that lifts and tightens the midface, lower face, and jawline, and often includes neck tightening. It corrects deeper aging signs and provides more dramatic, long-lasting results.

What It Improves

• Deep jowls and sagging skin
• Midface drooping
• Nasolabial folds
• Neck laxity
• Significant volume descent

Why People Choose It

• Most dramatic lifting effect
• Long-lasting results
• Addresses deeper tissues (SMAS layer)
• Can be combined with fat grafting, neck lift, or eyelid surgery

Best For

Patients in their 50s–70s or those with moderate to severe aging.

Mini Facelift vs Full Facelift: Key Differences

1. Area of Improvement

• Mini facelift: jawline + lower cheeks
• Full facelift: midface, jawline, and often the neck

2. Incision Length

• Mini: short incisions around the ears
• Full: longer incisions extending into the hairline for full access and reshaping

3. Level of Correction

• Mini: surface-level tightening with moderate tissue lifting
• Full: deeper lifting of the SMAS layer, offering more structural improvement

4. Recovery Time

• Mini: 1–2 weeks
• Full: 2–4 weeks

Mini facelifts involve less swelling and downtime.

5. Result Longevity

• Mini: 3–7 years
• Full: 10+ years

A full facelift delivers more enduring rejuvenation.

6. Naturalness vs Dramatic Transformations

• Mini facelift: soft, refreshed, subtle
• Full facelift: noticeable lifting and contour definition

Which Facelift Is Right for You in Korea?

Choose a Mini Facelift If You Want:

• Early anti-aging correction
• A natural refresh without major changes
• Minimal downtime
• A more affordable option
• Tightening focused mainly on the jawline

Perfect for patients starting to see mild sagging.

Choose a Full Facelift If You Want:

• Significant lifting and contour change
• Long-lasting anti-aging results
• Correction of deeper sagging
• Midface + jowl + neck tightening
• A major rejuvenation effect

Suitable for moderate to advanced aging.

Why Korea Is Ideal for Both Procedures

Korean facelift surgeons are known for:

• Natural, non-pulled results
• Precision SMAS lifting
• Minimal scarring techniques
• Combination approaches (fat grafting, neck tightening, thread support)
• Custom facelift design based on age, skin elasticity, and bone structure

Korea’s focus is always: lift deeply, smooth softly, age naturally.

Recovery Expectations

Mini Facelift

• Mild swelling
• Light bruising
• Back to normal in 1–2 weeks

Full Facelift

• Moderate swelling
• More bruising
• 2–4 weeks until socially comfortable

Both procedures continue to refine over several months.

Which Should You Choose?

If you want a light refresh, choose the mini facelift.
If you want a major rejuvenation, choose the full facelift.

Korea's surgeons tailor each facelift around natural movement, minimal scarring, and long-term results — ensuring your outcome looks youthful, not operated.