Key Summary
Compiled of 3,053 reviews of Gangnam Unni and Babitalk’s elevation surgery. A facelift is a surgery that pulls the skin and muscles by making incisions along the hairline around the ears, and a mini facelift is a surgery that reduces both the incision and the dissection of tissues. The clinic's article describes the mini facelift incision as about 2cm to 5cm, but the study classified it by dissection extent rather than length, and the review included a mix of parallel surgeries.
- Reviews by type of surgery were 1,375 for mini facelift, 1,263 for facelift, 574 for forehead lift, 557 for neck lift, and 97 for mid-facelift, and among the facelift reviews, there were many who also received a forehead lift or neck lift. There were 666 reviews for facelift and 1,177 for mini facelift.
- Swelling took an average of 3.5 weeks (51 cases) for the facelift and 3.4 weeks (82 cases) for the mini facelift, and return to daily life averaged 15.4 days (14 cases) for the facelift and 6.9 days (43 cases) for the mini facelift. Reviews that said it was quite painful were 9% (14 cases) for the facelift and 12% (22 cases) for the mini facelift.
- The average individual surgery price listed in the reviews was about KRW 6.036 million for facelift and KRW 3.139 million for mini facelift, and the total amount including combined surgery was about KRW 8.196 million (79 cases) for facelift and KRW 6.426 million (223 cases) for mini facelift. 44% (516 cases) of reviews for mini facelift were combined with liposuction, etc. (30% for facelift, 30% for facelift). 197 cases).
Although 97% of the reviews about the effect said it was good, the average time point of the review was 2.5 months after surgery, so it is impossible to know from the reviews how long the effect lasts.
How is the scope of surgery different between facelifts and mini facelifts?
A facelift is a surgery that dissects tissue by making an incision along the temporal hairline and sideburn hairline, and pulls and fixes the skin and muscles. A mini facelift is a surgery that reduces both the incision and the extent of dissection. The clinic's article describes the mini facelift incision as about 2cm to 5cm, but the study divides it by the range of tissue lifting, not the incision length. Asan Medical Center in Seoul informs that the scope of facelift surgery is determined depending on the patient's condition, and explains that it is expected to take about 3 hours under general anesthesia after clinicization, and that patients can go out after 1 week and return to daily life after 2-3 weeks.
The 6 clinic posts differed from clinic to clinic by listing the mini facelift incision as approximately 2cm, 2~3cm, 3cm inside the scalp, and 3~5cm in front of the ear. This number is an explanation in the clinic's text, and the literature seen above is divided by dissection extent rather than cm. The literature describing the minilift (Rousso, 2012) summarized that it is a surgery suitable for people with limited incision and tissue lifting range, resulting in short surgical time, cost, and recovery, and minimal sagging of the cheeks and neck. Surgery that involves wide dissection with a small incision is not a minilift, but is classified as a method of performing the entire lift with the minimum incision (minimum incision facelift) (del Campo, 2008, Citarella, 2010). The MACS lift, a representative short scar method, was introduced to raise the tissue vertically using fixed sutures and limited dissection and takes 2 to 2.5 hours under local anesthesia (Tonnard, 2007). No major complications were reported in a 6-part review of 739 patients (Hijkoop, 2022), but the neck rejuvenation effect was limited.
There are also studies using short incisions. A study summarizing the consecutive procedures of 1,000 people (Tanna, 2008) concluded that short incision face lift is suitable for mild to moderate aging, has a short recovery time, and is low risk, and a review of 4,451 patients in 20 limited incision facelifts (Amador, 2024) introduced previous research that reducing tissue dissection can reduce swelling, recovery time, and complications. In Google's top articles, the criteria for incision length, dissection extent, and improvement area differed from article to article.
| surgery | incision and range | Number of reviews by type of surgery in reviews |
|---|---|---|
| facelift | Incision along the temporal hairline and sideburn hairline, pulling and fixing the skin and muscles, usually clinicization and general anesthesia (Seoul Asan Medical Center) | 1,263 cases |
| mini facelift | A method that reduces the incision and tissue lifting range (dissection) together. The incision in the clinic article is about 2 to 5 cm, and is applied when there is little sagging of the cheeks and neck (Rousso 2012) | 1,375 cases |
| Minimum incision facelift | Full elevation with wide dissection with small incision, differentiated from mini facelift (del Campo 2008, Citarella 2010) | Not separately distinguished in reviews |
| middle facelift | A method of raising the midface using small incisions in the lower eyelid, temple, mouth, etc. (Asan Medical Center, Seoul) | 97 cases |
| Forehead lift | A method of raising the forehead and eyebrows using a small incision on the scalp (Endotine explanation at Seoul Asan Medical Center) | 574 cases |
| wooden statue | Improvement of neck wrinkles, most reviews received with facelift | 557 cases |
What kind of surgeries will be most common in the later stage?
There were 1,177 reviews of only one surgery, including 1,177 mini facelifts, 666 facelifts, and 76 neck lifts, and 815 reviews of multiple surgeries together. The most common combinations were facelift and neck lift (254), forehead lift, facelift and neck lift (142), forehead lift and facelift (125), and forehead lift and mini facelift (109).
| combination | Number of reviews |
|---|---|
| facelift and neck lift | 254 cases |
| Forehead lift, facelift, neck lift | 142 cases |
| Forehead lift and facelift | 125 cases |
| Forehead lift and mini facelift | 109 cases |
| mini facelift and neck lift | 34 cases |
| midfacelifts and mini facelifts | 28 cases |
The number of reviews by type of surgery is not the actual utilization rate as it is a randomly selected sample of reviews of forehead lift, mini facelift, facelift, and neck lift. Of the 337 cases that used gender, 303 cases (90%) were female and 34 cases (10%) were male, and of the 295 cases that used age group, 102 cases were in their 40s, 78 cases in their 50s, 64 cases in their 30s, and 51 cases were in their 60s or older.
How much concurrent surgery did you have?
Reviews that wrote about concurrent surgery were 44% (516 out of 1,177) for mini facelift, 30% (197 out of 666) for facelift, and liposuction was the most common among reviews that wrote about receiving only one type of lift.
| Parallel surgery | mini facelift exclusive reviews (1,177) | Exclusive facelift reviews (666) |
|---|---|---|
| liposuction | 280 cases | 80 cases |
| Eyelid and under eye surgery | 94 cases | 57 cases |
| Fat grafting | 89 cases | 38 cases |
| Thread lifting | 66 cases | 4 cases |
| cheek fat removal | 25 cases | 9 cases |
| filler | 22 cases | 7 cases |
There are many reviews of the mini facelift bundled with other procedures such as liposuction, fat grafting, and thread lifting, so even in reviews with the same name, the recovery and price are mixed with parallel surgery.
What were the surgery time, anesthesia, and clinicization like?
The average of the 31 reviews that wrote about the surgery time was 3.5 hours, facelift 4.3 hours (6), and mini facelift 1.4 hours (13). Of the 63 cases in which anesthesia was used, 46 were sedation, 16 were general anesthesia, and 1 was local anesthesia, and among the reviews that wrote about the number of days of clinicization, 11 of 14 facelift cases were discharged on the same day, and of 27 mini facelift cases, 11 were discharged on the same day. There were 23 cases.
Since there are few reviews with surgery information, this number is a reference distribution. Seoul Asan Medical Center informs that face lift surgery generally takes about 3 hours after clinicization under general anesthesia, but in the later reviews, anesthesia and clinicization methods were different for each clinic.
How long did it take to recover?
The point at which significant swelling was reported was an average of 3.5 weeks for the facelift and 3.4 weeks for the mini facelift, and the average return to daily life was 15.4 days for the facelift and 6.9 days for the mini facelift.
| Recovery Items | facelift sole | mini facelift sole |
|---|---|---|
| The point at which swelling has largely disappeared | Average 3.5 weeks (51 cases) | Average 3.4 weeks (82 cases) |
| When bruises disappear | Average 2.9 weeks (18 cases) | Average 2.5 weeks (21 cases) |
| remove sutures | Average 8.0 days (27 cases) | Average 9.9 days (29 cases) |
| When it is possible to go out | Average 6.7 days (15 cases) | Average 7.2 days (23 cases) |
| Return to daily life or work | Average 15.4 days (14 cases) | Average 6.9 days (43 cases) |
| Review of having a drain tube | 7 out of 11 cases, average 1.9 days | All 4 cases, average 2.5 days |
Looking at the average of all reviews by type of surgery, the time when the swelling was significantly reduced was 3.4 weeks (194 cases), the sutures were removed in 8.8 days (97 cases), the time to go out was 8.7 days (62 cases), and the return to daily life was 8.3 days (94 cases). The average of the reviews provided by Asan Medical Center in Seoul is in a similar range to going out after 1 week and returning to daily life after 2-3 weeks.
What were the pain and effects like?
Of the 531 reviews about pain after surgery, 363 (68%) said it was barely painful, 118 (22%) said it was bearable, and 50 (9%) said it was quite painful, and out of the 2,675 reviews about the effect, 97% (2,600) said it was good.
| surgery | Review of pain | It was quite painful | Reviews with effects | positive-review rate | A review that said it was natural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| facelift | 150 cases | 9% (14 cases) | 566 cases | 97% (548 cases) | 131 out of 132 |
| mini facelift | 188 cases | 12% (22 cases) | 1,036 cases | 96% (998 cases) | 259 out of 261 |
| Forehead lift | 83 cases | 6% (5 cases) | 530 cases | 99% (526 cases) | 170 out of 170 |
| wooden statue | 12 cases | 1 out of 12 | 66 cases | 94% (62 cases) | 5 out of 5 |
| middle facelift | 12 cases | 2 out of 12 | 89 cases | 89 out of 89 | 27 out of 28 |
2.2% (59) of the reviews that said it was effective said it was average, and 0.6% (16) said it was ineffective. The reviews were written within an average of 2.5 months after surgery, so they do not include how the face changes over time.
What was the discomfort after the surgery?
Among the 3,053 reviews, the most common complaints were swelling in 720 cases (23.6%), tightness and stiffness in 222 cases (7.3%), numbness in 218 cases (7.1%), and bruises in 189 cases (6.2%).
| Reported inconvenience | Exclusive facelift reviews (666) | mini facelift exclusive reviews (1,177) |
|---|---|---|
| swelling | 158 cases (23.7%) | 295 cases (25.1%) |
| Pulling and stiffness | 50 cases (7.5%) | 73 cases (6.2%) |
| Numbness | 53 cases (8.0%) | 51 cases (4.3%) |
| bruise | 40 cases (6.0%) | 69 cases (5.9%) |
| Concern about scars | 26 cases (3.9%) | 25 cases (2.1%) |
| asymmetry | 4 cases (0.6%) | 14 cases (1.2%) |
| hematoma | 3 cases (0.5%) | 0 cases |
| Hair loss around ears | 0 cases | 3 cases (0.3%) |
There were 18 reviews (0.7%) out of 2,671 that could be judged, including 5 for facelift and 11 for mini facelift. There were 89 reviews that said they had undergone reoperation or complementary surgery, and 89 (13%) of the reviews that said they had previously had a face lift surgery alone, and 129 (11%) of the reviews that said they had had a mini facelift alone.
How much does a lift surgery cost?
The average individual surgery price listed in the reviews was about 6,036,000 won (120 cases) for facelift, about 5,055,000 won (72 cases) for forehead lift, about 3,139,000 won (149 cases) for mini facelift, and about 3,012,000 won (20 cases) for medium facelift.
| surgery | Cost of single surgery (average) | Total including concurrent surgeries (average) |
|---|---|---|
| facelift and neck lift | Approximately 8.489 million won (43 items) | Approximately 10,705,000 won (142 cases) |
| facelift | Approximately 6.036 million won (120 items) | Approximately 8.196 million won (79 cases) |
| Forehead lift | Approximately 5,055,000 won (72 cases) | Approximately 10,455,000 won (179 cases) |
| mini facelift | Approximately 3.139 million won (149 cases) | Approximately 6.426 million won (223 cases) |
| middle facelift | Approximately 3,012,000 won (20 cases) | Approximately 5.954 million won (38 cases) |
The review price is the payment amount written on the platform, so it varies depending on whether anesthesia, clinicization, and concurrent surgery are included, and is not the same standard as the clinic's published price. The total cost for the single surgery and the total including the combined surgery are different for the same surgery, so the mini facelift (approximately 6,426,000 won), whose total price is much higher than the single surgery, often includes concurrent surgery such as liposuction.
How did the study view lift surgery?
Studies show that facelifts have lower complication rates and hematomas are the most common. Small studies comparing short incision lifts (MACS) with full incision lifts show similar outcomes and complications and shorter operative times, but full incisions are better only in the neck area after 5 years. Study figures are the results of each cohort and are not based on reviews.
| Research | target | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Amador RO et al., Aesthet Surg J 2024 | Limited incision facelift episode 20 4,451 people | The overall complication rate was 3.2%, hematoma 2%, temporary nerve damage 0.2%, and skin necrosis or wound 0.06%. When drainage tubes or tissue sealants were used, complications were reduced by 86%. |
| Rousso DE et al., Facial Plast Surg 2012 | Minilift concept summary | Because both the incision and the range of tissue lifting are limited, the surgery time, cost, and recovery are short, and it is said to be a surgery suitable for people with minimal cheek and neck sagging. |
| del Campo AF et al., Aesthet Surg J 2008, Citarella ER et al., J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2010 | Minimum incision facelift: 539 people, endoscopically assisted limited incision: 54 people | Both studies showed that this surgery is not a minilift, but a full lift using a small incision. |
| Tonnard P et al., Aesthet Surg J 2007, Hijkoop LF et al., J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2022 | MACS Lift Introduction and Part 6, 739 People’s Reviews | It was introduced with fixed sutures, limited dissection, and local anesthesia for 2 to 2.5 hours. No major complications were reported, and the neck rejuvenation effect was limited. |
| Tanna N et al., Dermatol Surg 2008 | 1,000 consecutive short incision elevations | Suture exposure was 14.8%, hematoma 1%, nodule behind the ear 0.8%, hypertrophic scar 0.5%, and there was no nerve damage or infection. |
| Vayalapra S et al., Ann Plast Surg 2025 | SMAS Colossus and Deep Plane Episode 47 10,766 | The hematoma was 3% in the deep plane and 2% in SMAS, and most of the nerve damage was temporary, so it was concluded that it was difficult to determine the superiority or inferiority. |
| Azzi JL et al., Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med 2026 | Deep plane facelift part 31 8,841 people | The total hematoma was 2.7% and the large hematoma was 0.97%, and there was no clear superiority or inferiority among tranexamic acid, sealant, or hemostat net. |
| Fang AH et al., Ann Plast Surg 2025 | Review of Complications 59 | Hematoma accounted for 27%, adverse scarring 24%, nerve paralysis 22%, and seroma 7%, and the overall complications were low. |
| Rohrich RJ et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2016 | 25 years of experience, 1,089 people | It was summarized that patients who were younger and had plump faces had better long-term results, patients with thick necks had a higher recurrence rate, and follow-up for more than 3 years was difficult. |
| Pandkhahi A et al., Medicina 2026 | Meta-analysis comparing MACS lift and deep SMAS elevation, Part 4, 286 patients (186 MACS, 100 SMAS) | Cosmetic results and complications were similar, and the surgical time of the MACS lift was significantly shorter. |
| Antell DE et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2016 | Randomly assigned full incision or short incision to 4 pairs of twins and 1 set of triplets | There was no difference before and after a year, and after about 5 years, the overall incision received a higher score only in the neck area. |
| Mast BA et al., Ann Plast Surg 2014 | 8 total elevations and 80 MACS lifts | The surgical time was 4 hours and 3 minutes for total elevation and 2 hours and 39 minutes for MACS (2 hours and 5 minutes for MACS alone). The average return to work for MACS patients was 2 weeks, but there were limitations if skin sagging was severe or neck fat was excessive. |
| Prado A et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2006 | Two short incision lifts (MACS, lateral SMAS resection) 82 patients | The results were similar for 24 months, more than half of the samples required additional correction for sagging jaw lines and excess skin, and the results in the neck and nasolabial area were average. |
| Schultz KP et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2026 | SMAS Method Part 17 | There is no consensus on the best method and the deep plane has not been proven to be better for improving or maintaining the midface. |
The fact that hematomas were rare in the later stage (6 cases (0.2%)) is in the same direction as the 1% to 3% hematomas in the study, but the criteria are different so direct comparison is not made. There are studies directly comparing short incision lifts and facelifts, but the subjects are small. The meta-analysis (Pandkhahi, 2026) had 286 subjects, and the twin comparison (Antell, 2016) had 5 pairs. Both methods had the same low complication rate, but the difference was in the surgical time (shorter MACS) and long-term neck outcome (higher overall incision).
What surgery had a high positive-review rate in DermaFocus’s lift reviews?
Based on reviews, the surgeries with the highest positive-review rates were mid-facelift (89 out of 89), forehead lift (99%), facelift (97%), and mini facelift (96%). It should be noted that all of them were high in the 90% range and most of them were written within a few months after surgery.
The most common surgeries in reviews for each concern are as follows.
| Concerns written in reviews | Surgery with the most reviews | positive-review rate (effective reviews) | It was quite painful | Review exclusive price (average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall sagging cheeks and jawline | Facelift, neck lift combined | 97% (566 cases) | 9% | Approximately 6.036 million won |
| Early to moderate sagging | mini facelift | 96% (1,036 cases) | 12% | Approximately 3.139 million won |
| Sagging forehead and eyebrows | Forehead lift | 99% (530 cases) | 6% | Approximately 5.055 million won |
- The average return to daily life for facelift was 15.4 days (14 cases), which was longer than mini facelift (6.9 days, 43 cases), and the standalone price was about 2.9 million won higher. There were many reviews that also received the Mokgeo Award.
- mini facelift had the highest number of reviews, with 44% of reviews referring to concurrent surgery. The total amount including concurrent surgery was about 6.426 million won on average, which was twice the amount alone (about 3.139 million won).
- Forehead lift was 99% good out of 530 reviews, and 72 reviews (12.5%) said the sensation was dull, which was more than the facelift (8.0%).
There are other surgeries that have good reviews. 94% (62) of 66 neck lifts said they were good, but the number of reviews was low and most of them were received together with a facelift.
Although 97% of the reviews about the effects said they were good, most of them were written within a few months of the surgery. This comparison is based on reviews, not medical superiority or inferiority, and the results of surgery vary from person to person, so the ratio of reviews does not guarantee the results. During the consultation, please check the scope of surgery appropriate for the area and degree of sagging, and whether concurrent surgery is included in the price.
What should I ask during an elevation surgery consultation?
Ask first what the incision length and dissection extent of the surgery called mini facelift are. In the clinic article, the mini facelift incision differed from about 2cm to 5cm, and in the study, even if the incision was short, if the dissection was wide, it was classified as a minimum incision facelift, not a mini facelift, and in the reviews, up to 44% of concurrent surgeries with the same name were mixed.
| What to check | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Scope of surgery | Where and how many cm is the incision? Does it pull only the skin or the SMAS layer (SMAS)? |
| Surgery that's right for me | Is a mini facelift enough for my sagging? When is a facelift needed? |
| Parallel surgery | Do you do neck, forehead, and liposuction at the same time? Is it included in the price? |
| Anesthesia and Clinicization | Is it sedation or general anesthesia? Do I need clinicization? |
| recovery | How many days does a drain last? When will the sutures be removed and how many days does it usually take before I can return to my daily routine? |
| Complications | What if complications such as hematoma or nerve damage occur? What is the cost of reoperation? |
| price | Does it include anesthesia, clinicization, and tests? Excluding the concurrent surgery, how much does it cost? |
| actual surgeon | Does the doctor I consult perform the surgery himself? |
DermaFocus compares facelift clinics like this
The recommendation guide applies the same four criteria to all clinics.
| Comparison Items | Verification criteria |
|---|---|
| Treatment information | Information on incision and dissection extent for each type of surgery, anesthesia, clinicization, and whether or not information will be disclosed in case of complications |
| medical staff | Professional qualifications and actual surgeon confirmed by official source |
| cost | Confirmation date, VAT, price conditions, whether concurrent surgery and anesthesia are included |
| Reviews | Repeated mention of sources, writing time, consultation and explanation for each platform |
The number of reviews and specialist qualifications are not used as scores to guarantee surgical results. The role of a recommendation guide is to display confirmed facts side by side using the same standards.
How this article was checked
The DermaFocus editorial team organized the reviews and research papers, and they were not supervised by medical professionals. This article does not constitute a medical diagnosis or recommendation for treatment, so please consult with a medical professional to determine whether and how to perform the procedure.
- Reviews: We classified 3,300 cases randomly sampled by surgery type from reviews of Gangnam Unni facelift, mini facelift, neck lift, forehead lift, and Babitalk face lift (as of October 10, 2026). Among them, 3,053 cases, which are reviews of elevation surgery, are the subject of this article.
- Analysis criteria: Comparison by type of surgery is based on reviews of only one type of surgery (666 facelifts, 1,177 mini facelifts), 2,675 reviews of effectiveness, 531 reviews of pain, and 14 to 82 reviews of recovery time.
- Studies: 2 large-scale studies and reviews of limited incision elevation in PubMed (Amador 2024, Tanna 2008), 4 comparative studies of short incision elevation and full incision elevation (Pandkhahi 2026, Antell 2016, Mast 2014, Prado 2006), and 4 studies on the definition of minilift (Rousso 2012, del Campo) 2008, Citarella 2010, Tonnard 2007), 1 MACS lift review (Hijkoop 2022), 2 SMAS method comparisons (Vayalapra 2025, Schultz 2026), 2 complications reviews (Fang 2025, Azzi 2026), and 1 long-term results (Rohrich 2016). Only the abstracts were checked. For the definition of surgery, we checked the health information of Asan Medical Center in Seoul, and for the length of the mini facelift incision, we checked the descriptions of 6 clinic articles.
- Price: This is the payment amount written in the review. The average amount was only between 1 million and 40 million won, and the clinic's publicly disclosed prices were not included in this article.
- Limitations: The average time point of the reviews is 2.5 months after surgery, so the continuation of the effect and reoperation cannot be determined from the reviews. There are few reviews about surgery time, anesthesia, and clinicization, and the scope of mini facelift varies from clinic to clinic, so it cannot be considered the same surgery.
- Personal Information: The original text of the review, the author, and the name of the clinic are not included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the surgical scope differ between a facelift and a mini facelift?
A facelift is a surgery that pulls the skin and muscles by making an incision along the temporal hairline and sideburn hairline, and a mini facelift is a surgery that reduces the range of incision and tissue lifting. The number of cm varies from about 2cm to 5cm depending on the clinic, and studies are based on the dissection extent. In the reviews, return to daily life averaged 15.4 days (14 cases) for facelift and 6.9 days (43 cases) for mini facelift, and 44% of reviews used concurrent surgery for mini facelift and 30% for facelift.
How long does a facelift take and is there a clinic stay?
Asan Medical Center in Seoul generally informs you that you are expected to be admitted for about 3 hours under general anesthesia. In the reviews, the average surgical time for the 6 facelift cases was 4.3 hours, and 11 of the 14 cases with clinicization days were discharged on the same day.
How long does facelift recovery take?
In the review, the time when the swelling was significantly reduced was on average 3.5 weeks (51 cases), the average time for sutures to be removed was 8.0 days (27 cases), and the average return to daily life was 15.4 days (14 cases). Asan Medical Center in Seoul advises that patients can go out after 1 week and resume normal activities after 2-3 weeks.
Does a mini facelift result in faster recovery?
In the latter stage, the average return to daily life was 6.9 days (43 cases), which was shorter than the facelift (15.4 days, 14 cases), but swelling was similar at an average of 3.4 weeks (82 cases) and 3.5 weeks (51 cases). Because concurrent surgeries are mixed, it is impossible to be certain.
What are the side effects of facelift?
In the later stage, swelling occurred in 23.7%, tightness and stiffness in 7.5%, numbness in 8.0%, bruising in 6.0%, and hematoma in 3 out of 666 cases. In a study of limited incision elevation, overall complications were 3.2% and hematomas were 2%.
Which gives longer-lasting results: a mini facelift or a facelift?
The short-term results were similar, and only the neck area was different in the long-term. In a study comparing twins (Antell, 2016), there was no difference before and after 1 year, and after about 5 years, only the neck region received a higher score for the overall incision. In a 24-month study comparing two short incision lifts (Prado, 2006), more than half of the samples required additional correction for sagging jawlines and excess skin.
How long does a facelift last?
You can’t tell from the reviews. The average time of writing a review is 2.5 months after surgery. Long-term outcome studies showed that follow-up beyond 3 years was difficult and that younger, plumper-faced patients had better outcomes.
How much does a facelift cost?
The average cost of single surgery listed in the reviews was about KRW 6.036 million (120 cases) for facelift and KRW 3.139 million (149 cases) for mini facelift, and the total amount including concurrent surgery was about KRW 8.196 million for facelift and KRW 6.426 million for mini facelift. This is the payment amount, not the clinic's published price.
Are facelift reviews trustworthy?
Although 97% of the reviews that wrote about the effects said they were good, they were written 2.5 months after surgery on average, so they cannot contain long-term results. This comparison is based on reviews and surgical results vary from person to person, so please check the scope of surgery and response to complications during consultation.
Sources and verification dates
- Amador RO et al. Latest review of limited incision facelift, Aesthet Surg J 2024 (PMID 37950895)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 20 articles, 4,451 patients, overall complications 3.2%, hematoma 2%
- Pandkhahi A et al. Meta-analysis comparing MACS lift and deep SMAS elevation, Medicina 2026 (PMID 41597398)(confirmed 2026-10-10): Part 4, 286 patients, similar results and complications, shorter MACS surgery time
- Antell DE. Comparison of full incision and short incision facelift using twins, Plast Reconstr Surg 2016 (PMID 26890507)(confirmed 2026-10-10): No difference in short term, full incision superior in long term only in neck area
- Mast BA et al. Advantages and limitations of the MACS lift, Ann Plast Surg 2014 (PMID 24691336)(viewed 2026-10-10): 88 cases, operative time 4:03 vs. 2:39, average return to work 2 weeks
- Prado A et al. MACS and lateral SMAS excision compared with short incision elevation, Plast Reconstr Surg 2006 (PMID 16641707)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 82 patients, similar 24-month results, more than half required additional correction
- Rousso DE. Minimum incision facelift, Facial Plast Surg 2012 (PMID 22418818)(confirmed 2026-10-10): Minilift is suitable for people with minimal cheek and neck sagging due to limited incision and tissue elevation range.
- del Campo AF. Update on minimally invasive facelift techniques, Aesthet Surg J 2008 (PMID 19083506)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 539 people, full facelift with minimal incision rather than minilift
- Citarella ER et al. Endoscopic-assisted limited incision facelift 10-year prospective study, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2010 (PMID 19962950)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 54 patients, minimal incision full elevation rather than minilift
- Tonnard P et al. MACS lift short scar facelift, Aesthet Surg J 2007 (PMID 19341646)(verified 2026-10-10): Vertical vector, local anesthesia 2-2.5 hours
- Hijkoop LF et al. MACS Lift Systematic Review, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2022 (PMID 34922854)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 6 parts, 739 patients, no major complications, limited neck rejuvenation effect
- Tanna N et al. Analysis of 1,000 consecutive short incision facelifts, Dermatol Surg 2008 (PMID 18093201)(confirmed 2026-10-10): Hematoma 1%, suture exposure 14.8%, no nerve damage or infection.
- Vayalapra S et al. Comparison of safety and effectiveness of SMAS and deep plane facelift, Ann Plast Surg 2025 (PMID 40600822)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 47 papers, 10,766 people, hematoma 3% and 2%
- Azzi JL et al. Systematic review of facelift hematoma prevention, Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med 2026 (PMID 41203255)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 31 articles, 8,841 people, hematoma 2.7%, large hematoma 0.97%
- Fang AH et al. Systematic review of facelift complications and prevention, Ann Plast Surg 2025 (PMID 40459450)(viewed 2026-10-10): Complications 59, hematoma 27%, adverse scarring 24%, nerve paralysis 22%
- Rohrich RJ et al. Facelift long-term results, Plast Reconstr Surg 2016 (PMID 27348643)(confirmed 2026-10-10): 1,089 patients, difficult to follow for more than 3 years, importance of patient selection
- Schultz KP et al. Systematic review of deep layer facelift techniques, Plast Reconstr Surg 2026 (PMID 41100833)(confirmed 2026-10-10): Part 17, no consensus on best method
- Seoul Asan Medical Center health information. Face lift surgery(confirmed 2026-10-10): Temporal and sideburn hairline incision, clinicization for about 3 hours general anesthesia, going out after 1 week, daily routine after 2-3 weeks
- Gangnam Unni review and Babitalk review (platform review, confirmed 2026-10-10): Based on sample classification of 3,300 reviews of lift surgery. The original text of the review is not included.
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DermaFocus has no advertising, contract, or affiliation with any of the clinics or manufacturers mentioned in this article, and has not received any money or sponsorship. This article is a compilation of information needed to select a procedure and does not replace a personal diagnosis or treatment plan.