A ponytail facelift in Korea is usually a short-incision operation in which the deep SMAS layer is folded and stitched upward toward the temple instead of being lifted off as a separate flap. It is mainly offered for early sagging along the jaw and lower cheek. Healing differs from person to person: swelling, bruising and numbness are expected, while a blood collection or temporary nerve weakness can occur.
Clinics in Myeongdong
1 clinics for Facelift in Myeongdong
| # | Clinic | Area | Languages | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic | Myeongdong-gil | - | 4.6 (667) |
1. Lienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic
★ 4.6667 Google reviewsLienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic is a skin and aesthetic clinic in Myeongdong-gil, rated 4.6 from 667 Google reviews. It offers facelift alongside Ultherapy, Thermage and Sofwave.
Myeongdong branch of the Lienjang aesthetic clinic group
- Clinic group branch
- Skin & scalp
- Shopping-mall location
- Appointments can be made by WhatsApp or Instagram, or through the group's 24-hour online reservation system.
- The group site runs in English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Russian and Korean.
Thai, Vietnamese or Russian speakers · Scalp and hair-loss care
- Location
- Myeongdong-gil
Guide
Folding the SMAS instead of lifting it off
Under the cheek skin lies the SMAS, a thin sheet of fibrous tissue and muscle that carries the weight of the lower face. A classic flap lift separates this sheet and repositions it as a free layer. The stitch-based approach the ponytail label often refers to leaves it attached and gathers it into folds with non-absorbable sutures, so it shortens and pulls the jowl upward.
Plication needs less dissection, but a folded layer cannot travel as far as a released one, so heavier sagging may need more than stitches. Ask whether your plan folds the SMAS, releases it, or combines both.
Guide
What two published plication series reported
Berry and Davies, in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery in 2010, followed 117 consecutive patients after a platysma-SMAS plication lift. Patients graded the outcome 4.45 out of 5 at first review. In the same series, Berry and Davies recorded complications in 15.4% of cases, including hematoma in 3.4% and temporary facial nerve weakness in 3.4%; none of the nerve problems lasted.
Duminy and Hudson, in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 1997, described 35 patients whose SMAS was folded from the temple area down to the earlobe. Two developed small hematomas and one had a stretched scar in front of the ear. Both series come from single teams, so they show what is possible rather than what every clinic achieves.
Guide
Where the incision runs and how the neck is handled
The mini rhytidectomy in the Duminy series used only an extended cut in front of the ear, with fat under the jaw removed by liposuction rather than a long incision behind the ear.
Ask to see the incision drawn on your own skin, including whether it turns into the scalp above the ear. A line that stays in front of the ear is easier to hide during healing but reaches less of the neck.
| Option | What is moved | Typical incision | Neck handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMAS plication lift | SMAS folded and stitched in place | In front of the ear, sometimes into the scalp | Platysma may be folded too |
| Mini rhytidectomy | SMAS folded from temple area to earlobe | Extended cut in front of the ear only | Liposuction under the jaw |
| SMAS flap lift | SMAS released and repositioned | Around the ear and behind it | Muscle and skin tightened directly |
| Thread lift (non-surgical) | Soft tissue held by barbed threads | Needle entry points only | Little effect on loose neck skin |
Guide
Reading your own photos before the first consult
Take three daylight photos, straight on, in profile and at a half turn, with hair tied back and the jaw relaxed. Then look for the pattern a folding lift is designed to treat, and point at the area that bothers you most during the consultation.
- A soft jowl that breaks the jaw line, with the neck still fairly smooth
- Cheek tissue that has slid down but skin that still springs back when pinched
- Little or no banding at the front of the neck
Guide
A day-by-day frame for the stay
Most visitors plan around three phases: two or three days of rest with the head raised, a stitch review near the end of the first week, then a second week of watching swelling settle before a long flight.
Recovery is individual. Bruising may spread toward the neck, skin near the ear can feel tight or numb for weeks, and one side may swell more. Ask for written aftercare and how follow-up works once you are home.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Platysma-SMAS plication faceliftJournal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery · 2010 · doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2009.02.067
A prospective series of 117 consecutive patients after platysma-SMAS plication reported high satisfaction scores, a 15.4% complication rate including 3.4% hematoma and 3.4% temporary facial nerve weakness, with no lasting nerve palsy.
- The Mini RhytidectomyAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 1997 · doi:10.1007/s002669900126
Describes SMAS plication through an extended incision in front of the ear with neck liposuction in 35 patients, reporting two small hematomas, one stretched scar and no facial nerve weakness.
FAQ
Questions about Facelift in Myeongdong
Which clinics offer Facelift in Myeongdong?
Clinics offering Facelift in Myeongdong include Lienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic (Myeongdong-gil). Each lists Facelift on its own menu; message the clinic directly to confirm the doctor, product and current price.
Is a ponytail lift done with threads or with real surgery?
In most Seoul clinics the term describes an operation with an incision, although a few use it loosely for thread lifting. The surgical version folds or releases the SMAS and closes the skin near the ear. A thread lift uses barbed threads placed through needle points and usually relaxes sooner. Ask whether the quote covers an incision, which layer is treated and what anesthesia is planned.
Is a stitch-based lift a reasonable choice in my thirties?
It can be, because folding lifts were described for younger patients with early sagging rather than heavy loose skin. Duminy and Hudson, in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 1997, reported satisfactory results in this group through a single cut in front of the ear. Skin quality and where tissue has dropped matter more than age. With mild sagging, a surgeon may also discuss non-surgical lifting first.
Can eyelid or brow surgery be added in the same session?
Combining procedures is often possible, but each addition lengthens the operation, the sedation and the healing. Surgeons weigh your general health and how much swelling the face can handle at once, and combined work makes the first week harder to plan around a flight. Ask how the order of steps is decided and which part would be postponed if needed.
Which signs after the operation need an urgent call?
Sudden swelling on one side, firm painful tightness or bleeding that soaks the dressing can signal a blood collection and should be reported at once. Spreading redness, fever or wound discharge may point to infection. Weakness when smiling or closing one eye also needs prompt review, even though it is usually temporary. Keep the after-hours contact written down before your flight home.
Can a stitch-folded lift be adjusted or repeated later?
Yes, a revision is possible, since the SMAS is not removed and can be folded again or released later. The face keeps aging, so the jaw line may soften again after some years, and scar tissue can make a second operation more demanding. Ask the surgeon to record which technique and sutures were used, and keep that summary for any future consultation.
Does a folding lift change the hairline or sideburn position?
It can shift the sideburn slightly when the incision turns into the scalp above the ear and skin moves upward; a cut that stays in front of the ear changes the hairline less. Duminy and Hudson reported no hair loss in their series, though temporary shedding near a scalp incision can still happen. Ask where the sideburn will sit, especially if you wear your hair short.