Seoul, South Korea is considered to be one of the best 10 cities to receive cosmetic procedures. Since quarantine restrictions have been lifted, more and more people are rushing to visit Korean plastic surgeons before going on their summer vacation. The demand for facial surgeries has particularly increased after the mandatory wearing of masks during COVID-19 restrictions was partially canceled. These days the most popular consultations are those for anti-aging plastic surgery, lower blepharoplasty, under-eye fat repositioning, and nasolabial folds implants. For your convenience, we’ve prepared a list of the most common facial anti-aging procedures and surgeries available at Seoul's most famous plastic surgery clinics.

Saggy skin caused by aging impacts the whole facial contour and impression. Therefore, the demand for thread lifting, fillers, botox injections, and lifting lasers keeps growing. However, since the effects of all these procedures are temporary and require periodical sessions, the number of patients seeking facelift surgery is increasing continuously.

About the method

Facelift surgery involves incisions in front and behind the ears through which skin is partially peeled off, then retention ligaments are separated, and the SMAS layer (the thin fiber fascia) is cut and fixed by pulling it short or high. The remaining skin is excised and sutured, which is effective in removing nasolabial folds around the mouth, sagging cheeks, and skin on the neck.

Effect

When it comes to deep wrinkles and overall facial contour, facelifts at Korean plastic surgery clinics provide results that last longer compared to other anti-aging procedures. Surgical scars will remain invisible as they will be hidden in the wrinkle lines around the ears or in the hair.

While aging affects skin, fat, muscles, and bones differently, atrophy of fatty tissue is the most noticeable in the upper and middle parts of the face including the center of the forehead, temples, cheekbones, and cheeks. As the fat layer on the face thins out, the bones protrude more giving the face a rough appearance. In this case, fat grafting is recommended to restore a youthful and vibrant facial structure.

About the method

During fat grafting surgery, first, a small incision is made in the thigh or abdominal area for fat extraction, then only pure fat cells are separated by centrifugation, and injected into the targeted area. The surgery takes around an hour and is followed by little bruising or swelling.

Effect

Because this method uses the patient's own fat cells, once engrafted, the fat settles inside the surrounding structure, causing no allergic reactions like those seen with fillers or other foreign bodies. However, it is recommended to maintain body shape as the volume may decrease in the case of weight loss.

Due to undeveloped sebaceous glands, wrinkles in the eyelids appear faster and skin elasticity declines sooner than in other parts of the face. As the aging progresses, the skin may become saggy in the corners of the eyes causing a frowny look.

About the method

Upper and lower blepharoplasty are the most common types of middle-aged eyelid plastic surgery in Korea.

Upper blepharoplasty removes saggy skin, muscle, and fat from the eyelids, making them allowing for a younger and cooler look. Ptosis correction may be additionally performed at the same time if necessary.

Lower blepharoplasty is a surgery that improves the condition of the under-eye area by removing or relocating bulging fat.

As we age, fat under the eyes protrudes, giving a grumpy face impression along with creases and wrinkles.

Effect

Since skin condition varies individually, the surgery requires a customized design for each patient and is recommended for those seeking natural results.

This surgery is suitable for those who have dents in the area between the nose and cheeks. If the nasolabial folds are deep, the tip of the nose looks low and the mouth appears to be protruding. In this case, lifting up the sunken area with an implant provides a youthful look and an attractive mouth line.

About the method

The reason for deep nasolabial folds lies in congenital bone structure and saggy skin caused by aging. In this case, facial appearance can be improved by inserting an implant into the areas around the nose. During this surgery, an incision will be made in the mucous membrane inside the nose or inside the upper lip. The implant will push up wrinkles and engraft with surrounding tissues over time.

Effect

Facial implants get rid of deep nasolabial folds more effectively than fillers or fat grafting while providing permanent results.

As the number of patients suffering from hair loss increases, so does the demand for scalp care. There are plenty of methods involving drugs or injections, but for more satisfying and long-lasting results, one should consider hair transplantation which is quite popular in Korea due to its advanced technology and competitive prices.

About the method

The surgery involves harvesting healthy hair follicles from the occipital region and their transplantation directly to the hair loss area. Hair transplant is divided into incisional (FUT – Follicle Unit Transplant) and non-incisional (FUE – Follicle Unit Extraction) methods, and the results vary greatly depending on the medical staff's skill level. FUE method does not require a long incision on the scalp and is characterized by minimal pain and scarring after the surgery, enabling a relatively quick return to daily life.

Effect

Though the flow of hair transplant surgery is crucial, it is also important to take good care of the transplanted hair so that it can engraft well. Therefore, precautions and post-surgery instructions must be strictly followed.