qd lifting surgery
Lifting surgery repositions sagging facial tissue at the deeper SMAS layer — not just the skin — to restore the jawline and neck. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, options range from a mini facelift for the lower face and jowls to a full facelift and neck lift, through incisions hidden in the natural creases around the ear. Anesthesia ranges from local with sedation to general depending on the extent, decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- Sagging jowls and a softened jawline
- Loose skin and bands on the neck, or an undefined under-chin
- Laxity that non-surgical lifting no longer addresses to your goal
- A wish for a longer-lasting change than energy or thread lifting
Whether a mini or full lift — and whether a neck lift is added — suits you is decided after a facial assessment at consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
The extent of laxity, the deeper support layers and the dissection scope needed
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all in one plan.
the
principle
Rather than pulling skin alone, we diagnose the layer and direction where the sagging began — the SMAS, the retaining ligaments, the platysma — and set the extent of surgery from that.
Facial aging is not only skin-deep: the SMAS layer and the tissue beneath the skin descend over time. In lifting surgery the surgeon makes incisions hidden in the creases around the ear (extending into the hairline or behind the ear for a fuller lift or neck lift), lifts and resuspends the SMAS layer, then redrapes the skin and removes the small amount of excess. A mini facelift uses shorter incisions to focus on the lower face and jowls, while a full facelift and neck lift address the jawline and neck more completely. Because the SMAS is repositioned rather than the skin alone being pulled, the aim is a result that looks balanced rather than tight.
How it works
01
Deeper than skin — the SMAS
Aging descends the SMAS layer and the tissue beneath the skin, so the surgery lifts and resuspends the SMAS rather than pulling the skin alone — the aim is a balanced result rather than a tight one.
02
Incisions hidden around the ear
Incisions are placed in the natural creases around the ear, extending behind the ear or into the hairline for a fuller lift or a neck lift.
03
Mini or full, with or without a neck lift
A mini facelift uses shorter incisions focused on the lower face and jowls; a full facelift addresses the mid and lower face; a neck lift is added for loose neck skin, bands and the under-chin.
04
Anesthesia scaled to the extent
A mini lift is often done under local anesthesia with sedation, while a full facelift with neck lift may use general anesthesia; excess skin is then redraped and a small amount removed.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Lifting surgery repositions sagging facial tissue at the deeper SMAS layer — not just the skin — to restore the jawline and neck. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, options range from a mini facelift for the lower face and jowls to a full facelift and neck lift, through incisions hidden in the natural creases around the ear. Anesthesia ranges from local with sedation to general depending on the extent, decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)
Anatomy and function exam
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
Comparing scope and method
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
Surgery and recovery plan
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all set out in one plan.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation, facial assessment and surgical planning
- Anesthesia — local with sedation, or general — depending on the extent
- Incisions hidden in the creases around the ear (and behind the ear or hairline for fuller lifts)
- Lifting and resuspension of the SMAS layer, then redraping and trimming of excess skin
- Suture closure, a supportive dressing, and recovery and aftercare guidance
Time: Surgery takes about 1–2 hours for a mini facelift and roughly 3–5 hours for a full facelift with a neck lift.
Please read this before treatment
- Anesthesia ranges from local with sedation to general; a full lift may involve a short period of monitoring before you go home.
- Sutures around the ear are typically removed at about 7–14 days; a supportive dressing is worn early on.
- Expect swelling, bruising, tightness and areas of numbness that ease over several weeks; return to daily activities is often around 1–2 weeks, with strenuous activity resumed later as advised.
- Side effects such as swelling, bruising, numbness, asymmetry, or changes in scar or hairline may occur and are explained at consultation.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Swelling, bruising, tightness and areas of temporary numbness
- Asymmetry, or changes in the scar or hairline around the ear
- Uncommonly, a collection of blood (hematoma) needing attention, especially early
- Rarely, temporary weakness or altered sensation from nerve involvement
- Delayed skin healing, more likely in smokers
When to take extra care
- Bleeding disorders or blood-thinning medication — tell your doctor
- Smoking, which meaningfully affects skin healing — you may be asked to stop for a period
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes
- A tendency to keloid, or fitness for general anesthesia
- Unrealistic expectations, or a revision after previous lifting
what to expect
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
DAY 0
Surgery day
Anesthesia ranges from local with sedation to general; a supportive dressing is applied and a full lift may involve a short period of monitoring before you go home.
DAY 1-3
Swelling & bruising
Swelling, bruising and tightness are usually most noticeable now, with areas of numbness; the dressing and head elevation help.
DAY 7-14
Suture removal
Sutures around the ear are typically removed at about 7–14 days, and many people return to daily activities within about one to two weeks.
WEEK 2-6
Settling
Much of the swelling and tightness eases over several weeks; numbness can take longer to resolve, and strenuous activity resumes later as advised.
3-6 MONTHS
Result refines
The result softens and settles over weeks to a few months; aging continues afterward, so the look changes gradually over the years. (Results vary by individual.)
Sessions & results
This is a single surgery. Swelling and tightness settle over several weeks to a few months as the result softens and settles; aging continues afterward, so the look changes gradually over the years. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
How it compares
Surgery and non-surgical lifting work differently and suit different degrees of sagging, so the right option depends on your goals. This is not a ranking.
| Lifting Surgery | Thread Lifting | Energy lifting (ultrasound / RF) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Surgically repositions the SMAS layer | Absorbable barbed threads reposition mild sagging | Non-surgical heat stimulates collagen |
| Best for | Moderate to advanced sagging of the jawline and neck | Mild sagging and early laxity | Mild laxity and maintenance |
| Anesthesia | Local with sedation, up to general | Local | Topical or none |
| Recovery | Sutures 7–14 days; ~1–2 weeks | Little downtime | Little to none |
| Longevity | Longer-lasting; aging continues | Temporary — about 12–18 months | Temporary; repeated |
Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
Threads hook the tissue that has descended and draw it upward, while Lifting Surgery releases the layer where the sagging actually begins, repositions it and removes the skin that is left over. The degree of change and how long it holds are different, and so are the recovery time and the risks. Which one suits you depends on how far the sagging has progressed.
The incision runs in front of and behind the ear and along the border of the hairline. We plan it so that it is hard to see once it has healed, but how a scar heals varies a great deal from person to person. If you are prone to keloids or your wounds tend to heal slowly, please tell us beforehand.
It takes a few weeks for the swelling and bruising to settle enough for you to return to daily life, and a few months before the result looks natural. Because so much depends on how widely the tissue is dissected, the same operation runs a different course from one person to the next. Tell us in advance when you need to be back at work and which dates matter to you, and we will discuss the extent of surgery and its timing around them.
That is what happens when only the skin is pulled. This is why we also work on the support layer beneath the skin to set the direction of the lift, and trim only as much skin as is genuinely left over. How natural the result looks is decided by which way the tissue is moved and how far, and we go through that plan with you before surgery.
As with any operation, there is bleeding, hematoma, infection, scarring, asymmetry, altered sensation, delayed recovery, anesthesia-related risks and the possibility of revision surgery. The nerves that produce facial expression run through this area, so we explain the risks connected with them as well and go over everything in detail during the individual consent process.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now