[Dr. Dae-kwang Lee, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, NANA Plastic Surgery] With the indoor mask mandate lifted this year, people can now go without masks both indoors and outdoors unless there are special restrictions. While there is certainly a sense of relief in being freed from stuffy masks, many people are also troubled now that the insecurities they had hidden behind their masks are exposed.

Typical facial concerns include wrinkles, freckles, and scars. Among these, wrinkles are difficult to hide even with makeup, so many people visit plastic surgery clinics for lifting procedures. In the past, lifting was considered an anti-aging procedure for the middle-aged and elderly, but these days people in their 20s and 30s also visit clinics for regular lifting treatments.

Regardless of age or gender, the most important considerations for a lifting procedure are likely the recovery period and scarring. Office workers find it hard to take long leave, and there is a limit to wearing a hat or mask all day.

The lifting surgery that can reduce this burden is the 'mini lift.' This procedure involves making a fine incision inside the hairline to adjust and lift the sagging skin layers while removing loose skin. Because the incision is only about 1 cm and is made deep within the hairline above the ear, no scar is visible from the outside, and with a procedure time of around 30 minutes, patients can quickly return to daily life.

Satisfaction is also high in terms of lifting effect. During a mini lift, the incised area is pulled in a vertical direction, and rather than a single area, every plane of the face is subdivided and lifted. In this process, the fascial layer (SMAS layer) that causes sagging can be lifted three times, so an excellent lifting effect can be expected.

As the advantages and effects of the mini lift have become known, the age of patients undergoing the procedure is getting younger. In fact, the most appropriate time for a mini lift is in one's 30s or 40s, before full middle-aged aging begins. Missing this window may mean larger incision areas for surgery and procedures, as well as a greater burden in recovery time and cost.

In the case of wrinkles, consistent care before they form allows the skin to remain firm for longer even with age, which is why younger people are also showing strong interest in the procedure. The mini lift in particular reduces the incision and scarring burden of conventional facelifts and offers relatively quick and natural wrinkle improvement.

While this procedure can clearly resolve facial concerns and boost confidence, it requires the skill to finely adjust the degree and depth of lifting in consideration of each individual's degree of skin sagging and subcutaneous fat layer. Before the procedure, thorough consultation with experienced medical staff is essential, and a treatment plan should be established after systematic examination.

 

Source: Korea Political & Economic News (http://www.kpenews.com)