Before & After

"In August, I finally underwent the incision lift I had long been dreaming of. In the past, I had double jaw surgery and two-point facial contouring, but even then, if I slightly tucked my chin, a double chin appeared, and when I smiled, the marionette lines deepened. Non-surgical treatments like fillers and lasers could only do so much. Eventually, I realized that excess skin could only be removed physically—and that conviction led me to choose an incision lift. In August, I finally underwent the incision lift I had long been dreaming of. In the past, I had double jaw surgery and two-point facial contouring, but even then, if I slightly tucked my chin, a double chin appeared, and when I smiled, the marionette lines deepened. Non-surgical treatments like fillers and lasers could only do so much. Eventually, I realized that excess skin could only be removed physically—and that conviction led me to choose an incision lift.Choosing the Surgeon & Consultations I consulted with 15 surgeons in Japan and 4 in Korea. My criteria were clear: the ability to perform an Extended Deep Plane Facelift with proper ligament release, a neck lift using the hammock method to anchor to the periosteum, and no deformities such as pixie ear or displaced tragus. I also valued annual surgical volume and experience. In the end, I chose Dr. Ryu, who is widely regarded as one of the best facelift surgeons in Asia. His skill, results, and patient cases were far beyond what I had seen in Japan. During the consultation, I confirmed the range of ligament release, possible buccal fat removal, and the incision line. I opted for an incision through the sideburn, though in hindsight, the result was so clean that a front incision might have been even better.Surgery Day At 9 AM, I had a final meeting with Dr. Ryu and asked him simply: “Please lift firmly and remove all lower face fat.” After photos, consent, and marking the incision lines, I entered surgery. It took around 4–5 hours. When I woke up at 4 PM, I felt no nausea, just mild grogginess. After eating pumpkin porridge, I even stopped by a convenience store on my way back to the hotel. It was honestly the smoothest recovery I’d ever experienced.Recovery Diary Day 1: Slept well, no insomnia. Mild swelling and light bruising under the left eye. At the clinic, they even shampooed and blow-dried my hair—using Dior amenities. Seeing my lifted face in the mirror made me gasp. My first “downtime high.” Day 2: Bruises spread but swelling remained minimal. Dr. Ryu showed me the surgical video—he had dissected up to the mid-cheek, yet swelling was almost nonexistent. Day 3: Bruises turning yellow. Drain not removed yet. Day 4: Drain removed and stitched without anesthesia—painful, but worth it. I could finally wear makeup, and my satisfaction soared to 150%. Day 6: Fluid accumulation required another drain. I learned how important proper compression—especially behind the ears—is. Day 10: On my departure day, fluid buildup meant the drain had to be reinserted again. It was difficult, but I respected the clinic’s uncompromising pursuit of the best outcome.Results & Impressions By Day 12, my skin felt tightly adhered to the bone. Sideburn and mole positions had shifted upward, my jawline was sharp, and the scars were already healing beautifully. Personally, I was more than 100% satisfied. I even wished I had reduced my jawline further to match the lift. The change was so dramatic that people around me were shocked, saying I looked at least five years younger.Pros: Complete elimination of sagging, natural results, minimal scarring, warm and attentive staff (they even wrote me a letter in Japanese and gifted me a beauty device). Cons: The under-chin area wasn’t addressed, as incision lifts don’t target that region. My sideburns shifted slightly back, making my face look a bit wider.Final Thoughts With 10 days of downtime, makeup and masks were enough to cover everything. Proper compression and drain care are crucial for the final result. My satisfaction was greater than with any surgery I’ve ever had. For me, this incision lift wasn’t just cosmetic—it was a way to regain confidence.My satisfaction was greater than with any surgery I’ve ever had. For me, this incision lift wasn’t just cosmetic—it was a way to regain confidence."