Non-Surgical Facelift in Seoul, Korea
What is a Non-Surgical Facelift?
A non-surgical facelift is any aesthetic procedure designed to lift, tighten, and rejuvenate the face without the traditional surgical “cut & open” facelift. Instead of large incisions, general anaesthesia, long downtime, the non-surgical versions rely on devices, threads, fillers, or energy treatments to achieve a “lifted” or “refreshed” look.
Common techniques include:
- High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to stimulate deep collagen and lift sagging skin.
- Radio-Frequency (RF) skin tightening to heat deep layers and remodel tissue.
- Thread lifts (PDO, PLLA, PCL) where dissolvable threads are placed beneath the skin to provide lifting framework.
- Combination treatments: fillers + skin boosters + device lifting to restore volume and tighten skin.
How Does It Work?
Here’s the mechanism in simplified form:
- Assessment & mapping – The practitioner evaluates skin laxity, volume loss, contour changes, and selects target areas (jawline, cheeks, neck).
- Energy/Thread/Filler delivery –
- With HIFU for instance: focused ultrasound energy is delivered to a depth (often up to ~4.5 mm) targeting the SMAS or deep dermal layer, triggering thermal coagulation points which initiate collagen remodelling.
- With RF: radio-frequency heats the dermal/subdermal layers, promoting new collagen and elastin formation.
- With threads: thin biodegradable threads are inserted, anchored, and then lifted or suspended to reposition sagging tissue and stimulate tissue support.
- Recovery & remodelling – Over the following weeks to months the body’s own repair systems rebuild collagen/elastic tissue, gradually improving skin tightness, contour, and texture. For example, with HIFU one source notes “natural results over time … full effects develop over two to three months.”
- Maintenance – Depending on the method, effects may last from roughly 12-18 months (threads) up to perhaps 24 months or more with good skin health and follow-up sessions.
Who’s a Good Candidate?
A non-surgical facelift is best for people with:
- Mild to moderate sagging of skin (cheeks, jawline, neck) rather than very advanced drooping.
- Loss of skin elasticity or early signs of aging, but who want minimal downtime.
- Those who prefer to avoid full surgery (incisions, general anaesthesia, long recovery).
- Realistic expectations: looking refreshed, lifted, smoother — but not the same dramatic change as a full surgical facelift.
- Good overall health, no major contraindications (device-sensitive implants, very thin/scarred skin etc).
Less ideal if:
- There is very heavy sagging, large volumes of excess skin or muscle/fat tethering (where a surgical lift would be more effective).
- Expecting a “brand new face” overnight — non-surgical methods usually provide subtler change.
Typical Treatment Areas & Benefits
- Lower face / jawline (“jowls”) – improving definition and reducing sag.
- Cheeks / mid-face – restoring contour, lifting downward drift of fat or tissue.
- Neck / under-chin area – tightening loose skin under the chin and along the neck.
- Peri-ocular / brow area – lifting the brow or smoothing the temple/eye region (depending on method).
- Volume restoration (via fillers/boosters) in combination for a fuller, more youthful look rather than simply a “pull”.
Main benefits:
- Minimal or no incisions.
- Shorter downtime (often immediate return to most activities).
- Natural looking results (less “tight” or “wind-blown” than older surgical lifts).
- Can be repeated or combined with other treatments for maintenance or enhancement.
Typical Costs in Seoul
Costs vary widely depending on the device/threads/fillers used, the area treated, and the provider. Here’s a rough guide:
- HIFU / Ultherapy: about ₩1,000,000 – ₩3,500,000 for a full face in Korea.
- Thermage / RF skin tightening: around ₩1,800,000 – ₩4,500,000 for major areas.
- Thread lifts: approx ₩1,500,000 – ₩3,000,000 depending on number of threads and area.
- Some devices or “mini-lift” versions will cost less; combos will cost more.