Home / Treatments / Plastic Surgery / Mini Facelift

Surgery · 미니거상

Mini Facelift (Short-Scar Lift)

A shorter-incision lift for early jowls and lower-face sagging, with less downtime than a full facelift.

Quick facts
  • Korean name: 미니거상
  • Procedure time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
  • Anesthesia: IV sedation with local anesthesia
  • Sessions: 1
  • Downtime: 10 to 14 days
  • Results: Presentable at 2 weeks; settled at 3 months
  • Lasts: About 4 to 7 years
  • Typical price: ₩5,000,000–₩8,000,000 (per surgery, before VAT)

What is Mini Facelift?

A mini facelift (미니거상) treats the lower cheeks and jawline through an incision limited to the front of the ear and sometimes the temple. It does not address the neck as fully as a full facelift.

It suits people in their late 30s to 50s who have early jowls but still have fairly good skin.

How it works

The surgeon raises a smaller skin flap, tightens the SMAS with sutures (plication) or removes a strip of it, then trims a little skin. Without the long incision behind the ear, there is less dissection and usually no drain.

Who it suits

  • Early jowls
  • Mild loss of jawline definition
  • Patients who want results beyond threads but less downtime than a full facelift

Who should skip it or wait

  • Significant neck laxity or bands
  • Heavy, thick skin with severe sagging
  • Smokers

Side effects and risks

  • Hematoma
  • Temporary numbness around the ear
  • Visible scar at the ear
  • Earlier return of sagging than a full lift

Aftercare

  • Use the face band for the first days
  • Keep the head raised
  • Avoid strenuous exercise for 2 to 3 weeks
  • Apply scar gel after stitch removal

Planning around your trip

Stay about 10 days so stitches can be removed around day 7 and swelling can settle before the flight.

Plastic Surgery clinics near Apgujeong

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Mini Facelift price in Apgujeong

₩5,000,000–₩8,000,000
per surgery, before VAT

Typical range at clinics around Apgujeong, Sinsa and Cheongdam, checked 2026-10. Source: Korea Experience, Korea Plastic Surgery Cost Guide 2026. Cosmetic treatments in Korea carry 10% VAT; ask whether a quote includes it.

Mini Facelift questions

Mini facelift or full facelift?

If pinching the skin at your jawline gives the look you want and your neck is fine, a mini lift may be enough. Neck bands or deep folds usually need a full lift.

Why do some Gangnam clinics list mini lifts under KRW 1M?

Some listings are thread-based or very limited skin lifts, or event prices before sedation and VAT. Confirm whether the SMAS is treated.

Will I need a drain?

Usually not, because the dissection area is small.

Can it be converted to a full facelift later?

Yes. The scar can be extended behind the ear in a later operation.

How soon can I return to work?

Most office workers return in about 2 weeks.

Where exactly is the scar?

It runs along the front of the ear, sometimes up into the sideburn. It does not go behind the ear as in a full facelift.

Plan your visit

Get a quote before you fly

Send the treatment, your dates and any past procedures. We reply in English with options, prices and clinic locations near Apgujeong Station.