Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures in Chicago
Artwork by Dr. BYUN
Unlike traditional techniques that pull facial tissues outward, Dr. Byun focuses on restoring facial muscles and structures back toward the natural midline of the face. Using endoscopic visualization, he repositions aging tissues to their original orientation, helping patients achieve balanced, natural-looking results that continue to age normally. Learn more about Dr. Byun’s specialized facelift procedures below.
Deep Plane Facelift
Restore youthful facial contours with Dr. Byun’s deep plane facelift in Chicago. Natural results, midline tissue restoration, and long-lasting rejuvenation.
Mini Lift
Discover a natural, restorative mini facelift in Chicago with Dr. Byun. Improve jawline definition and lower face contours with less downtime.
Midface Lift
You might not be feeling it, but are you looking tired, sad, or upset? Does your facial structure seem to have an emotion of its own? Is your face not representative of the younger person inside? If you answered yes to any of these, we might have a solution for you!
Reverse Facelift
A Reverse Facelift is Dr. BYUN’s own terminology. Dr. BYUN encounters many surgeries that were done by previous surgeons who did not understand the physiology of the muscle positioning. Dr. BYUN is reversing this technique from the inside/midline to the nose, and up vertically, moving the skin and muscles Up and In.
Central Facelift
Dr. BYUN has specialized repairing drooping muscles and skin due to aging by using his signature Central Facelift. In this process, the muscles and tissues are moved Up and In, or centrally. Returning those tissues and muscles to where they once were brings you back to you.
Expression Facelift
Over the years, many people state that they look sad, angry, tired, or mean as they age. Most of these people also recognize that they don’t feel the way they look. Chicago’s Top Plastic Surgeon Dr. BYUN is the master of his famous Expression Lift, which matches your outside to your inside.
Revision Facelift
Revision facelift surgery is designed for patients who are unhappy with the results of a previous procedure or who have developed unnatural changes over time. Dr. Byun specializes in restoring facial balance by carefully repositioning displaced muscles and tissues back toward their natural position.
Facelift FAQS and Aftercare
Proper aftercare is key to a smooth facelift recovery and beautiful results. Mild swelling and bruising are normal—following your surgeon’s instructions will help you heal safely and comfortably. Browse our FAQs for quick answers on recovery, care, and what to expect.
Experience the Dr. BYUN Midface Technique – A Revolution in Facelift Surgery
For over 25 years, Dr. BYUN has pioneered facial rejuvenation by restoring natural youthfulness through his signature Midface and Muscle Repair Technique. Unlike traditional facelifts that pull tissues outward or rely on fillers, PDO threads, or fat grafts, Dr. BYUN honors the natural anatomy of the face—repairing and returning muscles to the midline, restoring the face’s original structure and beauty.
Why Dr. BYUN’s Facelift is Unique
- Full-Layer Precision: Dr. BYUN works across all facial layers—skin, fat, and muscle—to repair damage from aging or previous cosmetic procedures.
- Midline Restoration: Muscles are repositioned back to their original insertion points, not pulled sideways or stretched unnaturally.
- Endoscopic Visualization: Using advanced endoscopic techniques, Dr. BYUN views and repairs tissues from the inside out, ensuring the most physiologically accurate lift.
- Customized Muscle Repair: Each procedure is tailored to the individual, repairing muscles damaged over time or from poorly executed treatments, preserving natural expressions.
The Philosophy Behind the Technique
Dr. BYUN believes in honoring human tissue integrity. His guiding principle: “Do not add, subtract, or pull tissues unnaturally. Restore them to where they came from.”
- Avoids overuse of fillers, threads, or artificial products.
- Emphasizes natural, long-lasting results.
- Restores the midface, including the cheek, lower eye, and mouth corner, in harmony with the entire facial structure.
A Legacy of Innovation
- First performed his midface muscle repair surgery at Northwestern University in 1998.
- Presented the VECS (Vertical lift, Endoscopic-assisted lift, Composite muscle flap Suspension) technique at major national and international meetings, including the American College of Surgeons.
- Continually refined his methods for over 25 years, making this one-of-a-kind, non-replicable procedure a global standard for facial restoration.
Results That Last
Patients consistently report natural, subtle, and powerful improvements. The age range and long-term results showcase how faces can rejuvenate and age normally post-procedure. Unlike trendy facelifts, Dr. BYUN’s repair allows the face to look youthful for decades, not just months.
The BYUN Difference
- Restores natural beauty without unnatural tension or distortion.
- Works in harmony with the face’s original anatomy.
- Provides long-lasting, physiologically correct results.
- Welcomes patients of all ages seeking a natural return to youthful appearance.
Experience a facelift designed around your face—not trends. Restore your youth the BYUN way.
Before
10 Years After
15 Years After
This patient received Dr. BYUN’s famous Central Facelift (Zone III). The key point of this facelift is that all of the components of the muscle and tissues are centralized at the midpoint of your face. Hence why Dr. BYUN calls it the central facelift. He is not terribly concerned with the brow in this case because the central part of the face needs to have the tissues in the right place in order for you to look youthful and natural, giving you a more normal looking face post operation.
Patient 2036
Facelift Layers & Techniques: The BYUN Difference
Patient 1900
1. Anatomical Layers (Depth of Facelift)
Understanding which layers are treated helps patients see through confusing facelift terms:
- Skin Layer – Superficial Facelift, Mini Facelift, Ponytail Facelift
- Lifts skin and subcutaneous fat only.
- Temporary results; does not lift muscles.
- Risks: uneven tension, scarring, accelerated sagging if done incorrectly.
- Muscle Layer – SMAS (top muscle layer), Deep Plane Facelift (under muscle)
- Provides long-lasting support.
- Restores natural muscle structure and facial contour.
- Bone Layer – Subperiosteal Lift (under muscle and periosteum)
- Deepest layer; stabilizes cheek and midface against natural sagging.
Dr. BYUN’s approach: Addresses all layers, restoring muscles and tissues to their natural midline position for a truly natural, long-lasting lift.
2. Method of Fixation (How the Lift is Secured)
How lifted tissues stay in place is critical:
- Sutures: Absorbable or permanent, placed at multiple levels.
- Thread Lifts: Feather Lift, PDO Thread Lift, Lunchtime Facelift (temporary).
- Commercial gimmicks to avoid: Lifestyle Lift, Weekend Facelift, MiniLift, Quick Recovery Lift.
Dr. BYUN: Uses precise, layer-specific fixation for permanent, natural results—not gimmicks.
3. Direction of Repair
- Most surgeons: Pull tissues up and out toward the ears (can distort facial features).
- Dr. BYUN: Pulls tissues up and in toward the midline, reversing natural sagging without distortion.
Tip: Always ask your surgeon, “What direction are the muscles being repositioned?”
4. Injection Methods (Not True Facelifts)
- Liquid Facelift: Synthetic fillers—risk of lumps and migration.
- Fat Grafts: Can create lumps or calcifications over time.
- Microfat/Emulsified Fat Grafts: Temporary and imperfect.
Dr. BYUN: Does not add or subtract volume, only repositions your natural tissues for a permanent lift.
5. Method of Exposure (Incisions)
- Open Facelift: Larger incisions; Short Scar, S Shape, Limited Incision Facelifts.
- Endoscopic Facelift: Small incisions with camera guidance for precise repair.
Dr. BYUN: Minimally invasive, precise incisions; less trauma, faster recovery, better results.
Absolutely! Here’s a short, concise, SEO-friendly “Why Dr. BYUN Stands Out” section incorporating all of your points, organized for clarity and website readability:
Why Dr. BYUN Stands Out
Dr. BYUN is recognized worldwide for his revolutionary approach to facial rejuvenation, offering a comprehensive “The Works” facelift that covers the whole face and neck. His techniques are built on over 25 years of innovation and precision.
- Full-Face and Neck Expertise: “The Works” includes all zones of the face and neck, with tailored options available for patients seeking partial treatment.
- Advanced Layered Approach:
- Works across all layers—skin, fat, SMAS, and supraperiosteal (deep plane).
- Developed the VECS Lift (Vertical Endoscopic Composite System), combining deep plane rhytidectomy, SMAS, skin, and fat lifting.
- Uses a multi-suture securement method to return muscles precisely to their original bone attachments.
- Unique Direction of Repair:
- Aging moves tissues down and out; Dr. BYUN restores them up and in toward the midline.
- This preserves natural anatomy, avoids distortion, and eliminates the need for fillers or fat grafts.
- No Injections or Volume Additions:
- Dr. BYUN believes in repositioning, not adding, ensuring long-lasting, natural results.
- Avoids lumpiness, migration, or accelerated aging caused by fillers or fat grafts.
- Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Technique:
- Performs full-face and neck lifts through small incisions.
- One of the first surgeons to use an endoscope for facelifts, dating back to 1998 at Northwestern University.
The BYUN Difference: A facelift that restores natural structure, reverses aging in the most physiologically correct way, and is truly one-of-a-kind—no other surgeon in the world replicates this method.
💡 Tip for Patients: When evaluating any facelift, ask about depth, direction, fixation, and exposure. This ensures you’re choosing a surgeon who works like Dr. BYUN—respecting the anatomy for natural results.
Midface Lift, is lifting the mid part of the face (cheek & under eye).
Jowl Lift, is lifting the muscles near the mandible.
Neck Lift, is lifting regions of the neck.
Brow Lift, is lifting the upper part of the face (eyebrow & forehead).
Patient 2516
Patient Example: 70-Year-Old Case
- Baseline (30s):
- Natural, firm midface triangle on the zygoma.
- No fillers or cosmetic surgery used.
- Natural Aging (70s):
- 40 years later, shows normal aging without interventions.
Zones & Observations:
- Zone I – Neck: Platysma muscle sagged, forming two central lines in the neck.
- Zone II – Mouth: Mentalis muscle caused deep creases and dimples at mouth corners, pulling tissue downward.
- Zone III – Midface & Lower Eye: Orbicularis oculi stretched; cheek muscles and fascia descended, creating a tired look.
- Zone IV – Forehead & Brow: Brow muscle and orbital rim shifted downward; widening of eye circle, but sphincter function preserved.
Patient Results: After Dr. BYUN Facelift
- Goal: Restore natural features Up and In—not eliminate all wrinkles.
- Technique Difference: Most surgeons pull skin outward; Dr. BYUN restores natural facial structure.
Zones & Outcomes:
- Zone I – Neck: Neck appears narrower, harmonized with the face; wrinkles remain naturally.
- Zone II – Mouth: Diamond-shaped smile closely matches her younger 30s photo.
- Zone III – Midface & Lower Eye: Midface triangle (zygomatic area) is firm, petite, and properly positioned.
What’s Required to Maintain Your Results?
Patient 2010
Dr. BYUN Focuses on 4 Areas of the Face (4 Zones):
- Zone I is the neck and lower face (best for someone with a “turkey neck”).
- Zone II is the mouth area (best for someone with a marionette line, or a sad/mean look).
- Zone III is the midface (best for someone with a tired look/dark circles, heavy smile lines).
- Zone IV is the upper face (best for someone with a hooded brow, forehead lines, upper eye)
In The Media
What You Need To Know Before Getting a Facelift
Six things to be aware of before going under the knife.
When the Young, Bright Prodigy Evolves into the Great Seasoned Master
Dr. Michael BYUN is a serious doctor with seriously comprehensive experience unlike many of his peers, setting him heads and shoulders above the rest.
