Signature Facelift by World Famous
Dr. Michael BYUN
Facelift Chicago
Facial enhancement is a delicate art, that, if performed correctly, will leave you looking rejuvenated instead of artificial, windswept, or “frozen.” Chicago Facelift expert Dr. Michael BYUN possesses extensive experience with facial enhancement and has performed countless facelift surgeries throughout his career. Thus, he is well versed in all the latest techniques necessary to make your face look the best it has ever looked.
Dr. BYUN’s Midface Technique was presented at the national meeting of Plastic Surgery.
The technique was featured as a video at the American College of Surgeons at the Orlando meeting May 1998.
The delicate aging process of the midface involves the relationships between the lower eye, the cheek area, and the corner of the mouth. Thus, the restoration of one area affects the other.
The concept of Dr. BYUN’s facelift is to restore the natural youthful disposition of the cheek by elevating the descended malar cheek pad through very small incisions, therefore helping to reshape the central face, achieving a revitalized look.
Since 1997, he has been the pioneer and one of the very first to work on the midface muscles, repairing and returning those same muscles back to the midline. As a matter of fact, Dr. BYUN was the first to perform the surgery at Northwestern University in 1998, and his video of ‘VECS’ was first presented to the American College of Surgery in 1998. His presentation of Vertical lift, Endoscopic assisted lift, Composite muscle flap Suspension technique (VECS) was its first at the Chicago Plastic Surgery meeting in 1998. Since then, he has been perfecting his method of facial muscle repair for over 25 years.
Before
1 Year After
15 Years After
This patient had the world famous BYUN Expression Lift, where her expression and image are kept the same, and just given a youthful boost. This procedure was focused on the midface, below the eye, and at the zygoma. She had a very droopy “bag” by her mouth which was created by the buccinator muscle. Since the procedure focuses on the extended lower face, on the lower eye, and next to the mouth or jowls, Dr. BYUN defines it as Zone II and III. This patient also received a “no implant chin lift” due to Dr. BYUN relaxing that muscle. Her chin projection is better now without an implant because of the muscle repair (Zone II). She has very thin skin, and it would have been a horrible outcome if she selected the ordinary skin lift (subcutaneous). Her mouth would have been pulled all the way to the outside of her face, giving her a very unnatural appearance. The technique that skilled plastic surgeon Dr. BYUN used was his signature Endoscope Assisted Vertical Midface Lift and Muscle Repair at the midface. Since her initial procedure in 2005, the patient has been under Dr. BYUN’s care (almost 20 years!) She has been utilizing the BYUN Age Well program to her advantage. Treatments such as Dermal Spin/Microtunneling are used to stimulate the already repaired muscle fibers. This helps Dr. BYUN’s patients maintain their surgical results. PRP is introduced, which gives better healing power by introducing those platelets. The essence of the BYUN Age Well technique is that Dr. BYUN knows how to stimulate the muscle, fascia, and skin ensuring the fibers will not age fast.
Before
After (Patient Submitted)
4 Years After (Patient Submitted)
This patient had The Works done (Zones I-IV, expression lift) Her image was kept, but her tissues were centralized again. Her chin had a “double bubble” or “dumbbell” effect because the mentalis muscle curled up and attacked the lower lip. The chin was then “lifted” or relaxed without a chin implant. Dr. BYUN repairs the mentalis muscle by relaxing it, making the bubble disappear and chin relaxed, which then creates a sculpted but natural look. He is absolutely against any implants in the face because they move, calcify, and don’t improve the aging process. With Dr. BYUN, the neck (Zone I) is never widened and stretched, resembling a wrestler’s neck, but centralized to create a more narrow and chiseled neck. As you can see with this patient, her neck width reduced significantly. If you understand and can see the BYUN difference, you are already a great candidate. The subtlety is incredible. Most surgeons don’t see the forest, just the tree in front of them.
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.
Pre-Op
9 Weeks After
5 Years After (Patient Submitted)
Dr. BYUN performed a Midface Lift (Zones II & III) on this patient. She is a former model, and TV star who wanted to improve her features. Her facial shapes are fine, but note on the midface there is a lot of heaviness where it is marked, especially on the smile lines/nasolabial folds. Already at the 9 week mark, you can see the midface is raised and smaller. A key part of the BYUN difference is making the “midface triangle” smaller. The midface should be starting not next to the corner of the mouth, but higher than the corner of the mouth. The longevity of Dr. BYUN’s work is proven because over 5 years later, the midface triangle is still hugging the lower eye and the top of the zygoma. Dr. BYUN always emphasizes that the facial tissues should always be placed back ON the “table” or the zygoma. Unlike other doctors who pull tissues OFF the table, which causes you to age abnormally.
What Is The BYUN Muscle Based Facelift?
The BYUN Facelift involves the removal of excess skin, along with the rearrangement and repair of the tissues and muscles beneath the skin of the face (especially the cheeks), to restore a youthful, resilient quality to facial contours. The procedure helps to eliminate sagging and wrinkling in the cheek and jaw area.
What Exactly is a Facelift?
The way that the industry defines a ‘facelift’ is all too vague. Between extreme commercialism and gimmicky marketing, the term facelift has actually become quite confusing. We can, however, gain some clarity, but only when proper terminology is applied. This article will help the reader categorize the vast number of confusing facelift terms and be able to identify which procedure may actually be right for them.
The real way to categorize facelifts is by these FACTORS:
- Anatomical Site/Region
- Anatomical Layers/Depth
- Fixation Method
- Direction of the Repair
- Injection Method (what goes inside)
- Method of Exposure
Let’s dive in…
1. Facelift, is a face lift.
You are lifting something. What are we lifting? That depends on what Anatomical Site or Region is the focus:
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).
These terms are used to define anatomical regions of the face.
2. This category is very important for the consumer or patient to visualize and understand; the Anatomical Layer, or Depth of the Facelift. People often talk about Deep Plane Rhytidectomy vs Superficial Facelift vs the Mini Facelift. Confusing right? Let’s zoom out; Starting from the outside of the face (skin layer), we can then move deeper through the layers of tissue and stop at the skull (bone layer).
As a rule of thumb, Superficial Facelifts are defined by the dissection being below the skin, but above the muscle. A Skin Facelift only goes as deep as the subcutaneous level. Other examples include, the Mini Facelift, Subcutaneous Level Facelift and the Ponytail Lift or the Ponytail Facelift. No matter who does it and no matter what commercialized terminology the procedure has, facelifts involving skin and fat layers will always be a very superficial lift, as these are not lifting the muscles.
The problem with just pulling and fixating these layers without carefully separating them causes abnormal scarring due to uneven tension. This also interferes with normal aging. The layers above should all be independently moved up as a flap and independently secured. For these reasons, Dr. BYUN does not endorse any of the above procedures.
A Composite Lift, includes multiple layers -skin, fat and muscle. As we move deeper to the muscle layer, common facelifts you will hear about are SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), which is the top of the muscle that’s lifted. A Deep Plane Facelift is a dissection under the muscle. Subperiosteal Lift, is a dissection below the muscle and the periosteum, which makes it the deepest level, right above the bone. These terms are used to define the depth of the procedure.
Dr. BYUN’s facelift utilizes all of these layers. So simply asking your doctor “what level are you dissecting to?” can help the patient see through the commercialized terminologies.
3. The third part of the differentiation is the Method of Fixation. Therefore, how do you get the layers to stay exactly where you want them? Most surgeons are using absorbable sutures, permanent sutures, or staples. You also need to ask your doctor “what fixation method will be used?” This is where the following terms come from:
Suture Lift, which is using a suture under the skin to temporarily lift and tighten the skin. Often referred to as a Lunchtime Facelift. A Feather Lift is when threads are inserted in the subcutaneous level to temporarily lift sagging skin. PDO Threads or the PDO Thread Lift, use dissolvable sutures to temporarily and lift the skin.
These terminologies are basically describing the fixation, material, and method. So does it really matter? Yes, but very impartially. Because every surgeon has a way to fixate the layers that they separate at the regions described above. Since the beauty industry has started reaching outside of their area of expertise, they have come up with sensationalized and highly commercialized phrases. These are all discouraged by Dr. BYUN. Some of the most common lifts using these methods are: the Lifestyle Lift, the Weekend Facelift, or Weekend Lift, MiniLift, or Mini Facelift, Quick Recovery Lift, No Scar Lift, and the list goes on. These are examples of more gimmicky phrases that consumers should not pay attention to as they are not true facelift techniques.
4. The Direction of the Repair is very important and it’s what truly separates Dr. BYUN from the masses. As we age our muscles move Down and Out, to reverse this, Dr. BYUN repairs Up and In. Tissues that have aged are reversed, meaning that tissues are NOT pulled laterally (out/away), but rather they are pulled medially (up/in). Ask your surgeon, “What direction are you pulling the muscles?” If the answer is up and away or up and out, you should run up and out of that surgeon’s office. Many surgeons use the term Vertical Facelift. This means that they move the tissue layers up. Because most surgeons want to get rid of all the wrinkles, they pull up and lateral (out/away) towards the ears causing distortion. Dr. BYUN utilizes the Vertical method, BUT he is about the only one who pulls the muscles back to the midline.
5. Whether or not a surgeon utilizes an Injection Method is helpful to ask. Liquid Facelifts utilize synthetic, man made fillers, which cause complications such as migration and lumpiness. Fat Graft Facelifts cause lumpiness and calcifications. A Microfat Facelift, or Emulsified Fat Graft although sound good, will eventually meet the same fate as the Fat Graft Facelift. This set of terminologies describe the materials used and not the region, layer, or fixation method. So, what does that mean? Simply, they are not true Facelift methods. It goes without saying, but Doctor BYUN does not recommend any of these methods, he believes that for the most natural results, volume should not be added or subtracted from your face, but only repositioned.
6. The final part of the differentiation is the Method of Exposure. Most of the time, the method is open. This means the surgeon creates large incisions in the front of the ear, the back of the ear, and down the hairline on the forehead. This is the traditional technique and is NOT recommended by Dr. BYUN. Here are a few terms that describe an Open Facelift: Short Scar Facelift, S Shape Facelift and Limited Incision Facelift. Alternative to the Open technique is the Endoscopic technique. The Endoscopic Facelift, is when an endoscope (small thin camera) is utilized to work on hard to reach areas. This technique utilizes very small incisions. These terminologies all describe how much of a cut is required to do the procedure and is heavily dependent on the surgeon’s skill level. Dr. BYUN’s opinion is that less skilled surgeons will make larger incisions, or open the skin more.
The BYUN Difference
Since almost all of the techniques mentioned above aren’t able to correct the main reason for a facelift, (the aging/sagging muscles) Dr. Michael BYUN created his own technique over 25 years ago at Northwestern. He was able to recognize that the way facelift procedures were being performed was quite wrong and didn’t fix the root of the problem. Traditionally, surgeons are taught to pull the skin, fatty tissues and muscles Up and Away. Doing this brings the muscles to a non-native and therefore non-natural location on the face. Because muscles aren’t placed back to where they started to fall from, surgeons resorted to shoving fat grafts and fillers into places where the muscles should be.
With Dr. BYUN’s repair, he simply dives underneath the muscles and repositions the muscles back to their origin. His technique not only leads to results lasting 10+ years, but patients look natural, they age more gracefully and most importantly, they look like themselves!
With all of this information drawn out, you can start to see the magic of the BYUN difference; let’s break down his methods using the guidelines above:
- Dr. BYUN loves to do “The Works” for patients which includes the whole face and neck. He has broken the face into four (4) different zones so that patients can still benefit from having his repair work done even if it’s not for the whole face and neck.
- As for the layer, Dr. BYUN has all the layers covered. He separates the SMAS that’s above the periosteum and works in the supraperiosteal layer which is essentially a deep plane or a Supraperiosteal Facelift. The skin is secured tightly enough to show off the new muscle form, but loose enough to not cause any scar spreading or tissue damage. Dr. BYUN was one of the first to describe the VECS Lift (vertical endoscopic composite system). This utilizes deep plane rhytidectomy, SMAS, skin and fat lifting techniques.
- Dr. BYUN uses a very special multi-suture securement method as he places the muscles back onto the bone they fell from.
- By far the most important differentiation of a BYUN facelift is the direction of repositioning. We age Down and Out, he repairs Up and In. Tissues that have aged are reversed, meaning that tissues are NOT pulled sideways, but rather they are pulled back to the midline. Since he is leading the way and is the ONLY one restoring the face in this way, this is Dr. BYUN’s contribution to the field of plastic surgery and he hopes to one day win the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
- It goes without saying, but Doctor BYUN does not recommend any injection methods, he believes that for the most natural results, volume should not be added or subtracted from your face, but only repositioned. Like a squeeze ball that has been squeezed from the top and pouches out the bottom, to restore the structure, one must squeeze the bottom to restore the contents back up to the top. This mirrors the aging process, as we age our muscles succumb to gravity and move down and out. Therefore, the most physiologically correct way to restore the face is to bring the contents back UP and IN; but no other surgeon is doing this! Other surgeons pull muscles to a third location (UP and OUT). This distorts the face because muscles are no longer in their native location, to counter this, they will fill the face with fat graphs and fillers to try to create a more normal bulk appearance of where the muscle SHOULD be. Over time, fat grafts cause lumpiness and fillers migrate, both causing heaviness to the face and thus age it more rapidly.
- A big aspect of the BYUN difference is that he uses small incisions with the endoscopic technique. Even with this challenging technique, Dr. BYUN can perform an entire face and neck lift. He was one of the first surgeons to use a small endoscope back in 1998 at Northwestern University.
What’s Required to Maintain Your Results?
Facelift Candidacy
You may be a good candidate for facelift if you are bothered by one or more of the following:
- Sagging skin in the mid and lower face
- Deep skin folds between the nose and the corners of the mouth
- Fallen or displaced fat
- Jowls
- Excess fat under the chin – i.e., a “double chin”
- Skin laxity and excess fat on the neck – i.e., a “turkey neck”
You should be in good overall health, a non-smoker, and have reasonable expectations of the procedure.
The BYUN Facelift Procedure
A traditional facelift is performed on an outpatient basis with anesthesia. Dr. BYUN makes several short incisions near the hairline at the temples. Excess skin is removed and the underlying muscles and tissues are lifted and tightened to create more youthful contours. Fallen or displaced fat is repositioned. The tissues and skin along the jawline are tightened to add more definition. Excess skin and fat can be removed from the neck to get rid of a “turkey neck.”
Compared to most surgeons, Dr. BYUN takes a different approach by addressing the “midface,” which is the cheek area beneath the eyes. Drooping skin in the midface can cause noticeable folds between the mouth and nose. This area is often ignored during standard facelift procedures, despite the fact that it is a concern for many facelift patients. Dr. BYUN believes that treatment of this area is key to restoring balance and youthfulness to the face.
Revolutionary Vision,
Unmatched Outcomes
BYUN Facelift Recovery
After a facelift, a bandage is placed around the head. Facelift guru Dr. BYUN provides comprehensive instructions on when to change the bandage and clean the incisions. He provides information on the proper medications to use to reduce the risk of infection. He will also advise you on how long to take off from work, when it is safe to resume socializing, when you can exercise, and other normal activities.
Common facelift after effects include:
- Headaches
- Tightness in the scalp area
- A small lump behind the ear
- A lump along the hairline
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Blurry eyes
- Dizziness
- Clogged ears
- Shooting nerve sensations
- Numbness
The forehead does not usually bruise, but it is possible to get black eyes from this procedure. Three days after surgery you can apply makeup to the surgical site to disguise bruising. For the first two weeks, avoid any clothing that pulls over your head. In addition, you cannot wear earrings for one month. If you color or perm your hair, be sure to do so before the surgery. You should not apply chemicals for six weeks following surgery.
During your initial recovery, you should keep your head elevated at all times, including while you sleep. You should sleep on your back propped up on two to three pillows. Here, Dr. BYUN has broken down 5 things to know about facelift recovery.
How I Developed the Reverse Facelift
Will I Have Scars From A Facelift?
Dr. BYUN’s facelift scars are very discreet because they are small, and follow the natural hairline. Scar management techniques and product recommendations can be provided to help scars fade.
How Long Do Facelift Results Last?
With Dr. BYUN’s signature Facelift Muscle Repair, your results will last ages longer than a standard facelift procedure. A facelift turns back the clock, but does not stop the natural aging process, or the effects of gravity. So, it is important to remember that despite the aging process, you will always look better than you would if you did not have a facelift.
Can I Combine A Facelift With Other Procedures?
A facelift can be performed in combination with other procedures such as: blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow lift, or nose reshaping. Some patients also choose to combine a facelift with laser skin resurfacing or other non-surgical treatments to improve the quality of the skin. Or, most commonly, patients decide to add another Zone to their facelift procedure.
For more information, please request a consultation with Dr. BYUN by contacting his Chicago practice today.
Schedule a Chicago Facelift Consultation With Dr. BYUN
Additional FAQ
Q: Hello Dr. Byun, I am 72 years old. Am I too old to have your signature facelift? I want to look young again but I’m afraid the years are definitely visible on my face.
A: Not at all, age is just a number around here! I will match your outward appearance to your youthful energy. After my procedure, I bet you will feel 40 years old again. Connect with us through the website and we will see your photos and work from there. Once we get your photos, you can visit me to create a plan for your face, learn more about my procedures, and receive before and aftercare instructions.
“I would love to match your outward appearance with how you feel.” -Dr. Michael BYUN.
First to Discover
the Hidden Secret
BYUN Difference
Reverse Facelift
This patient is a professional singer that was looking to restore a youthful, natural appearance that she once remembered having. With being in the entertainment industry since the age of fourteen, performing in front of hundreds of audience members regularly, Dr. BYUN understood the patient’s desire to visually bring back a young and lively stage presence.
She sought out to improve the large, droopy circles underneath her eyes, and her sagging cheeks. She wished to improve the prominent hump on her nose and wanted to minimize the flare-up of the nostrils, mostly due to a deviated septum and hanging columella.
The procedures included repositioning the brow and vertically redistributing the tissues and muscles through a very specific and gentle multiple vector pull approach. This involved tightening the cheek and neck area muscles and tissues. Due to her tired-looking eyes, Dr. BYUN chose to lift the lateral hood of the brow and skin of the upper lid. He also enhanced the depth of the upper lid crease, all through minimal incisions. Dr. BYUN performed a lower lid canthopexy in order to repair the dark circles underneath her eyes, and tightened the lid margin and muscles. In order to improve sagging skin around the corners of the mouth, he then lifted the buccinator muscles to compress the cheeks tight to her teeth without pulling the mouth sideways. Unlike most surgeons who tend to approach the neck left through the back of the neck along the hairline, Dr. BYUN vertically lifted the jaw area and approached the platysma neck muscle through the lateral part of the face. Dr. BYUN believes that aging occurs vertically, therefore approaching his work in a fashion that does not pull the skin horizontally in an unnatural way. Dr. BYUN’s delicate touch and skillful hands allowed the patient to shed years from her appearance, allowing her to feel fresh, energized, and comfortable performing in front of large crowds again.
“How can I express the gratitude that overwhelms my spirit each time I gaze into the mirror? To see the sparkle in my eyes restored, a smile once forgotten, remembered and a beautiful new nose that only you envisioned as God intended. And with the ghost of old age now banished from my neckline, I see the reflection of my youth— a better, softer version of myself— startling, magical, miraculous. I now possess a face by BYUN, and even my creator is impressed. Thank you from the bottom of my grateful heart, and the best of everything to you and yours.” -Patient Quote
Central Facelift
Patient 2056
Listen to what Dr. Byun’s Facelift patient has to say about her procedure.
The patient is a healthy female who wanted to improve excess lines while avoiding drastic changes. She wanted to keep eye shape the same, sticking with a more natural look. She had quite significant ripples on the central face, lower eye, and cheek to the mouth area. Slight volume was also missing from the cheek area. These ripples improved, and volume was restored because the muscles were lifted up where they once were.
Photos taken 3-1/2 months after.
She had a brow ptosis, which is where the space between eyebrow and upper eyelash becomes shorter. The skin on her upper lid is touching the eyelash, so you cannot see her upper eye crease. Notice that the fillers under the eye have stretched the muscle, creating a prominent tear trough. This is also called a prominent nasojugal line (different from nasolabial fold which indicates the smile line). As a matter of fact, her nasolabial fold has gotten deeper, and her marionette lines next to the corner of her mouth got deeper. An interesting note is her chin- she has a fold above the chin that makes the chin appear short. Also, her lower lip had two bulging circles underneath making her lower lip look heavy (dumbbells below lower lip or above the chin). Her main concern? ‘ I look way tired and mean!’ After receiving Dr. BYUN’s famous signature ‘BYUN muscle repair’ lift, she looks relaxed, brighter, and younger.
Notice how the brow is released, but not too pulled. Now you can see her eyelashes and upper eye crease space. Her nasojugal line and nasolabial fold are shorter and shallow. The triangle that holds the cheek muscle is smaller and lifted. Notice the creases at the corner of the mouth and the marionette lines, which are much less apparent. Her lower lip and the chin are much less crowded. The projection of her chin is better by relaxing the muscles around the mouth, without using a chin implant. This was achieved by relaxing the mentalis muscle, and lifting the buccinator muscle which adds a fold to the marionette line. This was all reversed by the ‘BYUN face muscle repair’. Dr. BYUN emphasizes that the mouth muscles should never be pulled sideways. All the muscles should stay where they start and end. He often talks about a hammock that’s stretched and touching the ground. If it were to be a muscle, they need to be tightened within that space, not pulled away from point A and B. The muscles simply need to be tightened within that compartment. This all can be achieved by his famous muscle lift using an endoscope. He visualizes the eye muscle, cheek muscle (malar cheek pads that include zygomaticus major muscle), buccinator, and mentalis chin muscle). He tightens them and puts them onto the periosteum where the muscle used to be. Then he separates the skin so it holds the newly repositioned muscles higher forever. This is the one and only BYUN facelift.
Procedures
- Patient had an endoscopic-assisted face, jowl, and muscle lift with
- Fat graft from the abdomen to the face, cheek, and nasolabial fold.
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)
Facelift Terms Guide
Superficial Facelift: This is a procedure that only goes as deep as the subcutaneous level. Only the Skin (dermis) and Fat (subcutaneous) layers are being worked on.
Skin Facelift: This procedure can include the Skin or Fat layers. Considered a superficial lift that’s above the muscles. (Muscles not touched or repositioned) Also referred to as a Mini-Facelift.
Mini Facelift: This procedure can include the Skin or Fat layers. Considered a superficial lift that’s above the muscles. (Muscles not touched or repositioned) Also referred to as a Skin Facelift.
Subcutaneous layer = SubQ = Subcutaneous Level Facelifts: A superficial lift that includes the fat (subcutaneous) layer of tissue.
Ponytail Lifts/Facelifts: A marketing term, not a medical one. A superficial lift that pulls tissues up and out towards your ears (lateral).
SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system): This facelift describes the lifting of a tissue layer that connects the face and neck muscles to the dermis. This layer plays a large role in facial expressions.
Deep Plane Rhytidectomy or Deep Plane Facelift: A facelift procedure that describes the repositioning of the SMAS layer.
Composite Lift: A lift in which the skin is not dissected and therefore is moved with the SMAS layer as the SMAS layer above the muscle that gets repositioned. More often than not, excess saggy skin that has lost elasticity isn’t able to be properly redistributed.
Supraperiosteal Facelift: This is a type of deep plane facelift that repositions all of the tissue layers superficial to the supraperiosteal space.
Subperiosteal Lift: This is a type of deep plane facelift that repositions all of the tissue layers superficial to the subperiosteal space. The thin layer of fascia which covers the bone is lifted. (for the cheek it’s the zygoma) It’s the most invasive (deep) lift yet, it lasts the longest.
Suture Lift: A lift that’s performed with a thin suture (stitch) that holds up the tissues against gravity. This lift usually doesn’t last very long and has many adverse effects associated with it. Tissue tearing, scarring, suture rejection, pain and abnormal aging to name a few.
Lunchtime Facelift: Another marketing term for a non-surgical thread lift, which uses a suture under the skin to temporarily lift and tighten the skin. A lift that’s performed with a thin suture (stitch) that holds up the tissues against gravity. This lift usually doesn’t last very long and has many adverse effects associated with it. Tissue tearing, scarring, suture rejection, pain and abnormal aging to name a few.
Feather Lift: Another marketing term for a non-surgical thread lift. It uses a barbed suture to hold up soft tissues against gravity, but over time the tissues lose the battle with gravity. Sutures are usually placed in the subq level. Like the other thread lifts, this lift usually doesn’t last very long and has many adverse effects associated with it. Tissue tearing, scarring, suture rejection, pain and abnormal aging to name a few.
Vertical Facelift: A facelift technique in which layers of tissue are pulled back up. Mostly describes the direction of the lift.
VECS Lift (vertical endoscopic composite system): This is a facelift technique in which a vertical lift is achieved via an endoscopic entry method. An endoscope is a long slender camera used to view internal structures without having to make large incisions.
PDO Threads or PDO Thread Lift: This type of lift is not a true facelift and uses dissolvable sutures to temporarily rejuvenate and lift the skin. These sutures trigger your skin to create more collagen, but because tissue layers are not properly separated before fixation, there is abnormal scarring caused by uneven tension. These lifts also interfere with normal aging. Layers of tissue should be independently separated, moved up as a flap and independently secured.
Liquid Facelift: This type of lift is not a true facelift and utilizes manmade fillers, which cause complications such as migration and lumpiness. Over time they cause heaviness to the face and thus age it more rapidly.
Fat Graft Facelifts: This type of lift is not a true facelift and utilizes fat that’s usually harvested from another part of one’s body. These types of lifts cause complications such as migration, lumpiness and calcifications. Over time they cause heaviness to the face and thus age it more rapidly. The transferred fat becomes dominant over native fat. Non-native or transferred fat starts to rob blood circulation, and they become engorged (lumpy).
Microfat Facelift, or Emulsified Fat Graft: This type of lift is not a true facelift and utilizes fat that’s usually harvested from another part of one’s body. Although it sounds fancier than the Fat Graft Facelift, it is essentially the same. These types of lifts cause complications such as migration, lumpiness and calcifications. Over time they cause heaviness to the face and thus age it more rapidly. The transferred fat becomes dominant over native fat. Non-native or transferred fat starts to rob blood circulation, and they become engorged (lumpy).
Open Facelift: This type of facelift describes the size of the incision and the method that is thus used for dissection. Large incisions are used so that more of the tissues can be visualized by the surgeon’s naked eye. Large retractors are used to hold the skin up and away from the face as the surgeon works on the face’s contents. Usually, the preferred method for inexperienced or under skilled facelift surgeons.
Short Scar Facelift: This type of facelift is usually a SMAS type facelift with limited incisions (still large).
S Shape Facelift: This is a mini facelift procedure, where the incision created is shaped like an “S,” and is located within the hairline and ear.
Limited Incision Facelift: This is a mini facelift where the incisions extend from the sideburns to the earlobe.
Endoscopic Facelift: A facelift that utilizes an endoscope to visualize hard to reach areas Very small with incisions. This can be a full facelift.
Lifestyle Lift: This is a marketing term used to describe a superficial lift that only involves skin repositioning. This quick skin lift uses a larger incision. This method has lost traction due to severe hypertrophic scarring.
Weekend Facelift: A marketing term that is another term for a mini facelift.
Mini Lift, or Mini Facelift: Popular because of its minimal recovery, this superficial lift only targets skin repositioning. It’s not known to last and can create a “pulled” look.
Quick Recovery Lift: This is a marketing term used to describe a superficial lift that only involves skin repositioning. It’s not known to last and can create a “pulled” look.
No Scar Lift: How is this possible? This lift utilizes incisions on both the scalp and inside of the mouth. These lifts aren’t usually effective and similar to thread lifts, abnormal scarring is caused by uneven tension. These lifts also interfere with normal aging. Layers of tissue should be independently separated, moved up as a flap and independently secured.
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 all the rest.
