Aging doesn't start at the surface. Pulling loose skin tight only makes a face look wide and unnatural — what needs treating is the collapsed structure itself.
Leads SMAS facelift and neck lift. Rather than pulling skin, he releases the retaining ligaments and repositions the SMAS layer, fat and skin together, with incisions designed to the degree of sagging to avoid pixie ear and scarring.
SMAS FaceliftNeck LiftEye surgery and revision
Education & qualifications
MD, Seoul National University College of Medicine
Plastic Surgery Residency, Asan Medical Center
Adjunct Professor of Plastic Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine
Societies
Full member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Full member, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Full member, International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS)
Academic committee member, Eyelid Surgery Research Society, KSPRS
Academic committee member, Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons
Career
Former Head of Plastic Surgery, Halla Hospital
Former Director, BY Plastic Surgery
Former Director, CDU Cheongdam U Plastic Surgery
Former Director, Eight Plastic Surgery
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SMAS Facelift
Surgery time
About 3 hours
Anesthesia
Sedation
Stitch removal
About 2 weeks
Hospital stay
Same-day discharge
Recovery
About 2 weeks
Aging starts in the structure, not the skin
The SMAS layer loses elasticity, the retaining ligaments loosen and the fat layer descends — producing sagging cheeks, nasolabial folds and a blurred jawline. Chamin assesses skin laxity, retaining ligaments and fat volume, then restores the collapsed structure rather than simply pulling.
SMAS and retaining-ligament release
The key to a facelift is the extent of SMAS dissection and how the retaining ligaments are handled. The SMAS is a thin fibrous fascial layer between fat and muscle that supports and connects the facial muscles to the skin; the retaining ligaments are tough fibrous bands running from deep fascia or periosteum to the dermis. After fully releasing the ligaments, the SMAS layer, fat and skin are lifted according to the degree of sagging.
Incisions tailored to the degree of sagging
The speed of aging and the degree of sagging differ from person to person. Incisions along the temporal hairline and around the ear are designed individually, distinguishing between “facelift” and “facelift + neck lift”.
Preventing pixie ear, gaps and scars
Over-tightening the skin pulls the earlobe down (“pixie ear”) and causes uneven skin and scarring. Individual design, fine suturing and controlled lifting direction and tension avoid this.
By area of concern
The speed of aging and the symptoms that appear differ from person to person. Chamin assesses the area, age group and skin characteristics before proposing a personal combination.
