Neck lift in Seoul at RNWOOD: who it is for, and when another approach comes first
RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul performs neck lifts. In Dr. Min-Hee Ryu's definition, a neck lift addresses sagging along the jawline and the upper neck, and the incision is placed behind the ear. Whether a patient needs one is decided after the cause of the neck change has been separated: problems of the neck and jawline are not always caused by sagging skin or a loosened platysma muscle.
What does a neck lift address?
Sagging along the jawline and the upper neck. Dr. Ryu's description is short, and it is deliberately limited to that area. A deep plane facelift, by contrast, addresses midface descent, jowls and lower-face laxity; it does not include a neck lift.
How is the need decided?
By separating the cause and areas of aging first. Dr. Ryu distinguishes whether the change comes from the skin, from laxity or banding of the platysma, or from fat or other tissue. The answer leads to different recommendations:
| What is found | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Clear sagging of neck skin, platysma laxity or banding | Non-surgical treatment alone may not be expected to give enough improvement |
| Sagging or banding that is not severe, with fat or other tissue as the main issue | Correcting that tissue may be enough; a deep neck lift may not be recommended first |
What about submentoplasty?
Submentoplasty is a separate operation. Dr. Ryu judges the need for a neck lift and for a submentoplasty separately, based on each patient's anatomy. A patient may need one, both or neither.
Can a neck lift be done without a facelift?
The procedures are listed separately at RNWOOD, and the plan follows what the assessment finds. If the main change is in the neck and the face does not need surgery, ask at the consultation whether a neck procedure alone fits your case.
What are the risks of a neck lift?
A neck lift can require extensive dissection beneath the neck tissues. Risks include anesthesia reactions, bleeding, hematoma, infection, delayed healing, visible scars, prolonged swelling and numbness, contour irregularity and asymmetry. Nerve injury can cause temporary or permanent weakness, including lower-lip weakness. A large neck hematoma can obstruct the airway and require immediate emergency treatment. Platysmal bands can remain or return.
What are the risks of submentoplasty?
Submentoplasty can cause bleeding, hematoma, infection, scarring, asymmetry, dents, waviness, loose skin and persistent numbness, and bone structure and deep-neck anatomy limit the possible change. The full notices for both operations are printed below.
How do I start?
Send straight-on front and side photographs taken without makeup, including clear side views of the neck and jawline, together with your procedure history, medical conditions and medications. The decision is made at the in-person consultation in Seoul.
Frequently asked questions
Q1) Where can I get a neck lift in Seoul?
A1) RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, Seoul, performs neck lifts after an assessment of sagging symptoms and skin laxity.
Q2) Where is the neck lift incision?
A2) Behind the ear.
Q3) Is a neck lift always needed for a heavy jawline?
A3) No. If fat or other tissue is the main issue and banding or sagging is not severe, a deep neck lift may not be recommended first.
Q4) Is submentoplasty the same as a neck lift?
A4) No. It is a separate operation, and targets the bulkiness or pronounced neck bands under the chin. However, the final decision between submentoplasty and liposuction requires an in-person physical examination for Dr. Ryu to manually assess the tissue.
Q5) Can neck bands return after a neck lift?
A5) Yes. Platysmal bands can remain or return.
About the Author
Dr. Min-Hee Ryu is the Medical Director and Founder of RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul and a plastic surgery specialist certified in Korea (2008). He has been Faculty of the Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) since 2016, an Editorial Board Member of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal since 2019, and an Educational Council Member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) since 2024.
Necklift — Neck lift can require extensive dissection beneath neck tissues. Risks include anesthesia reactions, bleeding, hematoma, infection, seroma, delayed healing, wound separation, persistent pain, and visible scars, as well as prolonged swelling, tightness, numbness, contour irregularity, and asymmetry. Nerve injury can cause temporary or permanent weakness, including lower-lip weakness, or altered sensation, and injury to the parotid gland or salivary duct can cause salivary leakage. A large neck hematoma can obstruct the airway and require immediate emergency treatment. Platysmal bands can remain or return. General risks include thrombosis or embolism, and a complication can require emergency treatment or additional surgery. No result, symmetry, scar quality, or duration can be guaranteed, and revision surgery can become necessary. Submentoplasty — Submentoplasty can cause anesthesia reactions, bleeding, hematoma, infection, seroma, delayed healing, pain, and scarring, as well as asymmetry, dents, waviness, loose skin, discoloration, and persistent numbness. It can injure deeper structures, and platysmal bands or neck fullness can remain. Bone structure and deep-neck anatomy limit the possible change. General risks include thrombosis or embolism, and a complication can require emergency treatment or additional surgery. No result, symmetry, scar quality, or duration can be guaranteed, and revision surgery can become necessary.