Revision facelift in Seoul: what is assessed at consultation
A revision facelift at RNWOOD Plastic Surgery starts with an assessment of the tissue as it is now, not with a plan to recreate the facial state before the first operation. Dr. Min-Hee Ryu explains first that revision surgery is harder to predict than a primary facelift, and that the earlier result cannot be undone. If sagging symptoms are present, a patient is eligible to be assessed for a secondary or revision facelift. The plan is built around how much can be improved safely from the current facial tissue condition.
Who is eligible to be assessed?
A patient with sagging symptoms. Dr. Ryu explains that sagging is caused by repetitive habitual movements such as facial expressions, facial dynamics, daily activity and diet, so it naturally recurs over 10 to 20 years after a facelift. When symptoms return, assessment for a revision is possible.
How long after a facelift can revision be assessed?
Dr. Ryu does not perform a revision procedure before the tissue has recovered sufficiently. After a recent facelift, he generally allows at least six months of recovery before evaluating whether a revision is possible. If the tissue has not recovered, the advice is to wait and be reassessed.
What makes a revision harder?
| Factor | What it can change |
|---|---|
| Adhesion and scar tissue from the previous operation | Difficulty and the degree of correction possible |
| Condition of the skin and SMAS | How the tissue can be handled |
| Extent of the previous dissection | Where and how far the new dissection can go |
| Scars or deformity around the ears | What can be corrected around the incision area |
| Thread lifting, fillers and energy-based lifting since then | The condition of the tissue |
What is the limit Dr. Ryu explains first?
That it is not possible to undo the result of a previous operation and start again from the state before the previous surgery. The plan is set from the present: how much can be improved safely, from the current tissue condition.
What should I send for the online assessment?
Send front and side photographs taken straight on and at right angles to the face, without makeup or colored lenses, along with your surgical and medical history with the name of each procedure and the year and month it was done, any medical conditions, and the medications and supplements you are currently taking.
The date of the previous facelift decides whether enough time has passed. The cost is explained during your in-person consultation after Dr. Ryu's assessment.
What are the risks?
The risks of a Deep Plane Facelift, set out at the end of this article, apply to a revision as well, including bleeding, hematoma, nerve injury, skin loss and the possibility of further surgery. No result, symmetry, scar quality or duration can be guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Q1) What makes a revision harder?
A1) Adhesion and scar tissue, the condition of the skin and SMAS, the extent of the earlier dissection, and scars or deformity around the ears.
Q2) How long after a facelift can revision be assessed?
A2) Generally after at least six months of recovery.
Q3) Do past fillers matter for a revision?
A3) Yes. Thread lifting, fillers and energy-based lifting can affect the condition of the tissue.
Q4) Am I eligible for a secondary facelift?
A4) If sagging symptoms are present, you are eligible to be assessed.
Q5) Can a revision restore my face to how it was before the first surgery?
A5) No. The earlier result cannot be undone; the plan starts from the current condition.
Q6) Is a revision as predictable as a first facelift?
A6) No. It is harder to predict, and Dr. Ryu explains this beforehand.
Q7) Why does sagging return after a facelift?
A7) The habitual movements that cause sagging continue, so it naturally recurs over 10 to 20 years.
Q8) What should I send first?
A8) Photographs, the date of your previous facelift, your full procedure history, medical conditions and medications.
About the Author
Dr. Min-Hee Ryu is the Chief Director 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.
Deep Plane Facelift — Deep plane facelift involves extensive dissection beneath facial tissues. Risks include anesthesia reactions, bleeding, hematoma, infection, seroma, delayed healing, wound separation, persistent pain, and visible scars. Swelling, bruising, tightness, and numbness can last for months, and hair loss or distortion of the hairline or ear position can occur. Poor blood supply can cause skin loss or tissue death. Nerve injury can cause temporary or permanent weakness, an altered smile, or numbness, and injury to the parotid gland or salivary duct can cause salivary leakage. A postoperative hematoma can require urgent drainage or another operation. 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 sagging can recur.