Mini Facelift in AVA Plastic Surgery
About the clinic
Mini facelift at AVA Plastic Surgery in Seoul, South Korea, uses a short skin incision with the same sub-SMAS dissection depth as a full facelift. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Seungsoo Kim has over 10 years of experience and personally handles the consultation, surgery, and follow-up.
Technique and incision
The surgery takes about 2 hours under IV sedation, and patients do not need to stay overnight. The incision runs from below the sideburn, along the front of the ear, to behind the earlobe. It is placed behind the tragus, the small piece of cartilage at the ear opening.
Dr. Kim adjusts the incision to the pattern of sagging. For concerns focused on the midface, the upper incision may be shorter. For the neck and jawline, the lower incision may be shortened.
Who may be a candidate
This option may suit people with sagging cheeks, mouth corners, or mild jowls, and little loose skin on the neck. More pronounced jowls or loose neck skin may call for a full facelift instead.
Recovery and follow-up
Recovery is estimated at 1–2 weeks, and stitches are removed on day 10. Patients usually have 2–3 follow-up visits. Care includes surgeon checkups, wound cleaning, LED swelling care, stitch removal, and a flight-clearance check.
International patients are advised to plan an 11–12 day stay in Seoul. After returning home, they can have remote follow-up by WhatsApp or Zoom. AVA Plastic Surgery follows a single-surgeon system and states it has a Zero Ghost Surgery policy.
To ask whether this mini facelift may fit your needs, leave a request on Bookimed.
Highlights
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Treatments prices in the clinic
| treatment | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Surgical Nose Correction | Price on request | |
| Mini Facelift | Price on request | |
| Reconstructive surgery | Price on request | |
| Labia Majora Augmentation With Hyaluronic Acid Filler | Price on request | |
| Cheiloplasty | Price on request | |
| Facelift | Price on request | |
| Rhinoplasty (nose job) | Price on request | |
| Liposuction | Price on request | |
| Tumescent liposuction | Price on request | |
| Lipofilling (Fat Grafting) | Price on request | |
| Forehead lift | Price on request | |
| Tip rhinoplasty | Price on request | |
| Open rhinoplasty | Price on request | |
| Dermabrasion | Price on request | |
| Facial Fat Transfer | Price on request |
Clinic Doctors
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AVA Plastic Surgery: more details about the clinic
Safety Standards and Academic Achievements
The clinic follows a 1:1 care model led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Seungsoo Kim. Under this single-surgeon system, one specialist manages the entire process. Dr. Kim personally handles the consultation, surgical design, operation, and post-operative reviews.
Every operation runs under a strict Zero Ghost Surgery policy. This means the next patient's schedule never begins until the current surgery is finished. For transparency, the clinic follows Medical Act §22 and keeps records for 10 years.
Dr. Seungsoo Kim holds Medical License No. 103360 and Specialist Certificate No. 2344. He has published six papers in international journals. His research also earned the Outstanding Paper Award from the Korean Burn Society Academic Conference.
Facial Rejuvenation and Lifting
The clinic moves tissue back to its natural anatomical position instead of simply tightening the skin. Its signature procedure is the Dual-Deep Plane Facelift. This technique works in two layers: within the fat under the skin and beneath the SMAS layer.
Surgeons first release the retaining ligaments, then lift and secure the SMAS flap. After that, they reposition the skin separately. This reduces tension along the incision line, so it heals more easily.
International patients planning a deep-plane facelift usually need to stay in Seoul for 11 to 14 days. The recovery plan includes early checks, and stitches come out on the tenth day after surgery.
Specialized Eye and Nose Procedures
The surgical team offers several options for the eyelids and the area around the eyes:
- Natural Adhesion and Incision Method double eyelid surgery
- Ptosis correction to improve drooping eyelids
- Lower blepharoplasty and eye bag repositioning
- Revision eye surgery for complex cases
Rhinoplasty here focuses on reconstruction and a stable nasal structure. For alar reduction, the clinic sorts nose shapes into four types. Surgeons tailor incision placement to each type, so visible scarring stays minimal. For the nasal tip, the team uses autologous cartilage – the patient's own tissue – which gives a natural result.
Advanced Aesthetic Technology
The clinic uses several energy-based devices for non-surgical lifting and skin improvement. Each one targets a different tissue depth to improve elasticity without surgery:
- Ultherapy Prime: Uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to deliver energy to the SMAS layer.
- Thermage and Onda: Systems for skin tightening and contouring.
- Potenza: A radiofrequency microneedling device that improves skin texture.
A dedicated skin program includes biostimulators and boosters such as Rejuran, Juvelook, and Exosome treatments. All injectables follow standard anatomical doses and use officially certified products.
International Patient Support
AVA Plastic Surgery partners with the Yeon & Yeon agency to support international visitors. The agency helps with paperwork and trip planning. Interpreters are available in several languages:
- English
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Thai
- Russian
Before traveling, patients can book online consultations. Options include a preliminary photo assessment or a 1:1 Zoom meeting. Prices are fixed and listed in a public catalog. After surgery, patients receive LED swelling care and structured follow-up visits before leaving Seoul.
Additional services
Patient reviews
강유진
Jinny
김금주
First of all, the best part was that everyone working at the hospital was kind! I’ve been going around to get countless injections, and it was my first time experiencing a hospital where the staff at the counter, the manager, and even the director were all friendly. I was really moved.
They didn’t have a cold attitude; they greeted me all the way through with a warm, gentle voice!
As for my personal experience with the procedure, there was not a single thing that was painful or difficult.
If I have to pick one, the moment when the anesthetic injection solution starts coming in was the hardest—but even then, it wasn’t really painful ^^..
From entering to leaving, I’d say the pain is only about 1–2 out of 10. The tape they put on when I went home was the most painful part, like 10 out of 10, haha.
When I got home, I thought that once the anesthesia wore off, I would definitely hurt—but even on day 3, I don’t feel any pain.
Even on day 3, the part that hurts the most is still peeling off the tape.
There’s still some swelling, and nothing has fully gone down yet overall, but
when I look straight on, the bulge on the side seems to have gone away, so I’m really excited right now.. !!!!!
My side bulge disappeared while it was still swollen?
Then how much more will it go down…!!!!! (totally excited)
My satisfaction is so high that it feels like a waste of time that I only saved 지힐링스퀘어의원 and kept 고민 for so long.
I’ve inserted countless injections before, but with that amount of money, I think 지힐링 would have already removed everything throughout my body ^^;(embarrassed)
Anyway, for many reasons, I recommend it.
This was a hospital where my doubts only delayed the timing!
장희선
It really seems like I made the right choice. I’m also very satisfied^^
I’m recommending it to people around me too.
The director has a lot of experience with procedures, and her skills are outstanding—very young, yet excellent.
Thanks to my friend, I was able to find a great place~
Taesun Kim
ghiuha yo
정명심
Thanks to the kind and thorough explanations from the specialist doctor and the surgery, I got a satisfying result, so I strongly recommend it to anyone who is worried about their facial sagging.
The facility is also great, and I recommend the Ava clinic for its wonderful atmosphere.
서영희
김무무
Valerie Ko
4F, Insung Building, 603 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (Sinsa Station Exit 4)
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How it works:
- We find a medical coordinator familiar with the matter
- You get a personal offer with a step-by-step guide and the cost estimate
- We arrange your travel including appointment scheduling and flights booking
- You arrive at the hospital, we support you 24/7



