Introduction

At LIFF Plastic Surgery, our deep plane facelift is not a procedure that simply pulls the skin upward.

We reposition the deeper facial layers — including the SMAS and retaining ligaments — restoring the entire facial structure to its natural, youthful position beneath the skin.

Today, many clinics say they “lift the SMAS layer.”

The true difference lies in:

• Which direction the tissues are lifted

• At what angle

• With what vector

These subtle but critical decisions determine whether the result looks natural, balanced, and refined — or not.

There Is No Universal “Correct Angle”

Because no two faces age in the same way

Even if two patients are the same age and show similar sagging, their facial anatomy is never identical. Facial shape, cheekbone structure, fat distribution, and the direction of aging all differ from person to person.

That is why, at LIFF Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kim personally analyse each patient’s facial structure before surgery:

• The direction in which aging has progressed

• Whether the cheekbones appear prominent

• Whether the midface lacks volume or appears heavy

• Whether deep cheek fat contributes to a tired or heavy expression

By integrating all of these factors, we calculate a customized vector for each individual patient. This analysis is shared with the patient using photographs, and the surgical plan is designed together — transparently and thoughtfully.

Why Vertical Lift Plays a Key Role in a Youthful Appearance

Eastern and Western faces differ not only in bone structure and skin quality, but also in SMAS anatomy and aging patterns.

Many international patients — especially those from the United States — prefer a deep plane facelift combined with its extended concept: the vertical lift. Western faces tend to be narrower, longer front-to-back, and often age with vertical descent of soft tissue. When these faces are pulled laterally, the result can look unnatural.

👉 In such cases, a vertical lift restores the tissues upward — back to where they belong.

With a vertical lift:

• Soft tissue naturally gathers in the anterior cheek and central face

• Youthful midface volume is restored

• The face appears three-dimensional, vibrant, and refreshed

This is why many Western patients favour this approach.

A Commonly Overlooked Factor - Buccal fat shapes facial expression

When this fat descends, the face can appear heavy, stern, or even irritable — what many patients describe as a “grumpy” or harsh look. At LIFF Plastic Surgery, the position and movement of buccal fat are carefully included in the vector design.

👉 When buccal fat is lifted in harmony with the correct vector,
the face becomes lighter, softer, and more balanced.

Vertical Lift Is Not the “Correct Answer”

We do not perform vertical lifts indiscriminately.

• For some patients, a vertical lift creates the most natural result

• For others, a finely adjusted hybrid vector is more appropriate

• Even among Western patients, a vertical lift can sometimes look unnatural

Our philosophy is simple:
We do not fit patients into a fixed technique.
We find the right direction for each individual face.

Vector Design Comes From Experience, Not Formulas

Patients often ask, “How do you determine the correct vector?”

The answer is straightforward:

• Surgical experience

• A trained eye for facial harmony

• A deep understanding of the patient’s aesthetic goals

Whether a patient prefers:

• Softer cheekbones

• Maximum naturalness

• Or a clearer, more youthful definition

Only a carefully calculated angle — developed through experience and detailed consultation — can produce a result that is refined, not overdone.

A Facelift Is Not About Becoming Someone Else

To be honest, a facelift is not simply about becoming “more beautiful.”

Our goal is:

• The version of you at your best

• The most natural version of your face

• The version you recognize as yourself

The essence of a facelift is not change —
it is rejuvenation.

At LIFF Plastic Surgery, we place the greatest importance on vector design in deep plane facelift surgery.

Vertical lift, often preferred by international patients, is not a fixed formula —
it is a process of finding the correct direction for your unique face. The success of a facelift is not determined by how strongly the face is pulled, but by how precisely it is restored.

And restoration always begins with the right direction.