Introduction

Let’s begin with a question frequently asked at Yujin Plastic Surgery: "If I’m getting a facelift, do I still need Botox?" It’s understandable—after all, a facelift lifts sagging skin. But there’s an important distinction: facelifts address sagging caused by gravity, while Botox treats wrinkles caused by muscle movement. Used together, they can create a more complete and natural-looking rejuvenation.

Understanding the Limits of a Facelift

In Korean aesthetic culture, subtle enhancement is the goal—not drastic transformation. A facelift helps redefine the jawline, lift drooping cheeks, and tighten loose skin. However, it cannot erase fine lines caused by repetitive expressions—like smiling, frowning, or squinting.

These so-called dynamic wrinkles—common on the forehead, around the eyes, and between the brows—are not affected by skin tightening alone. That’s why many of our facelift patients benefit from pairing their procedure with Botox. It’s not a replacement—it’s a refinement.

From a medical perspective, combining surgery with targeted neuromodulation is the only way to address both the structural and expressive elements of facial aging. Think of it as restoring a hanok: the wood beams (structure) must be stabilized, but the roof tiles (details) must also be preserved.

What Botox Adds: Expression Refinement

While a facelift repositions the skin, Botox softens expression lines. By temporarily relaxing specific muscles, Botox reduces the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead creases. The result is a smoother, more serene look that harmonizes with your lifted features.

Many people worry Botox will leave them looking “frozen.” At Yujin, where all treatments are done by Dr. Kang, Botox is administered in doses tailored to your unique muscle activity. The goal isn’t paralysis—it’s subtle modulation that preserves expressiveness while minimizing creasing.

We use high-precision techniques such as microdosing and custom mapping. These allow for more natural movement and prevent the stiff, artificial appearance some fear. You can still smile and express emotions—just without deep wrinkles that distract from your results.

When to Incorporate Botox in the Facelift Journey

There are two common strategies:

1. Pre-surgical Botox: Used 1–2 weeks before surgery to weaken dominant muscle patterns, reducing tension during healing.

2. Post-surgical Botox: Applied after initial swelling subsides—usually 3–4 weeks after surgery—to refine the final result.

At Yujin, we assess your facial motion using video analysis before and after surgery to determine optimal timing. By understanding how your muscles contribute to lines, we can better anticipate where Botox will have the most impact.

An important insight: many lines become more visible after a facelift because the sagging skin that once masked them is lifted. Botox closes that gap.

Why Doctor Continuity Matters

A unique benefit at Yujin is our one-doctor system. Dr. Kang performs both your facelift and all complementary Botox injections. This continuity eliminates miscommunication and ensures both interventions are harmonized.

In many clinics, the surgeon performs the lift but a different practitioner handles Botox. That disconnect can lead to mismatched results—like overly relaxed brows that no longer align with newly lifted cheeks.

With one-doctor care, Dr. Kang plans and executes your entire rejuvenation from start to finish. He understands exactly how your tissues were repositioned, and how your muscles function relative to those changes.

This results in:

• Seamless blending of surgical and nonsurgical techniques

• Better prevention of overcorrection or asymmetry

• Aesthetic cohesion between facial zones

Maintenance and Long-Term Strategy

Facelifts can last 7–10 years or more. Botox, on the other hand, needs to be refreshed every 3 to 6 months. But here’s the advantage: long-term use of Botox doesn’t just maintain your look—it helps train muscles to contract less intensely.

This “muscle retraining” effect means wrinkles soften over time, and your facelift stays fresher longer. When combined with Yujin’s regenerative treatments—such as stem cell-enriched fat grafting—you’re not just maintaining youth, you’re actively slowing the clock.

Botox also reduces stress on your skin, helping improve texture, elasticity, and pore visibility over time. For patients in their 40s to 60s, this provides a path to graceful aging without constant resort to additional surgery.

Who Benefits Most?

Not every facelift patient needs Botox, but many benefit—especially those with:

• Deep glabellar (frown) lines

• Prominent forehead creases

• Crow’s feet or bunny lines

• Asymmetric muscle activity

Yujin’s evaluation process considers not just where you’re aging, but how. Some people form wrinkles due to squinting or stress habits. Others experience subtle muscular asymmetries. We create Botox plans customized to these patterns.

Whether you’re new to injectables or have years of experience, your Botox plan is integrated into your broader aesthetic roadmap—never generic.

The Yujin Difference

When Botox and facelift treatments are thoughtfully combined, the results are not only more natural but more enduring. This is the essence of regenerative aesthetics: blending artistry, anatomy, and continuity into a cohesive experience.

At Yujin, that experience is built around one principle—personalized care by one trusted expert. Dr. Kang doesn’t just treat your skin—he treats the expressions and emotions behind it.

Final Takeaway

Surgery resets the structure. Botox polishes the expression. When planned together—by a single experienced doctor—they don’t just restore youth; they restore harmony.

If you’re exploring facial rejuvenation, ask your clinic whether your Botox and facelift will be managed by the same provider. Or consider Yujin Plastic Surgery, where integrated care is the standard—not the exception.

Here, subtle changes make a powerful impact—because they’re planned with care, continuity, and precision.