Endoscopic Facelift Guide | Minimally Invasive Facial Rejuvenation with Hidden Scars

Want to look younger without the long scars of a traditional facelift? The Endoscopic Facelift is a modern, less invasive facial lifting technique that uses small incisions and a tiny camera to rejuvenate the midface, brow, and cheeks. It’s a favorite in Korea and the U.S. for patients seeking natural results with quicker recovery.

What Is an Endoscopic Facelift?

An Endoscopic Facelift is a minimally invasive surgical facelift that uses a tiny camera (endoscope) and small incisions hidden in the scalp or hairline to lift and reposition sagging facial tissues.

Unlike traditional facelifts that require large incisions and extensive skin removal, this method focuses on lifting deeper layers of the face (SMAS layer) using advanced visualization tools, resulting in:

  • Less trauma to the skin
  • Minimal scarring
  • Faster recovery
  • Natural, refreshed appearance


What Areas Can It Treat?

  • Midface and cheeks (volume descent, smile lines)
  • Jawline (mild jowls)
  • Nasolabial folds
  • Brow and forehead (often combined with endoscopic brow lift)
  • Under-eye sagging

Best suited for patients with mild to moderate facial sagging, especially in the midface region.


Key Benefits of an Endoscopic Facelift

  • Smaller incisions hidden in the hairline
  • Reduced downtime and swelling compared to full facelift
  • Natural, youthful results with fewer complications
  • Repositions deep tissue, not just skin tightening
  • Can be combined with eyelid surgery, fat grafting, or neck tightening


Who Is a Good Candidate?

You may benefit from an endoscopic facelift if you:

  • Are in your 30s to 50s with moderate sagging
  • Want a refreshed, not overdone look
  • Prefer a minimally invasive option
  • Have sagging cheeks, brows, or midface
  • Want a scar-concealed approach

Not ideal for patients with excess neck skin or severe jowls—they may require a traditional lower facelift or neck lift.


Endoscopic vs Traditional Facelift

FeatureEndoscopic FaceliftTraditional FaceliftIncisionsSmall, hidden in hairlineLarger, around ears and scalpDowntime7–10 days2–3 weeksScarringMinimal and hiddenVisible around earsTarget AreaMidface, browMid/lower face + neckBest ForMild to moderate saggingModerate to severe saggingAnesthesiaLocal or generalGeneral


What Happens During the Procedure?

  1. Consultation & planning
  2. Anesthesia (usually general or twilight sedation)
  3. Small incisions made behind the hairline or temples
  4. Camera inserted to visualize deep structures
  5. Tissues lifted and repositioned, secured with sutures or devices
  6. No large skin removal; skin naturally redrapes over the new contour
  7. Stitches or dissolvable sutures close the incisions

Duration: 2–4 hours depending on complexity
 Outpatient procedure (go home same day)


Recovery and Aftercare

  • Swelling and bruising: 5–10 days
  • Mild tightness or numbness: normal for 2–3 weeks
  • Stitches removed: 5–7 days (if not dissolvable)
  • Back to work/social events: 7–10 days
  • Strenuous activity: Avoid for 2–3 weeks

Full results visible within 4–8 weeks, with continued collagen improvement for months.


How Long Do Results Last?

  • Endoscopic lift results last 5–8 years, depending on age, lifestyle, and skin quality
  • Maintenance treatments (like Botox, threads, or fillers) may prolong results

Endoscopic Facelift Cost (Estimates)

RegionAverage Cost (USD)South Korea₩5M – ₩10M ($3,700–$7,500)USA / Canada$8,000 – $14,000UK / Europe£6,000 – £11,000


Cost varies depending on surgeon experience, technique, and clinic facilities.

Endoscopic Facelift Alternatives

If you're not ready for surgery, consider:

  • Thread Lift (PDO/PLLA/PCL)
  • Ultherapy or Shurink (HIFU skin tightening)
  • Thermage FLX (RF lifting for wrinkles + skin firming)
  • Filler contouring + Botox brow lift

These are less invasive, but don’t offer the same structural lifting as endoscopic surgery.




The Endoscopic Facelift is an ideal solution for people who want to reverse early aging signs, especially in the midface, without the downtime or scarring of a full facelift. With its high-precision, camera-assisted technique and minimal incisions, it delivers natural, long-lasting results with faster recovery and less risk.

Considering an endoscopic facelift in Korea?
Clinics in Seoul’s Gangnam district offer globally respected plastic surgeons, advanced endoscopic technology, and English-speaking patient care for international visitors.

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