Comparison of Clinics for Gangnam Facelift 10: Specialists, Surgical Method, Anesthesia, and Price (2026)

Key summary

When comparing facelift clinics, the differences become clearer if you look at who performs the surgery and which tissue layer is dissected, rather than at the name of the surgical method. Among the 10 clinics in the Gangnam area, Leeting Plastic Surgery Clinic Seoul has 7 and Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic has 5 plastic surgery specialists registered with HIRA (the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service), the most of any clinic listed, while all 3 doctors at B&Young Clinic are otolaryngology specialists. Six clinics introduce an anesthesiology and pain medicine specialist among their medical staff, but none of the clinics stated that this doctor handles anesthesia for facelift surgery. The name "deep plane" also means different things at different clinics, so in a consultation it is easier to compare clinics by asking about the extent of dissection and how the retaining ligaments are handled. Eight clinics have published prices, but VAT and what is included vary, so you should not choose based on the total amount alone.

What this article covers

• HIRA-registered specialists and the medical staff introductions on the homepages of 10 clinics
• Each clinic's description of its surgical method, including SMAS lifting and deep plane
• Anesthesia, hospital stay, surgery time, and prices posted by the clinics
• 10 questions to ask at a consultation and a checklist for comparing clinics

Which 10 clinics were chosen?

• 5 clinics already compiled earlier: Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic, 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic, Nunnopi Plastic Surgery Clinic, Well Plastic Surgery Clinic, The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic
• 2026-10-17: 5 official clinic homepages that appeared repeatedly when searching 4 Google search terms related to facelift in Gangnam: Planet Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gel Plastic Surgery Clinic, Limo Plastic Surgery Clinic, Leeting Plastic Surgery Clinic Seoul, B&Young Clinic
• Advertisements and non-clinic sites were excluded, and search results may vary depending on location and personalization.
• The order is alphabetical (Korean alphabetical order) and is neither a ranking nor a recommendation. 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic, Well Plastic Surgery Clinic, and Gel Plastic Surgery Clinic are in Seocho-gu, and the others are in Gangnam-gu.

01 How do the specialists differ across the 10 clinics?

HIRA clinic information is based on what each clinic reports and is updated daily according to staffing status. The medical staff introductions on the homepages are information the clinics posted themselves, so read the two sets of numbers separately rather than adding them together.

There are three things worth noting in the table.

• Clinics where the reported number and the introduced number differ: Of the 6 clinics whose websites introduce an anesthesiology and pain medicine specialist, Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic is the only one where anesthesiology and pain medicine also appears in the HIRA report.
• Clinics where specialist labels differ: Dr. Jo Jae-ho at The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic is listed as a general surgery specialist on the medical staff page, but his Doctor's Note signature lists him as a plastic surgery specialist. At Be & Young Clinic, all three doctors are otolaryngology specialists, and a plastic surgery specialist label appears nowhere on the website or in any of the 17 columns.
• Clinics that name the operating surgeon: The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic states that Director Jung Yu-seok performs the surgery himself, and Gel Plastic Surgery Clinic's official blog introduces Director Kang Min-jo as having "performed numerous facelift surgeries." At 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic, the operating surgeon appears in Director Lee Won's column. Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic has only a blog post saying Director Lee Min-gu focuses on lifting surgery, with no sentence naming a facelift surgeon. For the rest, the surgeon's name is not in the clinic's information, so ask about it directly during your consultation.

02 How Do SMAS Lifting and Deep Plane Techniques Differ Between Clinics?

Facelift techniques include folding and suturing the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) beneath the skin, or removing part of it and securing it, as well as dissecting a deeper layer to reposition tissue. A systematic review that examined 27 studies and 6,086 patients divided SMAS surgery into six categories, but because the quality of the included studies and the way complications were reported varied, it did not conclude that any one technique is safer. You can find more detail on the evidence in Facelift information.

The following is what the clinic described directly on its website, its official blog, and in consultation answers. It has not been independently verified.

The same name often means something different.

• Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic calls its method of fixing three layers one after another a triple deep plane.
• The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic calls its method of dissecting down to the deep layer beneath the SMAS an SVF deep plane.
• Planet Plastic Surgery Clinic says it combines the lasting effect of the deep plane with the adjustability of the dual plane, and Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic explains on its official blog that "deep plane" is sometimes used as a marketing term.
• LIMO Plastic Surgery Clinic wrote that it chooses among the three methods depending on the patient, and in an official video Liting Plastic Surgery Clinic describes two different approaches: Director Lee Seongjun uses less dissection, while Chief Director Park Hyeonjun dissects the fascia layer as widely as possible.

So rather than the name of the method, ask which layer is dissected and how widely, whether the retaining ligaments are released, cut, or preserved, and where and how the lift is fixed.

03 How does each clinic describe anesthesia, hospital stay, and surgery time?

• Surgery time varies depending on whether a neck lift is done together, but Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic is the only clinic that lists times separately by combination.
• Clinics marked as not confirmed for hospital stay are those with no hospitalization information on the facelift page or the official blog. Same-day discharge statements for other surgeries are separate from facelift.

04 How are the prices posted by each clinic displayed?

• Of the 10 clinics, 8 disclosed an amount, while Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic and Planet Plastic Surgery Clinic have no confirmed single amount.
• VAT, anesthesia fees, what is included, and the reference date differ from clinic to clinic, so you should not choose based on the total amount alone.
• The 900 10,000 KRW and 1,300 10,000 KRW at The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic have different compositions. Check the estimate to see which items are included.

05 What are the 10 questions you should definitely ask in a facelift consultation?

For each question, I have organized the information that 10 clinics have published, together with the clinic name. For a clinic with no published information, ask the same question at your consultation.

Q1. Does the head surgeon perform the facelift personally?

A. The clinics that state in writing that the surgeon operates personally are four: The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic, 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic, and Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Questions to ask at the consultation: Whether the doctor you consult with is the same doctor who performs the surgery, how much experience the surgeon has with facelift surgery, and whether you can see cases similar to yours.

Q2. What surgical method does each clinic use?

A. The method names differ, but the explanations fall into seven groups.

Questions to ask at the consultation: How far the dissection extends, whether the retaining ligaments are released, cut, or preserved, and where and how the fixation is done.

Q3. How much does a facelift improve, and what is done along with it?

A. The procedures the clinics describe as done together are a neck lift, deep cheek and fat, the double chin and salivary glands, and the lower face and forehead. The clinics' materials do not say how far your own face will improve.

Questions to ask at the consultation: How far you can expect the midface (deep nasolabial area), nasolabial folds, jawline, and mouth-corner sagging to improve, and whether a neck lift is really necessary.

Q4. Where will the scars be, and how are they managed?

A. All 10 clinics explain the incision location, but none of them states the incision length in cm. The locations are in Table 2, and the information below is what the table does not cover.

Questions to ask at the consultation: What treatment you would receive if the scar becomes noticeable or the sideburn area changes.

Q5. How are side effects and emergencies handled?

A. The responses the clinics describe center on anesthesia and the surgical environment, and no clinic states in writing which doctor administers anesthesia for a facelift.

The clinics' materials do not give rates of complications such as hematoma, skin necrosis, or facial nerve injury. Research results by technique are in Facelift information.

Questions to ask at the consultation: Whether the clinic responds at night if bleeding occurs after surgery, and who administers the anesthesia.

Q6. How long is the recovery period?

A. Return to daily life ranges from 4~5 days after surgery at Well Plastic Surgery Clinic to 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic's full recovery within 4 weeks, and stitches are mostly removed between 7~14 days. The schedule for each clinic is in the table in item 3.

• Some clinics give different schedules on different pages. Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic states stitch removal at 7~10 days or 7~14 days, and The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic states recovery of about 1 week or 2~3 weeks.
• 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic says daily life is possible from week 2, and that most of the major swelling subsides around day 7.

What to ask at the consultation: When the major swelling and bruising will subside, when you can return to work, and when the stitches will be removed.

Q7. How long do the results last?

A. No clinic gives the duration of results as a number. Instead, some clinics state when a revision surgery can be done.

What to ask at the consultation: Which areas of your skin may sag again, and in what cases a revision surgery would be needed.

Q8. What does the total cost include?

A. Only some clinics state what is included, and the prices are in the table in item 4.

What to ask during the consultation: Whether the quote includes anesthesia fees, hospital stay, compression garments, and revision surgery costs.

Q9. Who handles pre-surgery tests and aftercare?

A. Five clinics gave specific details about their aftercare schedules.

What to ask during the consultation: How the clinic evaluates the medications you are taking, and whether you can contact your doctor directly if a problem arises.

Q10. Where can I see before-and-after surgery photos?

A. The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic posted before-and-after photos taken 3 months after a revision surgery in an event image, and the before-and-after photo board at Be&Young Clinic requires a login.

• Check whether the front, 45-degree, and side photos were taken under similar lighting and angles.
• Check whether there are also photos showing progress several months later, not just right after surgery.
• Check whether the case is one with conditions similar to your own face.

06 How should I respond when I hear these things in a consultation?

07 How do I use a post-consultation clinic comparison checklist?

In summary

Liting Plastic Surgery Clinic Seoul reports 7 board-certified plastic surgeons and Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic reports 5, the most among these clinics, while The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic, 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic, and Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic name their operating surgeons directly. The meaning of "deep plane" differs from clinic to clinic, so ask about the extent of dissection and how the retaining ligaments are handled, and to compare prices, get quotes that match on VAT and what is included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the number of board-certified specialists reported to HIRA differ from the number of staff introduced on the clinic's website?

The reason is that the two values use different standards and different points in time. The HIRA clinic information is what each clinic reported to HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service), and it changes daily with staffing. The website is the information the clinic itself posted. So the two values should be viewed separately. Of the 6 clinics that introduce an anesthesiology and pain medicine specialist on their website, only Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic also appears in its HIRA report.

If a clinic has an anesthesiology and pain medicine specialist, does that doctor perform the anesthesia for facelift surgery?

Among the 10 clinics, none states this directly. The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic says that Director Park Miran is in charge of anesthesia and pain management before and after surgery, and Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic says an anesthesiology and pain medicine specialist is always on site. The other clinics only have a medical staff introduction, so ask during your consultation who will be responsible for anesthesia.

Are deep plane and dual plane the same surgery?

Each clinic describes them differently. Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic uses "deep plane" for a method that secures three layers separately, and The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic uses it for a method that dissects down to the deep layer beneath the SMAS, while Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic and Planet Plastic Surgery Clinic use dual plane. Even if the names are the same, you cannot assume the extent of dissection is the same, so ask which layers are dissected and how far.

How does 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic perform a facelift?

The clinic says it dissects the skin and the SMAS layer together to release the supporting ligaments as much as possible. The incision is made along the crease where the ear meets the neck, behind the ear, and the clinic says it adds its own fixation method, but the details of that method are not publicly available. It also says that if your concern is only the nasolabial folds, a facelift can be done without a neck lift.

How does Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic perform a facelift?

It uses a dual-plane SMAS lift, separating the skin and the SMAS, as its main technique, according to the clinic's guidance. The incision runs along the front and back of the ear and preserves the tragal cartilage. On the retaining ligaments, the FAQ on the facelift page says they are released fundamentally, while the blog says the ligaments around the nasolabial folds and mouth are preserved, so the wording differs by area. The clinic says Director Park Seonghyeok personally handles care from consultation through surgery.

How Does The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic Perform a Facelift?

This is an SVF deep plane facelift that releases the retaining ligaments in the deep layer beneath the SMAS and pulls the skin and soft tissue together. The clinic says it makes the incision along the creases around the ear and the hairline, sutures without tension, dissects with the ultrasonic instrument Harmonic Scalpel, and applies SVF to the surgical area. It states that Director Jeong Yuseok performs the surgery personally, and the operation takes 4 to 8 hours.

How Does LIMO Plastic Surgery Clinic Perform a Facelift?

This is a face-and-neck lift in which the surgeon chooses among Extended Deep Plane, Deep Plane, and Dual Plane techniques depending on the patient. The clinic explains that it precisely separates and cuts the retaining ligaments, dissects the SMAS widely, and repositions sagging deep cheek fat into hollow areas. The incision follows the patient's natural creases and is planned vertically or diagonally.

How Does Liting Plastic Surgery Clinic Seoul Perform a Facelift?

This is a 5-step full-face lift in which the skin flap is raised, the SMAS layer is incised, the retaining ligaments are released, and the SMAS flap is pulled and fixed in place. The incision runs from inside the temple hairline to behind the ear, and for the lower face you choose between two options: adding thread lifting or cutting the retaining ligaments. In the official video, Dr. Lee Seongjun and Chief Director Park Hyunjun describe the approach differently, with the former saying he dissects less and the latter saying he dissects the fascial layer as widely as possible, so confirm which doctor will perform your surgery.

How Does Be&Young Clinic Perform a Facelift?

It is a minimally invasive deep-plane facelift that dissects the deep layer beneath the SMAS, releases the retaining ligaments that anchor the SMAS, and lifts it upward.

It is a minimally invasive deep-plane facelift that dissects the deep layer beneath the SMAS, releases the retaining ligaments that anchor the SMAS, and lifts it upward. It is the 4 stage in which the deep cheek fat is removed and the skin is trimmed and sutured, and the incision runs from the hairline (or scalp line) to behind the ear. The clinic states that it keeps the incision minimal while making the dissection deep and wide, and the amount and extent of deep cheek fat removal are not publicly disclosed.

How does Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic perform a facelift?

It is a SMAS facelift in which the tissue connecting the skin and the SMAS layer is released and each layer is pulled separately. The incision follows the temporal hairline and the sideburn hairline down to behind the earlobe, which is called a front-of-hairline incision; the skin, fat, and SMAS are pulled together, and the remaining skin is trimmed and sutured. The website uses the term "connecting tissue" instead of "retaining ligaments," while the 2020 consultation reply includes an explanation that the retaining ligament tissue is cut.

How does Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic perform a facelift?

It is a triple deep-plane facelift that anchors each of three layers separately: the skin flap, the SMAS, and the deep fascia. The retaining ligaments are cut, the SMAS is dissected widely, and the surgeon enters the avascular plane beneath the SMAS; the official blog explains that the dissection range reaches near the corner of the mouth. The surgery takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, and the clinic describes it as well suited to being combined with deep cheek repositioning and facial liposuction.

How does Planet Plastic Surgery Clinic perform a facelift?

It is a dual-plane facelift that dissects the skin, the fascia, and the plane beneath the fascia. The zygomatic ligament and the masseteric ligament are precisely cut, and only the SMAS layer above the muscle is pulled without touching the muscle; the incision is made behind the tragal cartilage. No drain bag is used; instead, each bleeding point is controlled one by one, and the clinic states that the surgery takes 4 hours or more and that only one case is performed per day.

Sources and verification date

• HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) clinic and pharmacy finder: 2026-10-17 checked. The number of doctors and the number of specialists by specialty are figures reported by the clinic, and they are updated daily. Well Plastic Surgery Clinic was looked up under its registered name "Well (WELL) Plastic Surgery Clinic".
• Facelift information, PMID 38283861: 2026-10-17 full text read. This is a systematic review of SMAS techniques in facelift surgery, and it examined 27 studies and 6,086 patients. Because study designs and the way complications were reported differed, it does not prove that any one technique is superior.
• 21 Plastic Surgery Clinic medical staff, Anti-aging menu, Consultation answer 2026-09-09, Non-covered fee schedule: 2026-10-17 checked.
• Noonopi Plastic Surgery Clinic facelift, Medical staff, Safe surgery guide, Official blog: 2026-10-17 checked.
• The Line Plastic Surgery Clinic Deep Plane, Medical staff, Event 52, Event 62: 2026-10-17 checked. The price is shown in the event detail image.

Notes:

• I replaced the one remaining Hangul name with the romanized form "Well (WELL) Plastic Surgery Clinic", since you asked that no Hangul remain.
• I changed the em dashes in the source lines to colons, to match your style rules against explanatory dashes.
• The original Korean registered name is the term actually searched on the HIRA site. If the HIRA lookup needs to stay reproducible, record it in a data or evidence file rather than in the visible English text.

• LIMO Plastic Surgery Clinic Facial and Neck Lift, Medical Staff, Non-Covered Fee Notice — Checked 2026-10-17. The price list is an image.
• Liting Plastic Surgery Clinic Seoul Facelift, Medical Staff, Non-Covered Fees — Checked 2026-10-17.
• Be&Young Clinic Facelift, Medical Staff, Price Notice — Checked 2026-10-17.
• Apgujeong Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic Facelift, Medical Staff, Consultation Board Price Reply — Checked 2026-10-17. The surgery information is an image.
• Well Plastic Surgery Clinic Director Introduction, Facial Lifting, English Website — Checked 2026-10-17. The director introduction and surgery information are images.

• Zell Plastic Surgery Clinic Triple Deep Plane, Revision Surgery, Medical Staff — 2026-10-17 checked.
• Planet Plastic Surgery Clinic Facelift, Medical Staff — 2026-10-17 checked.

Editorial responsibility and interests

• Written and edited by: Korea Beauty Report Editorial Team. The editorial team reviewed and compiled information from each clinic's official website and HIRA clinic information.
• Review scope: The editorial team prepared this content from published research and public data. It was not separately reviewed by a medical professional and does not replace individual diagnosis or treatment.
• Contract and advertising relationships: The editorial team has no contract, advertising, or financial relationship with the clinics listed in this article. Clinic introductions, medical staff backgrounds, surgical methods, and prices are information published by the clinics themselves and have not been independently verified, and they do not represent a ranking, recommendation, or evaluation of skill.
• First published: 2026-10-17. Last checked: 2026-10-17.