The Crucial ‘Lifting Point’ in Lifting Procedures: Facial Retaining Ligaments

When explaining lifting procedures,

expressions like ‘pulling in a certain direction’ or ‘lifting vectors’ are often used.

However, in reality, laser or radiofrequency (RF) lifting

is not a procedure that physically pulls the tissue up like thread lifting,

so it is difficult to say that the lifting effect is determined solely by the direction.

In clinical practice, rather,

✔ to which point the energy is delivered

✔ how many sufficient shots are concentrated on the lifting point

often have a more significant impact on the results.

The structure that serves as an important standard here is

**the facial retaining ligaments**.

Typically, these include the

Zygomatic retaining ligament (front cheek area)

Masseteric retaining ligament (outer cheek area)

Mandibular ligament (jawline area).

The Structure Supporting the Face: Retaining Ligaments

In the face, there are retaining ligament structures

that connect the skin to the deeper tissues.

These structures connect the

Skin

Subcutaneous fat

Fascia

to deeper structures, playing a role in fixing the facial tissues in a certain position.

In other words, they can be understood as

a kind of **anchor point** that supports the face to prevent it from sagging.

Key Facial Retaining Ligaments

Although there are various retaining ligaments in the face,

the structures considered particularly important in lifting procedures are as follows:

1️⃣ Zygomatic retaining ligament (front cheek area)

This ligament is a structure that supports the skin and soft tissues in the cheekbone area.

As mid-face cheek sagging progresses,

tissues move downward based on this ligament,

and changes such as

Nasolabial folds

Cheek sagging

often appear as a result.

Therefore, in mid-face lifting, this surrounding area becomes a crucial lifting point.

2️⃣ Masseteric retaining ligament (outer cheek area)

This ligament plays a role in connecting the skin and deep structures on the outer cheek.

As cheek sagging progresses,

this area becomes the boundary where tissues begin to move downward,

making it a structure deeply related to

Cheek sagging

and changes in facial contours.

Thus, it is often considered an outer cheek lifting point in lifting procedures.

3️⃣ Mandibular ligament (jawline area)

There is a retaining ligament called the mandibular ligament in the jawline area.

This structure serves to support the tissues around the jawline,

and as aging progresses and the surrounding fat and skin move downward,

changes such as

A blurred jawline

Jowl formation

can occur.

Therefore, this area is also a vital lifting point in jawline lifting.

Why Do Retaining Ligaments Become Lifting Points?

Facial sagging does not occur randomly;

it mostly appears as tissues move downward with the retaining ligaments acting as reference points.

Therefore, in lifting procedures,

✔ analyzing the facial structure first,

✔ identifying the starting point of sagging,

✔ and concentrating energy around the retaining ligaments

is how the lifting design is formulated.

In other words, what is important in a lifting procedure is not so much ‘which direction to pull’,

but rather ‘at which point to concentrate the energy’.

The Importance of Design in Lifting Procedures

A lifting procedure is not simply about using equipment;

the process of analyzing facial structures and finding lifting points is crucial.

So in actual procedures,

The location of retaining ligaments,

The starting point of sagging,

And the overall facial structure

are considered together

to design a plan that concentrates sufficient energy on the lifting points.

Even when using the same equipment,

the results can vary depending on this design process.