Surgery · Combined Operation

Midface Lift with Fat Repositioning

Under-eye bags and a descended cheek, treated in one operation

Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul | Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Two fats moved in one session · Endotine fixation

Midface and Under-Eye Midface and Under-Eye Midface and Under-Eye Midface and Under-Eye 
Combine

Combined operation

Can a midface lift and under-eye fat repositioning be done in one surgery?

The direct answer

Yes. Rewind Plastic Surgery in Apgujeong, Seoul lists the apple-cheek midface lift combined with under-eye fat repositioning as one operation with its own fee. The two parts move different tissue. Fat repositioning takes the under-eye fat that bulges forward and carries it into the hollow of the tear trough. The midface lift raises the cheek tissue below, fascial layer included, fixes the fat that has descended to the periosteum, and holds the lift with an absorbable Endotine device. Done together, they deal with a bulge and a descent in a single session. Whether your face needs both is decided at the examination.

Sources: Rewind's Korean surgical pages for the apple-cheek midface lift and for septum-reinforced under-eye fat repositioning, and the clinic's fee sheet, which lists the combined operation as a single item.

Does combining them fix both eye bags and flat cheeks at once? It treats both findings in the same operation, which is the reason to combine them at all. What a lift cannot do is add volume that a cheek never had, and the degree of change differs from one face to the next. Rewind records the midface lift as lasting more than five years, with variation between individuals.

This page is about the pairing: what each half moves, how the two sequences fit into one operation, which listing applies, and how the recovery instructions stack. Each operation on its own is covered on its main page.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi examining a patient's face at the consultation desk
Fig. 01 · Bulge and descent are assessed separately at the desk
Result

Patient photographs

One combined midface and under-eye case, captioned for exactly what was done

Rewind has released one midface case for publication, and it is a combination. In it the midface was raised by thread anchoring and the under-eye fat was repositioned surgically in the same session. The transconjunctival Endotine operation described on this page has not yet been photographed for release, so its frames are marked as pending.

Rewind patients: midface and under-eye, combined

Before: midface thread lift combined with under-eye fat repositioning After: midface thread lift combined with under-eye fat repositioning BEFOREAFTER
case 01
Midface thread lift with under-eye fat repositioning, one session
Individual results may vary. The midface in this case was raised with threads, and it appears here because it pairs a midface change with repositioning. Photographs unretouched.
BEFORE PHOTO
AFTER PHOTO
BEFOREAFTER
case pending release
Transconjunctival midface lift with under-eye fat repositioning
Individual results may vary. Photographs are held at the clinic and have not been released for publication.

The released frames show Rewind Plastic Surgery's own patient and are unretouched. Individual results may vary. Bruising, swelling, asymmetry, altered sensation, a change in lower-lid position and scarring can follow a combined lower-lid and midface operation. Any decision follows a face-to-face assessment by the surgeon.

Two fats

Two fats, two directions

What each half of the combined midface operation moves

The under-eye and the cheek below it are neighbours, but the fat in each changes differently with age. Rewind's two surgical pages describe four findings, and the combined operation exists because they so often turn up on the same face.

finding 01
Bulging under-eye fat
Fat behind the lower lid pushes the orbital septum forward and shows as a bag. Repositioning moves that fat; it is the eye-bag half of the plan.
finding 02
A deep tear trough
A groove runs from the inner corner of the eye across the upper cheek. The ligament adhesion along it is released so the repositioned fat can fill the hollow.
finding 03
Midface descent
Tissue between the lower lid and the nasolabial fold has slid down. The midface lift raises it as one block, fascial layer included.
finding 04
A weakened septum
Where septal reinforcement is part of the plan, the septum is fixed to the orbital bone. Whether it is included in your combined operation is confirmed at consultation.
Sequence

In one session

How the combined midface lift and fat repositioning is carried out

Rewind publishes each operation as its own three steps. In a combined case both sequences are completed within one operation. The order below follows the two pages, and the exact plan for your lids is set at the examination.

01Analyse

Each under-eye is analysed and the midface designed

Before surgery the problem under each eye is analysed, and a one-to-one design is drawn for the midface. Together they decide how much fat moves and how far the cheek has to travel.

02Release

Freeing the ligament along the tear trough

The ligament adhesion at the tear trough is freed, and the under-eye fat is carried down into the hollow it used to overhang.

03Lift

The midface rises with its fascial layer

Through a small incision below the eye, on the inner lining of the lid or through the lid skin, the midface tissue is drawn upward together with the fascial layer.

04Fix

Cheek fat fixed to the periosteum, Endotine placed

The fat that slid down the cheek is fixed to the periosteum. Endotine holds the lifted tissue at five points and is absorbed by the body over about nine months.

05Close

The septum, if planned, then the incision

Where septal reinforcement is in the plan, the septum is fixed to the orbital bone. The incision is then closed with care.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi operating with headlight and loupes at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 02 · Both halves are performed by the same surgeon
Rewind

Why combine

Why Rewind plans the under-eye and the midface together

The combination is listed because two neighbouring problems often share one face. It is quoted only when both are actually found.

01Groove

The tear trough is where the two halves meet

The nasojugal groove is the line where a bulging under-eye pad and a descending cheek meet. Dr. Choi co-authored a 2016 paper on improving that groove and its wrinkles after skin-muscle flap elevation through a subciliary approach to the orbital rim.

02Session

One operation, one period of healing

Doing both in a single session means one visit to theatre and one stretch of swelling. The trade-off is a larger operation than either part, and aftercare that follows both instruction sets.

03Restraint

The examination can also split them

Some faces need only repositioning, and some only the lift. Rewind lists each part on its own, and the combined line is used only when the bulge and the descent are both present.

The 2016 nasojugal groove paper co-authored by Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Fig. 03 · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2016: the groove where both halves meet
Theatre

On the day

A combined midface and under-eye operation at the Apgujeong clinic

Operating theatre at Rewind Plastic Surgery in the Richro Building, Apgujeong

Fig. 04 · The theatre where both halves are done in one sitting

Private recovery room with a bed at Rewind Plastic Surgery

Fig. 05 · A private room to rest in after the operation

For a combined case the examination, the operation and every follow-up visit are with Dr. Choi, on the fourth and fifth floors of the Richro Building. Weekday appointments end at 19:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Saturday appointments end at 16:00, and Thursdays and Sundays are closed days.

Under-eye fat released into the tear trough
Midface raised with its fascial layer
Descended cheek fat fixed to the periosteum
Endotine, absorbed over about nine months
Route through the conjunctiva or the lid skin
Anaesthesia and duration set at consultation
Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon

Board-certified plastic surgeon

Dr. Jonghwan Choi is certified in Korea as a specialist in plastic surgery and carries both parts of a combined case himself. Rewind holds KHIDI registration M-2025-01-08-09288 as an institution for international patients.

Cost

Pricing

What the combined midface and fat repositioning operation costs

Rewind's fee sheet has a line for the combination, listed beside the lines for each part on its own. Reading them together shows what the single figure replaces.

Midface lift with under-eye fat repositioningThe combined operation described on this page
₩6,000,000
Midface lift added to a lower blepharoplastyUsed when lower-lid surgery is already planned and the midface is lifted in the same session
₩7,000,000
Transconjunctival midface lift, standaloneThe lift without work on the under-eye fat
₩4,000,000
Septum-reinforced under-eye fat repositioning, standaloneRepositioning with septal reinforcement, without the midface lift
₩2,000,000

Listed figures, VAT excluded, each including the anaesthetic fee. The combined line and the add-on line cover different scopes; which one applies is written into your plan at consultation.

Fit

Suitability

Who is a candidate for combining the two, and who needs only one

Combining is usually discussed when

  • Under-eye fat bulges forward and the cheek below has also descended
  • A deep tear trough casts a shadow that make-up settles into
  • Dark circles follow the contour of the under-eye
  • Shading under the eyes looks heavy and dull from a conversational distance

One part alone, or a different plan, when

  • The bag is the only finding and the cheek has held its position: repositioning alone
  • The cheek has descended while the under-eye fat has stayed flat: the midface lift alone
  • Loose lid skin makes a lower blepharoplasty part of the plan, which changes the listing
  • A bleeding disorder, anticoagulant medication, pregnancy or an infection around the eye
After

Recovery

Recovery from a combined midface lift and fat repositioning

Two instruction sets apply. Rewind's sheet for under-eye fat repositioning governs the early days, and its midface lift page adds a month-long rule on top. No combined recovery timeline is published, so the day you can fly is set by the surgeon.

First three days
The dressing stays on
The dressing under the eye is left in place for three days under the repositioning sheet.
One to two weeks
Bruising settles
Early swelling and bruising decrease over one to two weeks. The eyes are not rubbed, and sunscreen is used.
At least one week
No sauna or hard exercise
Sauna, steam rooms and strenuous exercise are set aside for at least a week.
About a month
No firm pulling
The operated area is not pulled firmly for about a month, and alcohol, smoking and sauna stay off the calendar for a period.

A combined operation on the lower lid and midface carries risk, among them infection, bleeding, swelling that lingers, scarring, a lower lid that sits differently, altered feeling in the cheek and differences between the two sides. Where the skin route is used, Rewind states that a line can show below the lashes depending on skin elasticity. Severe pain or a fever after surgery is a reason to contact the clinic at once.

Doctor

Professional

At Rewind, one board-certified plastic surgeon carries every case — from the first consultation to the final follow-up. Because a face is a story, and a story deserves a single author.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeonRewind,
Dr. Jonghwan Choi presenting at an academic session
Fig. 06 — Academic presentation, thread-lifting session

Rewind's Doctor

Dr. Jonghwan Choi Medical Director

One surgeon, from the first
consultation to the last follow-up.

A board-certified plastic surgeon devoted to anti-aging lifting — with the precision and restraint built through years of craniofacial practice.

Board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastic Surgery)
10 peer-reviewed publications
Medical Director, Rewind Plastic Surgery
Korean Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons
Former chief director, Apgujeong Y&T Plastic Surgery
Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
J Craniofac Surg · JKMS · Arch Craniofac Surg
Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Ask

Questions

Midface lift with fat repositioning: eight questions

Can a midface lift and under-eye fat repositioning be done in one surgery?
Yes. Rewind lists the combination as one operation with its own fee, ₩6,000,000 before VAT. Dr. Jonghwan Choi performs both halves in the same session, and the examination decides whether your face needs both or only one.
Does combining them fix both eye bags and flat cheeks at once?
The combination treats a bulging under-eye pad and a descended cheek in the same operation, which is its purpose. A lift moves tissue that has slid down; it cannot create volume that was never there. How much each side changes varies between individuals, and your own photographs are reviewed at consultation.
What is the difference between the midface lift and fat repositioning?
They move different fat. Repositioning takes under-eye fat that bulges forward and carries it into the tear trough after the ligament adhesion there is released. The midface lift raises the cheek tissue below with its fascial layer, fixes the descended fat to the periosteum, and uses Endotine to hold the lift.
Is septal reinforcement included in the combined operation?
Rewind lists septum-reinforced repositioning as its own item at ₩2,000,000. Whether reinforcing the septum is part of your combined plan, and how that affects the quote, is written down at consultation ahead of any surgery date.
Which listing applies if I also need a lower blepharoplasty?
Where lid skin and muscle also need work, Rewind uses a separate line for adding the midface lift to a lower blepharoplasty, ₩7,000,000. The surgeon explains at the examination why your findings match that line or the combined repositioning line.
How long do bruising and swelling last after the combined operation?
Rewind's under-eye repositioning sheet records early swelling and bruising decreasing over one to two weeks, with the eye dressing kept on for three days. The midface lift adds about a month without firm pulling on the area. A combined timeline is not published, so the surgeon confirms your dates after surgery.
Will there be a scar after the combined surgery?
On the conjunctival route the incision is made on the inner lining of the lower lid, so the facial skin is not cut. Where the lid skin is used, Rewind states that a line can remain below the lashes depending on skin elasticity. The route is chosen at the examination and explained to you in advance.
How long does the result of the combined operation last?
Rewind records more than five years for the midface lift, with variation between individuals. Ageing and changes in weight continue after surgery, as they do after any lifting operation, and they affect how the under-eye and cheek look in the years that follow.
Voices

Google Reviews

What our patients say.

G 5.0 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong — live-synced from Google Business Profile
★★★★★

Came to REWIND to get my facial treatment and i'm absolutely obsessed about it💞 the doctor is so kind and is an expert! Everyone must visit!

YunHee Hong2 weeks ago
★★★★★

There are just way too many cosmetic clinics in Korea and I'm so happy I found Rewind Clinic in Gangnam. Dr. Choi was so kind and patient while explaining the different face-lifting options, from threads to mini-lifts to deep-plane lifts…

J. S.5 months ago
★★★★★

I found Rewind clinic through a Korean chat forum and many local clients highly recommended it. The clinic is brand new, featuring large, clean rooms and many private waiting areas so it doesn't give off that "factory" clinic vibe. All the…

J. Siou5 months ago
★★★★★

Really nice environment. Doctor is easy to communicate and understands my visions. Waited two weeks to make a review and I confirm the results exceeded my expectations and I am super happy with it. Can't wait to come back!! :))

Kristie Chu5 months ago
★★★★★

I received a thread lift at Rewind Plastic Surgery. The clinic was clean and the atmosphere was comfortable. The consultation was thorough, and I felt confident because they kindly explained everything tailored to my facial condition. They…

한주연2 weeks ago · Translated by Google
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Location
Apgujeong, Gangnam
4F & 5F, Richro Building,
812 Nonhyeon-ro,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hours
Mon·Tue·Wed·Fri 10:00–19:00
Sat 10:00–16:00
Closed Sundays & Thursdays
Lunch 12:00–13:00
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Registration
KHIDI Registered
Registered institution for
international patients
Reg. M-2025-01-08-09288

Scientific evidence

Research on the tear trough, lower-lid correction and case photographs

The first paper concerns correction of the nasojugal groove through fat realignment during lower-lid blepharoplasty, and is cited for the anatomy of that groove. The second concerns transconjunctival release combined with a midface lift for a lower lid turned outward after earlier surgery, and is cited for the approach. The third sets out how facial surgery photographs should be standardised, which helps when reading any case pair. The patients in these papers were treated by their authors at their own institutions, and no paper here can tell you how your own lids will respond.