A common worry about a pelican neck lift is the scar: where it is, whether anyone will see it, and how it changes over time. The reassuring part is that the incision is deliberately placed in the natural shadow under the chin, and that with good aftercare a fine scar in that location is hard to notice once it has matured.
Garnet is well known for neck-wrinkle and lifting surgery. The facility is excellent and I’m thoroughly satisfied with the friendly consultation and the surgeon’s skill.
Director Baek In-soo, thank you so much. Thanks to you I keep getting told I look younger — it feels like I’ve gone back to my younger days.
I had upper and lower eyelid surgery and I’m really satisfied. The director and the manager were both so kind and clear.
I started with under-eye fat repositioning — the director and the manager are genuinely kind and good at what they do. I’ll be back.
I came on a referral and was very satisfied thanks to the doctor’s kind consultation and clear explanations. The nurses were friendly too.
I kept reading the reviews and came trusting the many mentions of skill and kindness. The clinic was busy with patients and spotless.
A pelican neck lift reshapes the double-chin and neck-band area, and the access point for that contouring is a small submental incision — meaning it sits under the chin rather than on the front of the neck or jawline. This is the natural crease beneath the chin, a spot that is already shadowed and not easily seen at a normal viewing angle. Working through this single discreet access point is part of what keeps the visible footprint of the surgery small.
Because the incision is tucked under the chin, it is not in the line of sight when someone looks at you face-on, and it falls into shadow when your head is level. For the procedure overview and how the contouring itself works, see the main pelican neck lift page; this page stays focused on the scar — its placement, how it heals, and how to help it fade.
The pelican method is a trademarked surgical approach at Garnet, and the submental placement is a deliberate part of it. Where an incision sits is one of the most important factors in how noticeable a scar ends up being, which is exactly why this technique hides it under the chin.
Scar healing follows a fairly predictable arc, even though the pace varies between people. In the first weeks the incision is closed and protected while the surface knits together; a fresh scar at this stage often looks pink or red and feels slightly firm, which is normal. Over the following months it gradually softens, flattens and fades, with the redness easing as the scar matures. Scar maturation is a slow process measured in months rather than days, so patience is part of it.
Recovery of the wider area — swelling, tightness and the contour settling — runs alongside scar healing but is a separate question; the pelican neck lift recovery timeline maps the full healing course day by day and week by week. Garnet does not publish a fixed suture-removal date for this procedure, so confirm your specific aftercare schedule, including any stitch care, directly with the surgeon at consultation rather than relying on a generic number.
What matters most is the trajectory: a scar that is gradually getting flatter, paler and softer over weeks and months is healing as expected. If a scar instead becomes raised, thickened, increasingly red or itchy over time, that is worth raising with your surgeon, as early guidance can help.
You have real influence over how a scar matures, and a few habits make a meaningful difference. Keep the incision clean and follow the wound-care instructions you are given exactly; avoid putting tension on the area by limiting heavy neck movement early on; and protect the healing scar from sun, since ultraviolet exposure can darken a young scar and is one of the easiest things to get wrong. Sun protection over the chin and neck, once the wound is suitably healed, is worth the effort for months.
Beyond the basics, follow whatever scar-care your surgeon recommends rather than reaching for products on your own — what suits one stage of healing may not suit another. Not smoking, staying hydrated and giving the area time to settle all support good healing. A support garment, where used, also helps the underlying tissue settle, which indirectly helps the scar by reducing tension.
Because the early days overlap with general soreness and swelling, the pain and anaesthesia page is a useful companion, and recovering in Seoul after surgery covers what the first stretch looks like before you head home.
Even with the same technique and the same surgeon, scars heal differently from person to person, and it helps to know what is in play. Skin type and tone matter — some skin is more prone to pigment changes or to raised scarring, and a careful surgeon factors this into the plan and the aftercare advice. Age, general health, smoking and how diligently you follow wound care all influence the final result too.
A frank assessment of your own skin and healing tendencies is part of a good consultation, and it is one reason an honest pre-assessment is valuable before you commit. If you have a history of thick or raised scars, say so early — it changes the advice you should be given. You can raise all of this in an online consultation before travelling.
None of this changes the core advantage of the technique — a small, hidden, under-chin incision — but it does mean your individual outcome is something to discuss for you specifically rather than promise in advance. Realistic, individual expectations are the right foundation.
Garnet is a single-surgeon clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. Dr. In-Soo Baek is a board-certified plastic surgeon (Korean medical licence no. 77407) and the only operating doctor — he places the incision, performs the pelican neck lift himself, and reviews how the scar heals at follow-up. The pelican method is registered as a trademark, and the submental, under-chin placement is a deliberate part of keeping the scar discreet.
Because the same surgeon follows you through recovery — with structured check-ins at one, three and six months — scar healing is assessed by the person who actually made the incision, not handed to someone unfamiliar with your case. For international patients, that review continues remotely after you fly home: you can share photos and get honest guidance on whether your scar is maturing as expected.
If the scar is your main concern, the most useful step is an honest conversation about your skin and healing before anything is booked. You can request a no-obligation online assessment, send photos, and have incision placement, healing and aftercare explained for your situation.
Send photos and your question before you travel. An English-speaking coordinator reviews every enquiry and replies with honest guidance on whether surgery is appropriate, the likely plan and timing.
Prefer to chat now? Reach the coordinator directly: