01
Filler alone can spread
When skin is stretched, it tends to pull back (elastic recoil). So if the shape is created with filler alone, it can spread over time.
Thread lift
Thread Lift
A treatment that supports sagging areas with dissolvable threads.
LINE ONThread Lift
When you look in the mirror lately, is your jawline not what it used to be?
Why a face looks saggy differs from person to person. So before placing any threads, we first look at why it looks that way.
- Procedure time
- Discussed after an examination
- Anesthesia
- Discussed after an examination
- Thread type & number
- Discussed after an examination
- Back to daily activities
- Discussed after an examination
Do any of these sound familiar?
If any of these apply to you, please mention it first at your consultation.
LINE ONThread Lift
Point 1. Sagging and hollowing
We first check whether the sagging look comes from loosening or hollowing
A face that looks older has a mix of loosened areas and hollow areas. Loosened areas can be supported with threads. But areas that are hollow because supporting tissue has weakened may be better filled, so we tell the two apart first.
LINE ONThread Lift
Point 2. Threads and filler
Threads build the framework, and filler refines the shape
Threads behave more like a solid, and filler more like a gel that flows. It’s similar to putting up a building: steel rebar forms the frame and concrete gives it shape. If needed, we support with threads and add only fine volume with filler.
LINE ONThread Lift
Point 3. Thread protrusion
We place threads knowing why they can poke through
Skin naturally tends to pull back to where it was. As the end of a thread keeps resisting this pull, the thread can sometimes be felt or come out through the skin. Knowing this, we plan to reduce the chance of that happening.
LINE ONThread Lift
Areas we examine
Areas we look at on the face
- Front of the cheeksWhen the cheeks below the cheekbones drop, the area from beside the nose to the corners of the mouth looks deeper. We check whether it’s loosening or hollowing.
- Beside the mouthWhen cheek fat drops and gathers outside the corners of the mouth, the mouth looks droopy.
- JawlineWhen the line from the chin to below the ear loosens, the jawline looks less defined.
- Under the chinThe area running from under the chin to the neck. We check whether loose skin and fat are both present.
Thread Lift: the principles we follow at LINE ON
- 01The right threads differ from person to person
Face shape, how much the skin has loosened and skin thickness all differ from person to person. After your examination, we’ll tell you which threads to use, where and how many.
- 02If threads won’t do it, we tell you first
If there’s a lot of loose skin, or the main issue is lost volume, threads alone have limits. In that case, we’ll also tell you about other options, including surgery.
- 03If something feels wrong, we’ll take another look
If a thread can be felt or has poked through, we can remove the thread from that area if you wish.
LINE ONThread Lift
How it works
From consultation to follow-up
- 01Consultation
We check whether it’s loosening or hollowing.
- 02Health check
We check for medications that make bleeding harder to stop, and your past treatments.
- 03Marking
With you sitting up, we mark the direction each thread will go.
- 04Anesthesia
We’ll explain the anesthesia options after your examination.
- 05Thread placement
We place the threads along the marked directions and balance both sides.
- 06Finishing
We trim the thread ends and schedule your follow-up visits.
Medical note
Thread Lift in detail
From here, we explain how the surgery works, recovery and what to watch for in more detail. It’s written to the standards Dr. Oh uses when he sees patients.
Concerns we often hear at consultations
With age, facial bone is gradually resorbed and shrinks, and the deep layer of fat under the skin also decreases. As the skin loses elasticity, the shallow layer of fat sags, and the muscles weaken and stretch. That’s why a face that was an inverted triangle in youth gradually becomes closer to a triangle.
What is a thread lift?
Absorbable sutures (threads) are placed under the skin in planned directions to support loosened tissue. The threads go in through a needle or a thin tube, so no large incision is needed.
Threads come in two main types. Threads with small barbs on the surface catch the tissue and are used to lift areas that have loosened. Smooth threads without barbs are mainly used for skin texture and elasticity.
Both are made of absorbable material that dissolves gradually in the body over time.
What you may notice after treatment
Most of the following changes are temporary, but how much and for how long varies from person to person.
- Swelling & bruising
- You may have swelling and bruising where the threads went in.
- Tightness
- You may feel tightness or soreness when you open your mouth wide or make facial expressions. This eases as the threads settle.
- Surface irregularities
- As the threads catch and support the tissue, the skin may dimple slightly or look uneven. This usually resolves as the swelling goes down.
How we perform this surgery
Who this surgery suits, and who it doesn’t
- Loosening is more of an issue for you than hollowing
- Your sagging isn’t severe yet
- You’d like some support without surgery
When we don’t recommend it
- You have a lot of loose skin (the weight of the skin can be more than the threads can hold, so the change may be small or may not last)
- Lost volume is more of an issue for you than sagging
- Your face looks saggy because it carries a lot of fat (it may be better to reduce the fat first)
- You have inflammation or a skin condition in the area to be treated (we’ll reassess once it has settled)
Recovery
- Swelling & discomfort
- Explained after your examination.
- How long it lasts
- Explained after your examination.
Precautions
- Until the threads settle, please be careful not to press hard on or rub your face for the period we advise.
- For the period we advise, please limit opening your mouth wide, eating hard or chewy food, and making exaggerated expressions.
- Please postpone facial massage, skin-care devices and anything that keeps your mouth open for a long time, such as dental treatment, until we tell you it’s fine.
- Please avoid saunas and heat rooms for the period we advise.
- Please avoid alcohol for the period we advise.
- If you can feel a thread, or it feels like one is poking through the skin, please contact us right away.
Results and recovery vary from person to person. Whether a treatment suits you is decided after Dr. Oh examines you in person.
Thread Lift: frequently asked questions
How long do the results last?
Threads dissolve over time, and the support they give gradually decreases. How long the effect lasts varies from person to person, depending on the type of thread, skin thickness and how much the skin has loosened. We’ll explain after your examination.
Will it leave scars?
Small dot-like marks form where the threads went in. They usually fade over time, but how much depends on your skin.
Can I go back to daily activities right after treatment?
Most people can go about their day without much difficulty. Generally, though, swelling and tightness can last a few days, and bruising 1–2 weeks. If you have an important event coming up, please tell us at your consultation.
Is it OK to have thread lifts repeatedly?
Many people have another thread lift once the threads have dissolved and the effect has faded. When you do, we look at the type and timing of your previous threads and how much sagging there is now, and plan only what’s needed.
Will it cause problems if I have surgery later?
Absorbable threads dissolve over time. Still, if you have surgery, please tell your surgeon when you had your thread lift and what type of threads were used.
More questions answered by Dr. Oh
We are a 3-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11, and the medical director examines every patient in person.