A thread lift requires differentiated techniques depending on skin age, degree of sagging, and depth of wrinkles
A thread lift is a procedure in which dissolvable medical threads are placed beneath the skin to pull up sagging cheeks and jawline.
If your jawline is no longer what it used to be and you opened this page, we will first show you the basic information.
Which is right for you, a thread lift or surgery, depending on the degree of sagging, is summarized in How to Choose a Lifting Procedure.
A thread lift is a procedure that places dissolvable threads, without cutting the skin, to move sagging tissue upward.
In a word, it is a procedure that holds and lifts with threads instead of a blade.
The thread is inserted through a thin tube. The barbs on the thread grip the tissue. In that state, it is pulled up in the desired direction.
The thread is absorbed by the body over time and disappears.
The reaction that absorbable threads cause in surrounding tissue has been observed in animal studies. In a study in which threads were inserted into 4 Yucatan miniature pigs and the tissue was examined at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks, new collagen formation and fibrous fusion (the tissue around the thread binding together with fibers) were reported[1]. This is not a result in humans.
In simple terms — You have probably heard the saying that "collagen forms as the thread dissolves." The evidence this page checked is from animal experiments. It has not been confirmed that the same thing happens in human facial tissue.
From choosing the thread to the procedure itself, the doctor does it personally
Threads are inserted from the temple scalp side rather than the cheek side, using a method that minimizes thread insertion.
Every method raises sagging tissue up and back. What Face Plus decides is which direction the threads are inserted from.
It may sound like a small difference, but this is what determines where the threads settle.
There is also a method that inserts the threads from the temple area toward the face. In that case, the threads settle inside the cheek.
Face Plus inserts them in the opposite direction. This is called the reverse technique. The threads settle inside the temple and scalp.
The starting point is not very different between the two methods. What differs is where the threads are placed.
At the temple, the threads are inserted up and outward along the layer below the superficial temporal fascia and above the deep temporal fascia. The insertion layer is confirmed by the resistance felt in the hand as the thread is pushed in.
In simple terms — The temple has two tough layers of fascia. The thread passes between those two layers. We proceed while checking by the feel at the fingertips that it is going in correctly.
We choose this layer to reduce pain and bleeding.
When the threads are pulled, the skin on the side where the threads gather bunches up. With the reverse technique, it forms in the sideburn area.
So the places where the threads enter are divided into several lines in a pyramid shape. Rather than pulling hard all at once, we lift in several stages. Any remaining bunching is lifted toward the inside of the scalp so it is less visible from the outside.
We do not fix the number of threads in advance. It is decided according to the degree and location of the sagging.
Because no threads are placed on the face side, this method aims to reduce the places where thread marks could appear on the cheek.
Swelling and bruising can occur with any procedure. We do not say there will be none. The purpose of this method is to reduce swelling on the cheek side.
A Word from the Doctor
"In my case, even as experience and technique have accumulated, to further minimize the side effects that can still occur, I avoid inserting threads directly into the face."
The threads do not pass through the cheek tissue. For that reason, the effect commonly described as skin texture improving as the threads dissolve (evidence confirmed in humans is lacking) is also hard to expect with this method.
The purpose of this method is to reposition sagging tissue. If you want to address skin texture as well, please see Skin Booster procedure information.
We choose the type of thread according to the degree of sagging and skin thickness, and arrange the jawline three-dimensionally with multi-directional lifting, pulling in several directions rather than one. This is a method refined through extensive procedure experience, and the doctor personally handles everything from design to procedure.
The threads used in thread lifts differ in character according to two things: material and shape.
A thread does two jobs inside the face. One is to pull up sagging tissue and hold it in place. The other is to stimulate the surrounding tissue while it dissolves (a reaction observed in animal studies[1]).
Holding is done mainly by the shape of the thread. How fast it dissolves is determined by the material of the thread.
All the threads used at Face Plus are dissolvable threads (absorbable threads). Which thread to use is not chosen by the patient; the doctor decides after looking at the condition of your face.
A Word from the Doctor
"Many people are curious about the types of threads, but personally, this is a procedure that is influenced greatly not only by the type of thread but also by the operator's experience and know-how."
Namika · Light Lift 25 · Light Lift 50
Forte Single (PCL) · Forte Double (PDO) · Forte Fix (PDO)
PDO cog thread · integrated cannula
3D mesh PDO thread
PDO threads — Standard · Mini · Dual · Reverse · Fixed · Long
| Material | Duration in the body |
|---|---|
| PDO (polydioxanone) | About 6 to 12 months |
| PCL (polycaprolactone) | About 2 years or more |
| PLLA · composite materials |
Thread lifts are done on the jawline and lower face, the midface where nasolabial folds are, the double chin, and the forehead and eyebrows.
Read this while thinking about the area of your face that bothers you most.
The order in which Face Plus most often performs them is as follows.
Lifts the flesh that has descended along the line of the lower jaw. This is for cases where the boundary between the jaw and neck looks blurred when seen from the side.
Restores tissue that has descended from below the cheekbone to the corners of the mouth. It does not erase the nasolabial folds themselves. It moves the sagging that created the wrinkles.
Deeply grooved wrinkles are not filled by threads alone. In this case, we also look at Filler procedure information.
A double chin has several causes. Cases with a lot of fat, cases with loose skin, and cases with separated neck muscles are different from one another.
This is where the range of what threads can and cannot do divides. At your consultation, we first distinguish the cause. Details are in Neck Lift surgery information and Double Chin Muscle Tightening surgery information.
When the eyebrows sink, the eyes look heavy. Threads are placed in this area as well.
For about 2 weeks after the procedure, it is best to avoid opening your mouth wide or rubbing the treated area.
After the procedure, please remember just the few points below.
| Item | Time point |
|---|---|
| Period for observing the precautions above | About 2 weeks |
| Washing your face and makeup | Possible from the day after the procedure |
| Light exercise | Possible |
| Strenuous exercise | It is best to avoid it for 2 weeks |
| Drinking alcohol | It is best to refrain for about 2 weeks |
If something after the procedure feels wrong, do not endure it alone.
The changes below are ones you should tell us about without waiting until your next visit.
Dr. Park Jung Keun presents on thread lifts at conferences and also conducts medical staff training at the request of manufacturers.
Other conference and training-course activities can be seen in Academic Activities.
Is a thread lift for when the face sags?
— Dr. Park Jung Keun, Plastic Surgery Specialist · Face Plus Talk
The ages of patients who want a thread lift really vary. The range is wide, from the young early 20s to the 50s and 60s. A lifting procedure is originally meant to correct a sagging face, so does a face sag even in the early 20s?
The traditional way to correct sagging facial skin is the incisional facelift. Most people who have it are older adults. As aging makes the skin loosen, it is a method that removes the excess skin and pulls it up.
But these days, thread lifts are done far more often. Compared with the incisional facelift, recovery is shorter and the operation time is very short. Naturally, no surgical scar remains on the face. Of course, compared with a facelift, the duration is shorter and the effect is limited. However, the procedure is very simple and the return to daily life is quick, so the demand for thread lifts is hard to beat.
It is not done only because the skin has loosened and sagged. Nor is it only because elasticity has dropped a lot with aging. In other words, a reason other than sagging skin is the facial contouring effect. The contour of our face is not just bone. The flesh surrounding the bone is also important, and when there is a lot of flesh, the face also looks wider. In such cases, liposuction or a thread lift can make a contour that had been hidden show more clearly. The jawline also becomes much smoother, with a slimmer-looking effect. Young people often have thread lifts to obtain this kind of facial contouring effect.
A thread lift is not performed only on loose, sagging skin.
How long a thread lift lasts depends on the type of thread used, the procedure method and your skin condition. In general, the effect can last from 6 months to over 1 year, and a procedure tailored to you along with consistent skin care helps.
After the procedure, temporary swelling, bruising, pain or a pulling sensation may appear, and most of these improve over time. Depending on the person, symptoms such as skin dimpling, asymmetry or infection may occur, so it is important to consult thoroughly with an experienced medical team before the procedure.
Depending on your skin and general health, the procedure may not be suitable. If there is an infection or inflammation in the treatment area, or if you have a high risk of bleeding or certain medical conditions, a prior consultation is needed. It is important to plan a procedure that fits your condition through a thorough consultation.
Yes. Even if you have had a thread lift, you can have a facelift later. A history of thread lifts does not make lifting surgery impossible, although the surgical plan may differ depending on the type of thread, the number of procedures and the condition of the tissue. A surgical plan suited to your current condition can be made through a thorough consultation.
About 30 minutes. It is done under local anesthesia, with sedation added if you wish. No hospital stay is needed.
In the early period after the procedure, you may feel the threads along their path or a pulling sensation, and in most cases this gradually eases over time. However, if a thread protrudes through the skin or pain or swelling persists, it is best to see the medical team.
The threads used in a thread lift do not break easily in ordinary daily life. However, the condition of the threads may vary depending on the type of thread, the treated area, external impact and so on. After the procedure, avoid pressing hard on or excessively pulling your face, and if you have any discomfort, please consult the medical team.
“Mini facelift” is not a medical term, and there is no fixed surgical method.
Published 2025-06-24 · Updated 2026-10-01Read LiftingWhy the Face Can Look Uneven After a Thread LiftThe more shallowly the threads are placed, the better they pull, but the greater the risk that they show through or the surface becomes uneven.
Published 2021-07-09 · Updated 2026-09-28Read LiftingThread Lift: What Does the Pulling Direction Change?A thread lift differs depending on the combination of thread type, placement site, and pulling direction.
Published 2020-08-12 · Updated 2026-10-01Read
This links to a video on the Face Plus Plastic Surgery YouTube channel. View All FacePlus TV
He personally consults on and performs facial aging treatments such as facelift, droopy eyelid surgery, and thread lift. The doctor personally sees you from consultation through recovery.
About the DoctorThe content of this page is general medical information provided in accordance with the Medical Service Act, and the effects and recovery time of surgeries and procedures may vary by individual. All surgeries and procedures can cause side effects, so please make your decision only after a thorough consultation with a plastic surgery specialist.
Facelift, droopy eyelid surgery, and thread lift: Dr. Park Jung Keun personally checks every stage, from consultation to recovery. Please schedule by phone or KakaoTalk, or leave a consultation request form.
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