APTOS Thread Lift

APTOS is a thread made by APTOS in Tbilisi, Georgia. Its regulatory item name in Korea is “thread for fixing facial tissue,” and it is a Class 4 medical device.

The thread is made of a dissolvable material based on polylactide and caprolactone (P(LA/CL)). Small barbs on the thread surface grip the tissue, which is then lifted in the desired direction. The thread is absorbed by the body over time and disappears.

What Is NAMICA?

NAMICA is the name of an APTOS technology in which hyaluronic acid (HA) is encapsulated in very small particles (nano- and micro-sized) and coated onto the thread surface.

The manufacturer explains that because the coating around the particles dissolves at different times depending on particle size, the product is designed to release hyaluronic acid in stages rather than all at once.

Hyaluronic acid is contained in the NAMICA product. Light Lift 25 and 50 contain no hyaluronic acid.

Face Plus uses three types of APTOS thread. They differ in thread shape, length, and insertion instrument.

The doctor decides which product to use and how many threads after looking at the condition of your face. Two products are sometimes used together on one face.

• If your cheeks and jawline have sagged and your facial contour has become less defined
• If your nasolabial folds look deeper because of sagging that has descended from below the cheekbones to the corners of the mouth
• If the boundary between your jaw and neck has become blurred
• If your eyebrows have drooped and your eyes look heavy
• If you are looking into a way to lift sagging tissue without an incision

Whether a thread lift or surgery is right for you, depending on the degree of sagging, is explained in Lifting Overview.

Which thread to use is not chosen by the patient; the doctor decides after looking at the condition of your face. Depending on the degree of sagging, skin thickness, and the area, APTOS is used on its own or together with other threads.

Rather than pulling in one direction, we divide the lift across several directions, and the number of threads is decided according to the degree and location of the sagging.

Dr. Park Jung Keun personally handles everything from design to procedure. Details of the method are in Thread Lift Overview.

For about 2 weeks after the procedure, please follow the points below.

• It is best to avoid opening your mouth wide or biting down hard.
• It is best to avoid rubbing or pressing on the treated area.
• It is best to avoid sleeping face down.
• It is best to avoid strenuous exercise for 2 weeks.
• It is best to refrain from drinking alcohol for about 2 weeks.

What You May Feel and What to Avoid After the APTOS Procedure

What you may feel

• Mild swelling or small bruises
• Mild discomfort for a few days
• Slight redness
• A soft feeling of tightness for a few weeks

What to avoid

• Touching or rubbing your face for the first 24 hours after the procedure
• Washing your face for 12 hours
• Wearing makeup for 24 hours
• Sports, sauna, and swimming for 2 weeks
• Dental visits and facial massage for 3 weeks
• Sleeping on your side the first night

The areas where the threads were inserted are on the side with hair, so tape does not stick well. For that reason, we prescribe an ointment and instruct you to apply it to those areas.

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.