Lifting
Thread lift Korea guide: what the threads do, how long you swell, what it costs
A thread lift moves sagging tissue back up, then keeps working as collagen forms along the threads. Signature lifts are 1,990,000 KRW per session on our list of 20 August 2026, before 10% VAT.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Jang Dong-hoon · Founder & Medical Director
Published · 8 min read
If you are searching thread lift Korea, you have probably decided that surgery is more than you want, and that a device alone may not move tissue that has dropped. What you are trying to settle is simpler: what the threads actually do, how many days of swelling to plan around, and what a session costs before you book a flight.
A Korean thread lift is a short procedure with a long tail. The lift happens on the day, and the collagen that forms along the threads keeps working for months afterwards. That second half is why the result is judged later, not in the mirror that evening.
By the end of this page you will know the five thread types on our list, how a session runs here, who we suggest something else for, and the three prices our list carries. We plan a thread lift from the direction your face has descended, and only then decide how many threads it needs.
What a thread lift is, in plain words
A thread lift uses special threads to lift sagging skin directly. The threads sit in the subcutaneous plane, the layer just under the skin, and they go in through small entry points rather than an incision.
Two things happen. On the day, the threads physically reposition tissue. Over the following months, collagen forms along their length, which is what firms the facial line as the lift settles.
- Cheeks that have descended, lifted back toward where they were.
- A jaw contour that has blurred, redrawn more cleanly.
- Nasolabial folds and lines around the mouth, eased for a softer look.
- A firmer overall facial line as new collagen forms.
A thread lift is not a surgical facelift, and it does not remove skin. A 2021 review of absorbable PLCL threads describes a noticeable lift for mild to moderate sagging. If your sagging is heavier than that, we will say so at consultation.
How a thread lift is done here
For a thread lift Korea visitors can fit into a short stay, we choose the thread before we count threads. Our list carries five types, and each one does a different job.
| Thread | What it is for | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra V mono | Stimulates collagen to improve elasticity and density | Face |
| Ultra V cog thread | Barbs catch the tissue and pull sagging skin into a cleaner contour | Face |
| Jamber | Builds collagen volume where an area has hollowed | Face |
| HIKO PCL | Made for the nose; dissolves slowly, so it holds shape longer | Nose only |
| HIKO PDO | Made for the nose; reinforces the line of the bridge | Nose only |
The two HIKO threads are used only on the nose. HIKO nose lifting is a separate treatment with its own prices, listed with our other lifting and tightening treatments.
Three steps in the chair
- Design. The thread type and the direction of lift are chosen from how and where your skin has descended.
- Insertion. Threads go in at the points that need lift, such as the temples and cheeks, so that their barbs catch in the tissue.
- Finishing. The thread ends left outside the skin are trimmed, and the area is disinfected.
The session is done under local anaesthetic, and the sensation is moderate. Chair time depends on the plan, so we confirm it with your quote. You can read more about the treatment on our thread lifting page.
Who a thread lift suits, and who should ask first
Threads suit tissue that has shifted: cheeks that have moved down, a jawline that has softened, folds deepened by that descent. They work less well when the problem is something else.
- Volume loss rather than descent. If your face has hollowed, lifting it can leave it looking thinner. Contour filler restores volume where it has been lost, and Jamber is the thread option for it.
- Deep sagging and no days for swelling. Ultherapy Prime reaches the SMAS with focused ultrasound and lists no downtime.
- Heavy skin excess. Threads do not remove skin. If you want the result of surgery, no thread gives it, and we will tell you so.
- Your medical history. Tell us about it in full at consultation, including recent fillers or threads elsewhere and any medication you take.
Before, during and after a thread lift
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before | Consultation and the 3D Meta-Vu scan. The thread type and direction are designed. |
| On the day | Local anaesthetic, insertion through entry points, ends trimmed. The sensation is moderate. |
| The next day | Most people are back to their normal routine. |
| Days 2–5 | Swelling is the main thing to plan around, and it settles over the first week. |
| The months after | Collagen forms along the threads. |
How long does a thread lift last? On our treatment page the answer is 6–12 months. The lift you see on the day is the mechanical part, and the collagen that follows is what carries it.
Published data agree that swelling is the most common effect. An invited discussion in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2021) cites it at 32.9% across pooled studies, and notes that it usually resolves within two weeks.
Bruising and dimpling are also common, and a 2025 review lists infection and thread migration among the less frequent complications. It names poor patient selection as one cause, which is why the consultation comes first.
Planning it around your flight
If your thread lift Korea plan has a fixed flight home, book the threads early in your stay, so the swelling has days to settle before you fly. If you also want an energy treatment, tell us when you send your dates, and we will put the two in order.
How a thread lift compares with filler and Ultherapy Prime
| Question | Thread lift | Contour filler | Ultherapy Prime |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Repositions tissue, then collagen forms | Restores volume where it was lost | Focused ultrasound down to the SMAS |
| Layer | Subcutaneous plane | Deep and superficial planes | 1.5 / 3.0 / 4.5 mm, dermis to SMAS |
| Sensation | Moderate, local anaesthetic | Mild, anaesthetic in the product | Moderate, brief per line |
| Downtime | 2–5 days of swelling | Possible bruising for 2–5 days | None listed |
| Typically lasts | 6–12 months | 9–18 months by product | 6–12 months |
If you are planning a thread lift in Korea, the three are not rivals. Threads move tissue, filler replaces volume, and HIFU tightens from deeper down, so a face that needs two of those may get two in one plan.
For a wider view of the devices and threads together, read our guide to a non-surgical facelift.
Thread lift Korea prices on our list
Our list carries three thread lifting lines, and each figure is one session.
| Option | Price (KRW) |
|---|---|
| Signature midface lifting | 1,990,000 |
| Signature V-line lifting | 1,990,000 |
| Jamber volume, 4 threads | 499,000 |
The two signature lines are named for the area they treat: the midface and the V-line of the jaw. Jamber volume is listed at four threads, for areas where volume has gone. When you know which line you want to discuss, tick thread lifting in the booking selector and send it on WhatsApp.
Prices are from the list of 20 August 2026 and exclude 10% VAT. The final figure is confirmed at consultation, after the 3D Meta-Vu scan and before anything is started.
If this is your first visit to Seoul for a treatment, read the questions patients ask before they come.
The short version
- A thread lift repositions sagging tissue through entry points, and collagen then forms along the threads. It typically lasts 6–12 months.
- We use five thread types: Ultra V mono and cog, Jamber, and HIKO PCL and PDO, which are for the nose only.
- Swelling lasts 2–5 days, and most people are back to their normal routine the next day.
- Signature midface and V-line lifting are 1,990,000 KRW each, and Jamber volume with 4 threads is 499,000 KRW, on the list of 20 August 2026, before 10% VAT.
- If volume has been lost rather than shifted, contour filler may be the better conversation.
Questions patients ask
How much does a thread lift cost in Korea?
At THE Beautiful Clinic, signature midface or V-line lifting is 1,990,000 KRW per session and Jamber volume with 4 threads is 499,000 KRW, on the price list of 20 August 2026, before 10% VAT. The final figure is confirmed at consultation.
Does a thread lift hurt?
It is done under local anaesthetic, and the sensation is listed as moderate.
How long is the downtime after a thread lift?
Expect 2–5 days of swelling. Most people are back to their normal routine the next day, and the swelling settles over the first week.
How long does a thread lift last?
Typically 6–12 months. Collagen keeps forming along the threads after the lift on the day.
Can a thread lift be combined with filler or Ultherapy?
It can, when a face needs more than one thing. Threads reposition tissue, filler restores lost volume and Ultherapy Prime works down to the SMAS, and the order is set at consultation.
Which thread types do you use?
Ultra V mono, Ultra V cog and Jamber threads on the face, and HIKO PCL and PDO threads on the nose only.
How do I book a thread lift from abroad?
Send a front and a side photo with your travel dates on WhatsApp. The clinic replies in English or Bahasa Indonesia, usually the same day.
Results and recovery vary between individuals, and every treatment can have side effects. Prices are from the clinic's price list and are confirmed at consultation. This article is general information, not a diagnosis.
Sources
About the author
Dr. Jang Dong-hoon
Founder & Medical Director
Founder and medical director of THE Beautiful Clinic in Nonhyeon, Gangnam. He sees every patient's skin analysis before a plan is drawn, and reviews every article on this blog against what the clinic actually does.
Credentials in full
