Thread Lift

Thread Lift in Seoul: Planning Your Visit

A visit-planning guide to the thread lift at RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam: how long the session takes, how the first two weeks go and which thread type fits your goals.

Plan a consultation

Published: 2026-10-15

Updated: 2026-10-15

At a glance

The session takes 30-60 minutes under local anaesthesia, with no incision.
The main swelling lasts about 3-5 days and most of it settles within 1-2 weeks.
Reported duration depends on the thread: about 9-12 months for PDO, 12-24 for PLA and 24-36 for PCL.

What is a thread lift?

A thread lift repositions sagging facial tissue with medical threads that the body absorbs over time. The threads are passed through a fine needle into the dermis, the subcutaneous layer or the layer just above the SMAS, and the sagging line is drawn back toward the temple. No incision is made.

Three thread materials are used at RESUM: PDO, PLA (PLLA) and PCL. Each one gives a mechanical lift first and then prompts collagen formation while it dissolves, so the choice of material affects how long the lift holds.

How long does a thread lift take?

Set aside 30-60 minutes for the treatment itself, plus time for the consultation and local anaesthesia beforehand. The main swelling settles in 3-5 days, daily routines can generally be resumed from the next day, and office work is usually manageable after 1-2 days. If your stay in Seoul is short, send us your travel dates so that the consultation and the treatment can be scheduled around them.

Treatment time	30-60 minutes
Anaesthesia	Local anaesthesia
Daily activities	Main swelling settles in 3-5 days; most people resume daily routines the next day
How long it lasts	About 12 months as a general guide; by thread type, about 9-12 months (PDO), 12-24 months (PLA), 24-36 months (PCL)

What can a thread lift not do?

A thread lift cannot correct advanced sagging on its own. Absorbable threads can only move tissue so far, and adding more of them does not add lift in proportion: it raises the chance of dimpling, knot irritation and asymmetry instead. If lift surgery is the more reasonable route for your face, Dr. Jin-Young Kim will say so at the consultation and go through that option with you.

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Purpose & suitability

Your cheeks, jawline, nasolabial folds or the area under the chin have started to lose definition, typically in your 30s-40s.

You want a lift without an incision and cannot set aside a long recovery period.

You plan to pair threads with Ultherapy, Thermage or Botox and want the stages mapped out in one consultation.

An earlier thread lift faded sooner than expected and you want the material and the plan reviewed.

Treatment process

Consultation. Dr. Jin-Young Kim examines where the sagging starts, how thick your skin is and what you have had done before, and tells you whether threads are enough for your stage.
Plan. The material (PDO, PLA or PCL) is matched to your stage of sagging and to how long you want the result to hold, then the direction of pull and the anchoring line are mapped before the thread count is set.
Treatment. Under local anaesthesia, a fine needle carries each thread from an entry point at the scalp, the temple or near the tragus along the planned depth and angle.
Aftercare. You receive instructions for managing swelling, and the next reinforcement is pencilled in according to when your thread material is expected to dissolve.

Time & recovery

Expect swelling, bruising and a tight, pulling sensation at first. The bulk of the swelling goes down in about 3-5 days and most of the rest within 1-2 weeks, with variation depending on the area and the thread count.

For 1-2 weeks, do not open your mouth wide, pull strong expressions or have the face massaged firmly. The threads need this time to settle without strain.

The threads lift mechanically from the start, and collagen stimulation adds to that gradually as the material breaks down. Breakdown takes 6-8 months for PDO, 12-18 months for PLA and 18-24 months for PCL.

Limitations & precautions

A thread lift is not performed during pregnancy, or on an area with an active skin infection or severe inflammation.

Tell us at the consultation if you take anticoagulants, aspirin or similar medicines. Knowing this in advance helps reduce bruising and bleeding.

Temporary asymmetry, dimpling and knot irritation can occur and usually settle with time. Infection, thread exposure, knot enlargement and nerve irritation are rare but have been reported.

Outcomes differ with skin thickness and the pattern of sagging, so a specialist consultation is required before any plan is fixed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have a thread lift during a short stay in Seoul?

A thread lift takes 30-60 minutes and most people resume daily routines the next day, so it can fit a short stay. Allow 3-5 days for the main swelling and 1-2 weeks for the rest to settle, and plan to avoid wide mouth opening and firm facial massage for those 1-2 weeks.

Does a thread lift hurt?

A thread lift is performed under local anaesthesia, which is given before the threads are placed. The threads go in through a fine needle without an incision, and swelling, bruising and a pulling sensation are the usual reactions afterwards.

Can a thread lift replace facelift surgery?

No, a thread lift does not replace lift surgery for advanced sagging. It suits early to mid-stage sagging, and when the lift needed exceeds what absorbable threads can provide, the doctor will discuss surgery instead of adding more threads.

Can threads be combined with Ultherapy, Thermage or Botox?

Yes, a thread lift can be staged with other non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy, Thermage or Botox. The order and the spacing are set at the consultation so that each step builds on the one before.

Which thread will be chosen for me, and who decides?

Dr. Jin-Young Kim chooses between PDO, PLA and PCL in a 1:1 consultation. PDO is the most widely used and is reported to last about 9-12 months, PLA suits mid-stage sagging at 12-24 months, and PCL is kept for cases where duration is the priority at 24-36 months. PCL is not pushed for mild sagging.