Thread lifting in Daegu: which faces does it suit? — How it differs from devices and fillers
Thread lifting is one of the questions we hear most often in the consultation room. “If I have threads put in, will my face lift?” — the answer is that it depends on ‘what has sagged’. A thread is a tool that hooks sagging tissue directly and moves it, so it does a different job from devices that tighten with heat or fillers that add volume. This article sets out which faces thread lifting suits and which it does not, together with the numbers from the research.
The short answer
A thread lift uses the barbs (cogs) or cones on a dissolving thread to hook sagging subcutaneous tissue and move it upwards. It suits cases where ‘tissue that has descended’ is the main problem, as in the cheeks and jawline; when hollowing (volume loss) or skin texture is the main problem, fillers or boosters fit the cause better. A review pooling the research found that every study reported immediate improvement, but the longest follow-up was 2 years and it concluded that data on long-term effect are lacking (Riopelle 2025). Miso Clinic (4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea; +82-53-428-2700) performs thread lifting often; we first look at which layer has sagged and how thick the skin is, then decide the thread material, number and direction.
How does a thread lift work?
A dissolving thread is placed in the fat layer under the skin through a fine needle or cannula. The barbs (cog, barb) or cones on the thread surface grip the tissue, and when the thread is pulled and anchored, the sagging tissue is moved upwards. The change you see straight away is this ‘repositioning’.
While the thread dissolves, a thin layer of fibrous tissue forms around it. In an animal study, collagen signals around the thread stayed high for several months (Kim 2017), and in a biopsy study of 25 people, collagen next to the thread path also increased from 90 days (Goldberg 2020, no control group). So thread lifting is explained by two things: ‘the pulling effect + the tissue reaction around the thread’.
Which faces does it suit?
| Main problem in the face | Option that fits |
|---|---|
| Cheek and jawline tissue has descended (jowls, heavy lower cheeks) | Thread lifting fits the cause |
| Skin is thin and less firm, but sagging is mild | Radiofrequency or ultrasound devices, or boosters |
| Cheeks and temples are hollow, which makes the face look saggy | Filler to fill the hollow areas |
| Sagging is severe and the skin is very lax | Threads alone have limits — we recommend a surgical consultation |
In practice many people have both sagging and hollowing, so we sometimes combine threads with other treatments in sequence. How to sort cheek sagging by cause is in Cheek sagging: what has descended, and the order of devices and boosters is in Jawline sagging in Daegu: devices or boosters.
How is it different from radiofrequency and ultrasound lifting?
Device lifting tightens the skin and fascial layers with heat, while thread lifting hooks and moves tissue. So devices act more directly on skin texture and firmness, and threads on the position of a sagging contour line.
It is less a question of choosing one or the other than of ‘which layer is the problem’. The criteria for sorting this by layer are set out in Lifting for facial sagging: which layer.
Does it differ with age?
In a meta-analysis, people over 50 had more skin dimpling (16% vs 5.6%) and more infection (5.9% vs 0.7%) (Niu 2021). This seems to be because the thinner the skin and the greater the sagging, the more weight the thread has to carry.
In data from 100,000 cases in Japan, PDO threads were also used more in people in their 20s and 30s, and PCL threads more in older patients (Okumura 2025). Rather than age itself, skin thickness and the degree of sagging are what decide the type and number of threads. For how lifting differs by age, see Lifting in your 30s, 40s and 50s.
When do results show?
The repositioning effect shows from straight after treatment, but for the first few days swelling can make the face look more lifted than it really is, or asymmetric. We judge by the face after the swelling has gone down (clinical judgement). The course of recovery is described separately in After a thread lift: swelling, bruising and pulling.
What should I ask at the consultation?
- Which layer has sagged in my face? Is there hollowing as well?
- What material of thread will you use, how many, and in which direction?
- Where will the threads be anchored? Is it a floating (unanchored) method?
- What happens if dimpling or thread extrusion occurs?
The differences in material and barb structure are set out in Thread lift materials: PDO, PLLA, PCL and barb structure.
In these cases we do not recommend thread lifting
- When hollowing or skin texture, rather than sagging, is the main concern
- When the skin is very thin or the sagging so great that a thread would struggle to carry the weight — we recommend a surgical consultation
- When there is inflammation or a skin infection in the treatment area
- During pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with a bleeding tendency or anticoagulant use that is not under control
- When an important event is within 1–2 weeks — we take the swelling and bruising period into account
Thread lifting in Daegu: frequently asked questions
Which faces does thread lifting suit?
It suits faces where cheek and jawline tissue has descended as the main problem. If hollowing is the main problem, filler fits the cause; if it is skin texture and firmness, devices or boosters do.
How is thread lifting different from radiofrequency and ultrasound lifting?
Devices tighten the skin and fascial layers with heat, while threads hook tissue with barbs and move it. We choose between them, or use both, depending on which layer is the problem.
Can I see the effect of a thread lift straight away?
The repositioning shows from straight after treatment, but for the first few days swelling can make it look different from the real result, so we judge by the face after the swelling has gone down.
Is thread lifting harder when you are older?
In a meta-analysis, people over 50 had more dimpling (16% vs 5.6%) and infection (5.9% vs 0.7%). We judge by skin thickness and degree of sagging rather than age, and recommend a surgical consultation when sagging is severe.
How long does a thread lift last?
In a review pooling the research, the longest follow-up was 2 years and data on long-term effect were lacking. A meta-analysis found satisfaction fell from 98% immediately after treatment to 88% at 6 months.
Where can I have a thread lift consultation in Daegu?
Miso Clinic is at 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, in front of Exit 1 of Kyungpook National University Hospital Station. +82-53-428-2700. Weekdays 11:00–19:00, Saturdays 10:00–16:00 (no lunch break); closed Sundays and public holidays.
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Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by Lee Chi-Hak, MD, director of Miso Clinic, Daegu. The treatment standards and injection design set out here are the ones we use in practice.
| Medical director | Lee Chi-Hak, MD |
|---|---|
| Address | 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea · Exit 1, Kyungpook National University Hospital Station |
| Phone | +82-53-428-2700 |
| Hours | Weekdays 11:00–19:00 (lunch 13:00–14:00) / Saturday 10:00–16:00 (no lunch break) / Closed Sundays and public holidays |
| Columns | All clinical columns |
| Reference library | All booster and device references |
References
- Recent evidence on absorbable thread lifting — Riopelle AM et al., Dermatol Surg 2025;51(5):509–514, PMID 39662017, DOI 10.1097/DSS.0000000000004521. 12 studies from 2018–2022, 818 patients. PDO was the most common, followed by PLLA and PCL types. Every study reported immediate improvement; the longest follow-up was 2 years and complications were minor. Authors’ conclusion — there is an immediate effect, but data on long-term effect are lacking.
- Meta-analysis of thread lift complications — Niu Z et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 2021;45(5):2148–2158, PMID 33821308, DOI 10.1007/s00266-021-02256-w. Pooled 26 studies. Swelling 35%, skin dimpling 10%, sensory disturbance 6%, visible or palpable thread 4%, infection 2%, thread extrusion 2%. Absorbable threads had less sensory disturbance (3.1% vs 11.7%) and extrusion (1.6% vs 7.6%) than non-absorbable threads; patients over 50 had more dimpling (16% vs 5.6%) and infection (5.9% vs 0.7%). Satisfaction fell from 98% immediately after treatment to 88% at 6 months.
- Thread material choice in practice — 100,000 cases in Japan — Okumura K et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(3):786–794, PMID 41053478, DOI 10.1007/s00266-025-05302-z. 106,639 patients at 105 clinics, 2020–2024. PDO accounted for 57.2% and was more common in patients in their 20s and 30s; PCL was more common in older patients. Mean thread count: PDO 10.52 vs PCL 6.57. Retrospective data from a single aesthetic clinic group.
- Collagen around PLLA/PLGA cone threads — Goldberg DJ, J Cosmet Dermatol 2020;19(5):1172–1178, PMID 32167231, DOI 10.1111/jocd.13371. Single-centre, open-label prospective study of 25 patients (17 completed biopsy). Collagen right next to the thread path began to appear at 90 days and had increased significantly at 180 and 270 days; nasolabial fold ratings improved up to 270 days. This study had no control group.
- Tissue changes around PDO barbed threads (animal) — Kim J et al., Dermatol Surg 2017;43(1):74–80, PMID 27748691, DOI 10.1097/DSS.0000000000000925. 12 guinea pigs. A fibrous capsule formed around the thread, and type I collagen and TGF-β1 stayed higher than in normal skin for 7 months. These are not human results.
- Medical advertising law — Medical Service Act of Korea, Article 56(2), which prohibits testimonial advertising, comparison with other clinics, superlative claims and advertising that guarantees or implies a guaranteed treatment effect.
- Miso Clinic practice guidance — indication criteria, site-by-site design, and the explanation and consent procedure. This is the source for every sentence marked as clinical judgement.
Everything in this column is general information and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Effects and side effects vary with individual skin condition, age and underlying illness, and the same result is not guaranteed for everyone. Any decision to proceed should be made in an in-person consultation with a physician.