A thread lift in Korea repositions sagging cheeks, jowls and the jawline with absorbable sutures placed under the skin, where barbs or small cones grip the fat layer and hold it higher while new collagen forms along each strand. The visit typically lasts about an hour, with local anesthetic injected at the entry points and along every planned path. Bruising and swelling usually settle within one to two weeks, so most visitors leave several days between treatment and a long-haul flight. The lift is visible the same day and gradually softens as the sutures dissolve over the following months. Clinics charge by the number of threads per side, before VAT. Further down, clinics in Myeongdong, central Seoul, are listed beside a current price table.
Clinics in Myeongdong
10 clinics for Thread lifts in Myeongdong
If you are comparing Thread lifts in Myeongdong, these 10 clinics are on this page: Summit Clinic, RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong, Kind Global Clinic, Muse Clinic Myeongdong, Heyday Clinic Myeongdong, Beauty Z Skin Clinic Myeongdong, Lienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic, iD Clinic Myeongdong, UPIC Clinic Myeongdong and VandS Clinic Myeongdong. Listed Thread lifts prices at these clinics start from ₩69,000 before VAT.
11. Summit Clinic
★ 5.0157 Google reviewsSkin and aesthetic clinic near Myeongdong, with RF lifting and skin boosters on its menu
Summit Clinic is a skin and aesthetic clinic in Myeongdong. Its menu covers RF lifting, skin boosters and laser toning, and Thread lifts is also offered.
- RF lifting
- Skin boosters
- Laser toning
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Hydration and skin-quality boosters
- Location
- Myeongdong
22. RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.91,091 Google reviewsMyeongdong Station skin and aesthetic clinic listing HIFU lifting and RF lifting
At RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong near Myeongdong Station, the menu centres on HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox, with Thread lifts also available.
- HIFU lifting
- RF lifting
- Botox
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Wrinkle or jawline toxin
- Location
- Myeongdong Station (Line 4) / Euljiro-ipgu Station (Line 2)
- Languages
- English · 中文 · 日本語 · Español
- Listed price
- From ₩350,000 + VAT
33. Kind Global Clinic
★ 4.9359 Google reviewsSkin and aesthetic clinic near Euljiro-ipgu Station, with HIFU lifting and RF lifting on its menu
Kind Global Clinic is a skin and aesthetic clinic near Euljiro-ipgu Station. Its menu covers HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox, and Thread lifts is also offered.
- HIFU lifting
- RF lifting
- Botox
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Wrinkle or jawline toxin
- Location
- Euljiro-ipgu Station (Line 2) Exit 6 / Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exit 8
- Languages
- English · 日本語 · 中文 · Español
- Listed price
- From ₩69,000 + VAT
4. Muse Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.6285 Google reviewsMyeong-dong skin and aesthetic clinic listing Ultherapy and HIFU lifting
At Muse Clinic Myeongdong in Myeong-dong, the menu centres on Ultherapy, HIFU lifting and RF lifting, with Thread lifts also available.
- Ultherapy
- HIFU lifting
- RF lifting
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Wrinkle or jawline toxin
- Location
- Myeong-dong
5. Heyday Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.91,417 Google reviewsSkin and aesthetic clinic near Myeong-dong, with Ultherapy and Thermage on its menu
Heyday Clinic Myeongdong is a skin and aesthetic clinic in Myeong-dong. Its menu covers Ultherapy, Thermage and HIFU lifting, and Thread lifts is also offered.
- Ultherapy
- Thermage
- HIFU lifting
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Thread lifting
- Location
- Myeong-dong
6. Beauty Z Skin Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.8167 Google reviewsMyeongdong skin and aesthetic clinic listing Botox and Ultherapy
At Beauty Z Skin Clinic Myeongdong in Myeongdong, the menu centres on Botox, Ultherapy and Thermage, with Thread lifts also available.
- Location
- Myeongdong
7. Lienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic
★ 4.6667 Google reviewsMyeongdong-gil skin and aesthetic clinic listing Ultherapy and Thermage
At Lienjang Myeongdong Aesthetic Clinic in Myeongdong-gil, the menu centres on Ultherapy, Thermage and Sofwave, with Thread lifts also available.
- Location
- Myeongdong-gil
8. iD Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.8396 Google reviewsNamdaemun-ro skin and aesthetic clinic listing Ultherapy and Thermage
At iD Clinic Myeongdong in Namdaemun-ro, the menu centres on Ultherapy, Thermage and HIFU lifting, with Thread lifts also available.
- Location
- Namdaemun-ro
9. UPIC Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.9707 Google reviewsMyeong-dong skin and aesthetic clinic listing Ultherapy and Thermage
At UPIC Clinic Myeongdong in Myeong-dong, the menu centres on Ultherapy, Thermage and RF lifting, with Thread lifts also available.
- Location
- Myeong-dong
10. VandS Clinic Myeongdong
★ 5.0691 Google reviewsPlastic surgery clinic near Toegye-ro, with laser toning and acne and scar care on its menu
VandS Clinic Myeongdong is a plastic surgery clinic in Toegye-ro.
- Location
- Toegye-ro
Prices
Thread lifts cost in Myeongdong
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Thread
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $50₩69,000 + VATCompare clinicsJamber Thread Lift 4 Threads
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $255₩350,000 + VATCompare clinicsJamber Thread Lift 8 Threads
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $473₩650,000 + VATCompare clinicsDOOTH Short Thread 4 Threads
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $480₩660,000 + VATCompare clinicsDOOTH Short Thread 8 Threads
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $800₩1,100,000 + VATCompare clinicsDOOTH Dream Thread 8 Threads
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $872₩1,199,000 + VATCompare clinicsDOOTH Dream Thread 12 Threads
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,192₩1,639,000 + VATCompare clinicsIs it for you?
Who Thread lifts in Myeongdong suits, and who should wait
Suspension threads are commonly used for adults whose lower face has started to descend but whose skin still has body: mild jowls, a cheek that has slipped toward the nasolabial fold, or a jaw angle that has lost its edge. They are appropriate for people who want a change they can see within days, without an incision or general anesthesia, and who are comfortable with an effect that fades over months.
Threads will not remove excess skin, tighten a crepey neck or replace volume that has been lost from the cheeks and temples. When sagging hangs well below the jaw, or the main problem is deep hollowing, the honest answer at a consultation is often a different treatment, sometimes surgery. They also do little for fine surface wrinkles, which respond to skin treatments instead.
Usually a good fit
- Early jowls or a softening jawline
- Mid-cheek descent with reasonable skin thickness
- Wish for a visible change without incisions
- Accepts a temporary, gradually fading result
May be better to wait
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active infection or inflamed acne on the face
- Permanent filler or implants along the thread path
- Heavy loose skin that needs surgical removal
How it works
How a Thread lifts session runs
Thread lifting is a mechanical procedure with no energy device involved. A needle or blunt cannula loaded with a suture is passed through the fat just beneath the skin and withdrawn, leaving the suture behind. Barbed threads, usually polydioxanone (PDO), open small teeth against the tissue; cone threads, made of poly-L-lactic acid and a glycolide copolymer, hold it with tiny cones spaced along the filament. The doctor then presses the cheek or jowl upward along the thread so the grip sets in its new position.
Part of the effect comes from healing around the suture. In a 2020 prospective study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Goldberg took punch biopsies from patients treated with PLLA/PLGA cone sutures and found collagen deposition from day 90, rising significantly by days 180 and 270, while nasolabial fold scores stayed improved through day 270. In Korea, the dose is set by how many threads are placed per side and which product is chosen, and quotes follow that count.
Patient-reported outcomes look favorable in some series. Rezaee Khiabanloo and colleagues, writing in the same journal in 2018, followed 193 patients treated with Silhouette Soft and Happy Lift double-needle threads for six months and reported satisfaction rising from 94% in the first week to 99% at six months, with minor complications. The wider literature is thinner: a 2023 systematic review by Contreras and colleagues found very few rigorous studies on PDO threads and no agreed method for checking safe placement.
Assessment and marking
The doctor checks skin thickness, the direction of descent and any old filler, then draws vectors and entry points with the patient sitting upright. This usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Numbing
Local anesthetic is injected at each entry point and along the paths; some clinics apply numbing cream first. Expect a few stinging pricks, then pressure rather than sharp pain.
Placement
Threads are inserted one by one, tissue is gently lifted along each, and the free ends are trimmed below the skin. Placement on both sides often takes 20 to 40 minutes.
Check and cooling
Symmetry is reviewed sitting up, small dimples are smoothed, and cold packs are applied. Written aftercare covers sleep, food and cleaning before the patient leaves.
Thread lifts compared with other options
| Feature | Barbed PDO threads | Cone threads (PLLA/PLGA) | Coil PDO threads |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it holds | Small teeth along the strand | Cones spaced along the filament | No grip; acts as a support |
| Main use | Lifting cheeks and jowls | Lifting with added collagen response | Filling hollows, not lifting |
| Insertion | Needle or cannula | Double-needle or cannula | Blunt cannula |
| Feel in the first weeks | Tightness, pulling on chewing | Tightness, small palpable knots | Mild firmness |
| Typical downtime | About one to two weeks | About one to two weeks | Usually shorter |
At a glance
Thread lifts facts
| Treatment type | Mechanical suspension with absorbable sutures |
|---|---|
| Common materials | PDO barbed threads; PLLA/PLGA cone threads |
| Products seen in Korea | Mint Lift; Dooth by CGBIO; Silhouette Soft |
| Dose unit | Threads per side, by product and length |
| Numbing | Local anesthetic injection, sometimes cream first |
| Session length | Around one hour including marking |
| Downtime | Bruising and swelling for about one to two weeks |
| When results show | Immediately, settling over two to four weeks |
| Earliest flight home | Commonly after several days; confirm with the doctor |
Recovery
What the days after look like
Tightness, mild ache and swelling at the entry points; cold packs and sleeping face up help.
Swelling and bruising peak; soft food, limited jaw opening and no facial massage.
Bruising fades, pulling eases and small dimples usually smooth out; makeup is often allowed again.
The face settles into its final shape; any asymmetry still present should be shown to the clinic.
Sutures dissolve while collagen forms around them; the visible lift softens gradually.
Safety
Thread lifts risks and limits
- Bruising, swelling, tenderness and pulling when opening the mouth are common for one to two weeks.
- Dimpling or puckering near entry points, usually settling within days to weeks.
- Visible or palpable threads, thread extrusion or migration, sometimes needing removal.
- Infection, which may require antibiotics and removal of the thread.
- Rare injury to facial nerve branches or the parotid gland near the jaw.
- Limited durability: the lift fades as threads dissolve, and long-term evidence is weak.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Using PDO threads: A scarcely studied rejuvenation technique. Case report and systematic reviewJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2023 · Contreras C, Ariza-Donado A, Ariza-Fontalvo A · doi:10.1111/jocd.15709
A systematic review that found very few rigorous studies on PDO threads for facial rejuvenation and a gap in methods for safe, correct insertion.
- Outcomes in thread lift for face and neck: A study performed with Silhouette Soft and Promo Happy Lift double needle, innovative and classic techniquesJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2018 · Rezaee Khiabanloo S, Jebreili R, Aalipour E, Saljoughi N, Shahidi A · doi:10.1111/jocd.12745
In 193 patients followed for six months, patient satisfaction rose from 94% at one week to 99% at six months, with minor complications reported.
- Stimulation of collagenesis by poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) and ‐glycolide polymer (PLGA)‐containing absorbable suspension suture and parallel sustained clinical benefitJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2020 · Goldberg D · doi:10.1111/jocd.13371
Biopsies after PLLA/PLGA cone sutures showed collagen increasing significantly by days 180 and 270, alongside improved nasolabial fold scores through day 270.
FAQ
Questions about Thread lifts in Myeongdong
Which clinics offer Thread lifts in Myeongdong?
Clinics offering Thread lifts in Myeongdong include Summit Clinic (Myeongdong), RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong (Myeongdong Station), Kind Global Clinic (Euljiro-ipgu Station), Muse Clinic Myeongdong (Myeong-dong) and Heyday Clinic Myeongdong (Myeong-dong). Each lists Thread lifts on its own menu; message the clinic directly to confirm the doctor, product and current price.
How soon can I fly after threads are placed?
Most doctors suggest waiting several days before a long-haul flight rather than leaving the next morning. Swelling and bruising usually peak in the first two or three days, and an early follow-up is the time to catch a thread end that shows or an uneven side. Cabin pressure is not the main concern; limited access to the treating clinic once home is.
Is the procedure uncomfortable once the area is numb?
Most people describe pressure and tugging rather than sharp pain once the local anesthetic works. The injections themselves sting briefly at each point. Afterward, a dull ache and tightness, especially when chewing or yawning, are common for several days and are usually managed with simple pain relief the clinic recommends. Tell the doctor at once if any area stays sharp during placement.
Why does the lifted look soften after a few months?
The sutures are absorbable, so their grip weakens as the material breaks down over the months after treatment. Collagen laid down along each strand keeps some firmness, as biopsies in the 2020 Goldberg study showed, but it does not hold tissue the way the intact thread did. Reviews of the evidence describe limited durability. Results vary from person to person.
Can a thread be taken out if I dislike the result?
Early on, a thread that causes a visible ridge, persistent dimple or pain can often be released or removed by the treating doctor. Removal becomes harder once tissue has grown around the suture. This is one reason to stay in Korea for several days after treatment and to keep the clinic's contact details. Do not try to pull out an exposed end yourself.
Do cone threads and barbed threads feel different afterward?
They can. Cone threads sometimes leave small knots that can be felt under the skin for a few weeks, while barbed threads more often cause a pulling sensation when the mouth opens wide. Both types usually settle as swelling eases. Ask which type is planned for each area so you know what to expect during the first two weeks after treatment.
Should filler or botulinum toxin be done on the same day?
It depends on the plan and the doctor. Filler for lost volume is sometimes placed in the same session or a few days later, once the threads have set. Botulinum toxin in the jaw muscle is occasionally added to reduce pull on the sutures. Old filler along the planned paths should be mentioned at the assessment, because it changes where threads can go.
Which habits slow healing after the procedure?
Sleeping on the side, hard or chewy food, wide yawning, facial massage and dental work in the first weeks can strain fresh threads. Heat from saunas and intense workouts may increase swelling. Smoking and alcohol tend to delay healing generally. Clinics usually give a written list of what to avoid and for how long, so keep it with your travel documents.
How many threads does a lower-face plan usually involve?
The count varies with the area, the degree of sagging and the product, so there is no standard number. A light jawline correction uses fewer threads than a combined cheek and jowl plan. Ask for the exact count per side in writing at the consultation, since quotes follow that figure and it lets you compare plans between different clinics fairly.
Does any material stay in the face for good?
No. Lifting threads used in Korea are absorbable, made from materials such as PDO or PLLA/PLGA, and break down over months. What remains is the collagen the body forms around them. This differs from older non-absorbable sutures, which are rarely used for cosmetic lifting today. Ask which material is planned so your record stays clear for any future treatments.
How can I check that the thread product is genuine?
Ask to see the sealed package before treatment, with the brand name, material, size and lot number printed on it. Threads sold in Korea are regulated as medical devices, and the packaging should match the product named in your quote. Photographing the label is reasonable. A clinic that cannot show the package or name the product is a reason to reconsider.