A thread lift in Korea places absorbable cog threads, most often made of polydioxanone (PDO), under the skin of the cheeks, jawline or neck so that small barbs catch soft tissue and hold it in a higher position. The visit runs about an hour, with local anesthetic injected at each entry point before the threads go in. Tenderness, swelling and bruising usually ease over one to two weeks, so visitors tend to leave a few days between the procedure and a long flight. The change is visible at once and softens as the material dissolves over the following months. Clinics charge by the number of threads per side, quoted before VAT, and this page sets clinic options next to a current price table.
Is it for you?
Who Thread lifts in Incheon Airport suits, and who should wait
Threads tend to suit adults in their thirties to fifties with mild to moderate sagging: jowls starting to form, a cheek that has slipped toward the mouth, or a softened jaw angle. Skin should still have reasonable thickness, because very thin skin shows ridges and dimples more readily. People who want a visible change without incisions, and who accept that the effect is temporary, are the usual fit.
Threads do not remove loose skin, cannot replace lost volume on their own and will not fix deep folds caused mainly by heavy tissue. With heavy jowls or a lot of excess neck skin, the treating doctor may suggest filler, an energy device or a surgical consultation instead, since this is a different, shorter-lived procedure than a facelift.
Usually a good fit
- Early jowls or a softening jawline
- Mild cheek descent toward the nasolabial fold
- Wants a lift without incisions or stitches
- Accepts a temporary result and possible touch-ups
May be better to wait
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active acne, infection or rash on the area
- Permanent filler or implants along the thread path
- Heavy sagging that needs surgery instead
Clinics in Incheon Airport
4 clinics for Thread lifts in Incheon Airport
Every clinic below lists Thread lifts among its treatments. Message a clinic directly.
1RE:BERRY Clinic Incheon Airport
ELITE Plastic Surgery & Dermatology
How it works
How a Thread lifts session runs
A thread lift is a mechanical procedure, not an energy treatment. The doctor feeds a cannula carrying a thread into the fat layer just under the skin, then withdraws it so the thread stays behind. Barbs along the thread open against the tissue, and gentle pressure on the skin sets the new position. Over the following weeks a thin collagen capsule forms around each thread, which helps some firmness persist as the material breaks down.
Most threads used in Korea are PDO, a dissolving suture material. Examples include Mint Lift, a barbed PDO cog thread, and Dooth by CGBIO, a PDO thread with T-shaped anchors that grip without knots. Clinics set the dose by thread count per side and by length, and the quote follows that count. In a 2026 prospective study in Cureus, Shinde and colleagues treated nasolabial folds in 32 patients with PDO cog threads, and the group that also received botulinum toxin kept a larger improvement at three and six months.
The evidence on durability is thin. In a 2021 review in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Atiyeh and colleagues examined 22 studies from the preceding decade and found that no new data had been added to support lasting efficacy, so they advised telling patients clearly about longevity and adverse events before treatment.
Assessment
The doctor checks skin thickness and where the sagging sits, then marks entry points and lift directions while you sit upright. Allow 15 to 20 minutes.
Numbing
Local anesthetic is injected at each entry point and along the planned paths. Some clinics apply numbing cream first. It stings for a few seconds per site and takes about ten minutes to work.
Placement
Each thread is passed through a cannula into the fat layer and released. The doctor shapes the tissue by hand and trims the thread ends. Placing a typical set takes 20 to 40 minutes.
Check and cooling
You sit up so the doctor can compare both sides and adjust tension. Cold packs and written aftercare follow.
Thread lifts compared with other options
| Feature | Cog thread lift | Focused ultrasound (HIFU) | Hyaluronic acid filler |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Barbed threads hold tissue mechanically | Heat points tighten deeper layers | Gel restores lost volume |
| Layer treated | Fat layer under the skin | Deep dermis to SMAS | Fat or bone level, by area |
| Visible change | Straight away, then settles | Gradual over two to three months | Straight away |
| Sensation | Pressure and tugging after numbing | Deep heat pulses | Brief needle sting |
| Usual downtime | Swelling and tenderness for days | Little, mild redness | Small bruises possible |
At a glance
Thread lifts facts
| Thread material | Absorbable PDO (polydioxanone) |
|---|---|
| Common products | Mint Lift cog threads; Dooth by CGBIO |
| Method | Mechanical hold, no energy device |
| Dose unit | Thread count per side and thread length |
| Numbing | Local anesthetic injection, cream optional |
| Session length | Roughly one hour with numbing |
| Typical downtime | Swelling and bruising for one to two weeks |
| When results show | At once, settling over two to four weeks |
| Earliest flight home | Ask the doctor; a few days is common |
Recovery
What the days after look like
The face feels tight and sore and the lift can look overcorrected. Sleep on your back with the head raised.
Swelling peaks, and chewing or wide yawning pulls at the threads. Soft food, no facial massage and no hot saunas.
Bruises fade and small ripples near entry points usually smooth out. Light makeup is often allowed once the points close.
Tissue settles and the face looks more natural. Show any lasting dent or visible thread to the doctor.
The threads dissolve gradually and the lift softens. How long the effect lasts varies widely from person to person.
Safety
Thread lifts risks and limits
- Swelling, bruising and soreness are common in the first one to two weeks.
- Dimpling, ridges or a palpable thread can appear and usually settle, but sometimes need release.
- One side can sit higher than the other, and a correction visit may be needed.
- Thread extrusion through the skin and infection are uncommon but need prompt treatment.
- Temporary numbness or a pulling feeling near the ear or jaw is possible.
- The lift is temporary and fades as the threads dissolve.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Percutaneous Thread Lift Facial Rejuvenation: Literature Review and Evidence-Based AnalysisAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2021 · Atiyeh B, Chahine F, Ghanem O · doi:10.1007/s00266-020-02095-1
This ten-year evidence review of 20 clinical and 2 experimental studies concluded that the literature still lacks robust efficacy and longevity data, so patients should be informed before treatment.
- Correction of Nasolabial Folds Using Polydioxanone Cog Threads Combined With Botulinum Toxin Type A: A Prospective Comparative Clinical StudyCureus · 2026 · Shinde S, Mansuri S, Choudhary N, Pillai P, Deepak A, Tiwari R, et al. · doi:10.7759/cureus.101158
In 32 patients with moderate nasolabial folds, PDO cog threads with added botulinum toxin gave greater fold improvement at three and six months than threads alone, with only mild, self-limiting side effects.
- A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Incidences of Complications Following Facial Thread-LiftingAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2021 · Niu Z, Zhang K, Yao W, Li Y, Jiang W, Zhang Q, et al. · doi:10.1007/s00266-021-02256-w
Across 26 studies the pooled rates were 35% for swelling, 10% for dimpling and 2% each for infection and extrusion, with dissolving threads extruding less often than permanent ones.
FAQ
Questions about Thread lifts in Incheon Airport
How long does a cog thread lift keep its shape?
The visible lift usually softens over several months as the threads dissolve, and the duration differs a great deal between people. Niu and colleagues, in a 2021 meta-analysis in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, found pooled satisfaction fell from 98% right after treatment to 88% at later follow-up. Thick, heavy tissue and strong facial movement tend to shorten the effect. Plan on the result being temporary and ask the doctor how a repeat session would be spaced.
What does the procedure feel like once I am numbed?
Most people describe pressure, tugging and an odd pulling sound rather than sharp pain once the anesthetic works. The injections themselves sting briefly at each entry point. Afterward the face can ache for a few days, especially when chewing or opening the mouth wide, and a mild pain reliever is often suggested. Tell the doctor at once if one area still feels sharp during placement, because extra anesthetic can be added.
How soon can I take a long-haul flight after threads?
Many doctors are comfortable with flying a few days after a thread lift, once the entry points have closed and early swelling has started to ease. Cabin pressure and hours of sitting can make the face puff up more, so drink water, avoid salty food and keep your head upright when sleeping on board. Have the treating doctor check the result before departure, because uneven tension is far easier to adjust in person.
What is the difference between cog threads and smooth threads?
Cog threads carry barbs or anchors that grip tissue and hold it in a lifted position, while smooth threads have no barbs and are placed mainly to stimulate collagen in the skin. A lifting result comes from cog types such as Mint Lift or Dooth. Smooth threads are sometimes added in a mesh for texture, but they do not raise a sagging jowl. Ask which type and how many of each are in your plan.
Do absorbable threads leave anything behind in my face?
PDO threads break down by hydrolysis and are absorbed over several months, so no foreign material remains long term. While they dissolve, the body lays down a thin layer of collagen around each path, which can keep some firmness for a while afterward. Permanent, non-dissolving threads behave differently and carried higher rates of extrusion and numbness in the Niu meta-analysis, so confirm that your threads are absorbable.
What should I avoid in the first two weeks?
Avoid facial massage, dental work, wide yawning, chewing gum and sleeping face down for roughly two weeks after threads. These movements can shift barbs before tissue settles around them. Saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise are usually postponed for several days to limit swelling. Wash gently without rubbing, and keep entry points clean and dry until they close, which most clinics explain in written aftercare.
Can botulinum toxin be added to a thread lift?
Yes, and some evidence suggests the pairing can extend the result in certain areas. In a 2026 prospective study in Cureus, Shinde and colleagues treated nasolabial folds in 32 patients and found that adding botulinum toxin an hour after threads kept a larger improvement at three and six months than threads alone. The small sample means the finding needs confirmation. Discuss timing and dose with the treating doctor first.
What happens if a thread end pokes through the skin?
A thread end that shows or pushes through the skin should be seen by a doctor promptly rather than pulled out at home. Extrusion was reported in about 2% of cases in the 2021 Niu meta-analysis, and it is usually managed by trimming or removing the exposed piece. Redness, warmth, discharge or increasing pain may point to infection and need medical review. Keep photos and the clinic's aftercare sheet if you have already flown home.
How can I confirm which thread product was used?
Ask to see the sealed packages before treatment and keep the label stickers or a photo of them. Each package lists the brand, thread type, gauge and length, which makes the record useful if you later need care in another country. A clinic that writes the product and count into your notes or receipt makes this easy. The same record helps when you compare quotes based on thread count.