A thread lift in Seoul repositions loose cheek, jowl and jawline tissue by passing absorbable threads with barbs or cones under the skin through a handful of small entry points. The appointment usually runs about an hour, and local anesthetic is injected at the entry points and along each planned path. Swelling, bruising and a tight feeling are expected for one to two weeks, so most visitors leave several days before a long flight. The lift is visible right away and fades gradually as the threads dissolve over months. Clinics price by the number of threads and the product, before VAT, and this page lists clinics alongside a current price table.
Is it for you?
Who Thread lifts in Korea suits, and who should wait
Threads fit people with early to moderate sagging: softening jowls, a cheek that has dropped toward the nasolabial fold, or a jawline that has lost its edge. Skin should still be reasonably elastic, because the thread moves tissue rather than tightening the skin surface.
Threads are not a substitute for a surgical facelift when there is heavy loose skin on the neck or lower face, and they do little for fine surface wrinkles, pigment or pores. Very thin skin raises the chance that a thread will show.
Usually a good fit
- Early jowls or a softened jawline
- Cheeks that have slipped toward the mouth
- Wants a lift without an incision
- Can rest several days before flying
May be better to wait
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active infection, acne flare or cold sore on the area
- Permanent filler or implants in the thread path
- Heavy skin excess that needs a surgical facelift
Clinics in Korea
10 clinics for Thread lifts in Korea
Short answer: for Thread lifts in Korea, the 10 clinics compared on this page are RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam, Barog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch, Dear Clinic, Summit Clinic, Kind Global Clinic, Springday Clinic Sinchon, Cellon Dermatology Clinic (Cheongdam), Rewind Plastic Surgery, ADO Clinic and ENTER Plastic Surgery. Listed Thread lifts prices at these clinics start from ₩49,000 before VAT.
11. RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam
★ 4.91,156 Google reviewsGangnam Station skin clinic built around five-language care
- Five-language desk
- Gallery-style interior
- Regenerative skin menu
Two basement floors of KI Tower with a gallery-style entrance, private treatment suites, a VIP lounge, K-beauty zone, powder room and prayer room. RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam is a skin and aesthetic clinic near Gangnam Station. Its menu covers HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox, and Thread lifts is also offered. Staff communicate in English, 中文, 日本語 and Español. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩200,000 before VAT.
- Consultations in English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Spanish through in-house interpreters.
- Open every day, 10:00–20:00 including holidays, two minutes from Gangnam Station Exit 10.
- Menu features stem-cell, exosome, PRP and Rejuran-based skin programs alongside device lifting.
- Offers 90 days of multilingual messenger follow-up after visitors return home.
- Non-English speakers wanting own language
- Evening or holiday appointments
- Skin-quality and regenerative programs
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Rejuran
- Juvelook
- Exosome
- Stem-cell skin program
- PRP
- Location
- Gangnam Station (Line 2) Exit 10, 2 min walk
- Languages
- English · 中文 · 日本語 · Español
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
- Listed price
- From ₩200,000 + VAT
22. Barog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch
★ 5.093 Google reviewsSeomyeon filler and lifting clinic with open-vial transparency
- Filler-focused
- Transparent pricing
- Welcoming 2F lounge
A short walk from Seomyeon Station, with a front reception and a second-floor lounge where brand certificates are displayed on the wall. Barog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch, a skin and aesthetic clinic near Seomyeon Station, lists Thread lifts among its main treatments; HIFU lifting, Botox and fillers are also on its menu. Staff communicate in English, 日本語, 中文 and ไทย. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩49,000 before VAT.
- Every filler vial is unsealed at the chair in front of you, with lot numbers you can check.
- Importer authenticity certificates for all brands used hang on the clinic wall to photograph.
- Body filler goes beyond the face, covering ears, hands, collarbones, shoulders and hip contouring.
- Posted price boards apply equally to visitors and locals, with consultations in English, Chinese and Japanese.
- Visitors wanting product transparency
- Face and body filler seekers
- Lifting plans in Busan
- Lip filler
- Body filler
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Shurink Universe
- MINT thread lift
- Rejuran
- Location
- Seomyeon Station
- Languages
- English · 日本語 · 中文 · ไทย
- Thread lifts
- Main treatment
- Listed price
- From ₩49,000 + VAT
33. Dear Clinic
★ 4.9354 Google reviewsScan-first Cheongdam lifting clinic, open every day
- Lifting-focused
- 3D scan first
- Warm-luxury interior
Spread over the 5th and 7th floors, with a stone-counter lobby, bouclé lounge seating, glass-walled consultation rooms, curtained treatment bays and private recovery rooms. Dear Clinic is a skin and aesthetic clinic in Cheongdam-dong. Its menu covers HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox, and Thread lifts is also offered. Staff communicate in English and Español. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩100,000 before VAT.
- An EVE Muse 3D skin scan is taken and read before any treatment is recommended.
- Seven lifting platforms in-house, including Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Density, XERF, Onda and Shurink Universe.
- Filler menu extends beyond the face to earlobe, shoulder line and hip dip areas.
- Open every day of the year, with English consultation and WhatsApp booking before you fly.
- Visitors comparing lifting devices
- Short trips needing weekend slots
- Filler beyond lips and chin
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Density
- XERF
- Onda
- Shurink Universe
- Botox
- Location
- Cheongdam-dong
- Languages
- English · Español
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
- Listed price
- From ₩100,000 + VAT
44. Summit Clinic
★ 5.0157 Google reviewsSkin and aesthetic clinic in Korea offering RF lifting and skin boosters
Summit Clinic, a skin and aesthetic clinic in Korea, mainly offers RF lifting, skin boosters and laser toning; Thread lifts is on the menu too.
- RF lifting
- Skin boosters
- Laser toning
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Hydration and skin-quality boosters
- Tone and pigmentation concerns
- Location
- Korea
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
55. 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. Staff communicate in English, 日本語, 中文 and Español. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩69,000 before VAT.
- HIFU lifting
- RF lifting
- Botox
- People looking at non-surgical lifting
- Wrinkle or jawline toxin
- Volume and contour fillers
- Location
- Euljiro-ipgu Station (Line 2) Exit 6 / Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exit 8
- Languages
- English · 日本語 · 中文 · Español
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
- Listed price
- From ₩69,000 + VAT
66. Springday Clinic Sinchon
★ 5.048 Google reviewsUnhurried, physician-led skin care in Sinchon
- Physician-led care
- Transparent approach
- Calm two-floor clinic
A two-floor clinic on the 7th and 9th floors of Elite Building, with check-in at the 7F reception and an underground link from Sinchon Station. Springday Clinic Sinchon, a skin and aesthetic clinic in Sinchon-ro, mainly offers RF lifting, skin boosters and laser toning; Thread lifts is on the menu too. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩200,000 before VAT.
- Every visit follows an ask, listen, understand, then treat consultation process.
- The clinic openly shares the names and backgrounds of all physicians working there.
- Care is built on three principles: honest consultation, genuine products and proper dosage.
- International guests get visit guides and price lists in English, Japanese and Chinese.
- First-timers wanting unhurried consultations
- Visitors staying near Sinchon or Hongdae
- Lifting and skin booster seekers
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Rejuran
- Elravie Re2O
- Sculptra
- Juvelook
- Potenza
- Location
- Sinchon-ro
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
- Listed price
- From ₩200,000 + VAT
77. Cellon Dermatology Clinic (Cheongdam)
Stem cell and regenerative aesthetics clinic in Cheongdam
- Regenerative focus
- Cheongdam boutique
- Private rooms
A 3rd-floor Cheongdam clinic with private treatment spaces, dedicated care rooms and valet parking. Cellon Dermatology Clinic (Cheongdam) is a skin and aesthetic clinic near Cheongdam Station. Its menu covers stem cell treatments, HIFU lifting and RF lifting, and Thread lifts is also offered. Staff communicate in English, 中文 and 日本語.
- Centers on stem cell and regenerative care, backed by an in-house stem cell research lab.
- Runs a dedicated clinic for complications after liposuction, fat grafting, thread lifts and lasers.
- Combines skin treatments with fat grafting, thread lifts and VASER body contouring.
- Regenerative anti-aging
- Correcting prior procedure issues
- Face and body contouring
- Blood-derived stem cell therapy
- Stem cell fat grafting
- VASER liposuction
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Rejuran Healer
- Exosome
- Location
- Cheongdam Station or Apgujeong Rodeo Station, about 5 minutes by taxi
- Languages
- English · 中文 · 日本語
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
88. Rewind Plastic Surgery
★ 5.054 Google reviewsApgujeong lifting surgery clinic with a skin-care side
- Surgical lifting
- Same surgeon throughout
- Calm, private floors
Two appointment-only floors above Nonhyeon-ro, laid out for calm and privacy, with a waiting lounge, consultation rooms and private rest rooms. Rewind Plastic Surgery, a plastic surgery clinic in Nonhyeon-ro, mainly offers plastic surgery, HIFU lifting and RF lifting; Thread lifts is on the menu too. Staff communicate in English and Español. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩50,000 before VAT.
- Board-certified plastic surgeons on staff
- Menu centres on facelift, neck lift, double-chin liposuction and eyelid surgery.
- The same surgeon carries each case from first consultation to final follow-up.
- Botox, Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Rejuran and Juvelook are offered, planned separately from surgery.
- Interpreter-assisted consultations via WhatsApp or Instagram, with English-subtitled doctor explainer videos.
- Visitors weighing surgical vs device lifting
- Jawline and neck concerns
- Combining Botox with lifting consult
- Facelift
- Neck lift
- Double-chin liposuction
- Eyelid surgery
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Botox
- Location
- Nonhyeon-ro
- Languages
- English · Español
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
- Listed price
- From ₩50,000 + VAT
99. ADO Clinic
★ 5.0659 Google reviewsFiller- and lifting-led clinic near Sinnonhyeon Station
- Injectables & lifting
- Late weekday hours
- Station-front
Occupies the 3rd and 4th floors of RDL Tower on Bongeunsa-ro. ADO Clinic is a skin and aesthetic clinic in Korea. Its menu covers Botox, fillers and skin boosters, and Thread lifts is also offered.
- Signature menu lists Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Sculptra, micro-filler and thread lifting programs.
- Open until 21:00 on weekdays and 19:00 on Saturdays and holidays; closed Sundays.
- One minute from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 4, with valet parking at the building.
- After-work weekday appointments
- Filler and collagen-stimulator plans
- Visitors arriving by car
- Ultherapy Prime
- Thermage FLX
- Sculptra
- Micro-filler
- Thread lift
- Location
- Korea
- Thread lifts
- On the menu
1010. ENTER Plastic Surgery
Gangnam skin and lifting clinic with a facelift surgeon
- Skin plus surgery
- English & Japanese staff
- Station-front
Two floors (9F–10F) on Gangnam-daero, with hyperbaric oxygen, LED and IV drip recovery care in the same building. ENTER Plastic Surgery, a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam-daero, lists Thread lifts among its main treatments; plastic surgery, facelift surgery and HIFU lifting are also on its menu. Its listed Thread lifts price starts at ₩90,000 before VAT.
- Board-certified plastic surgeons on staff
- Botox, skin boosters and device lifting sit alongside eyelid and facelift surgery in one clinic.
- English- and Japanese-speaking staff, with WhatsApp booking before you travel.
- One minute from Nonhyeon Station Exit 4 on the Sinbundang Line, on Gangnam-daero.
- On-site hyperbaric oxygen, LED and IV drip care are available during recovery visits.
- Botox with a surgical option nearby
- Japanese-speaking visitors
- Eyelid or facelift planning trips
- Eyelid surgery
- SMAS facelift
- Botox
- Skinvive
- Onda
- MINT thread lift
- IV drip
- Location
- Gangnam-daero
- Thread lifts
- Main treatment
- Listed price
- From ₩90,000 + VAT
How it works
How a Thread lifts session runs
A lifting thread is an absorbable suture, most often polydioxanone (PDO), PLLA/PLGA or polycaprolactone (PCL), carrying barbs, molded cones or small anchors. It is inserted with a hollow needle or blunt cannula into the fat layer under the skin, drawn along a vector toward the temple or behind the ear, and trimmed. No energy is delivered: tissue is held higher and collagen forms around the material. Clinics in Seoul write the plan as a thread count per side, and that count plus the product sets the quote.
Placement depth is what separates a smooth result from a problem. In a 2025 review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Yi and Park linked common complications such as bruising, dimpling and swelling to technique and anatomy, and listed infection, granuloma, thread migration, nerve damage and parotid gland injury as rarer but serious events. They reported that ultrasound-guided insertion helped reduce glandular and vascular injury, so it is reasonable to ask whether the doctor uses imaging near the jaw angle.
Threads are often combined with other lifting methods. Casabona, writing in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in 2020, examined the safety of pairing suspension threads with microfocused ultrasound with visualization. Any combination and its order belong in the written plan.
Assessment and marking
A typical consultation covers filler, implants and medication, then entry points and vectors are drawn on the skin with the face upright. Allow 15 to 30 minutes, including photos.
Numbing
Local anesthetic is injected at each entry point and along the planned paths. Some clinics apply a numbing cream first; the injections still sting briefly.
Insertion and adjustment
Each thread is passed through the fat layer, tensioned and checked in the mirror for symmetry before the ends are trimmed. This usually takes 20 to 40 minutes for both sides.
Cooling and instructions
Cold packs reduce early swelling. You leave with written aftercare and, in many clinics, a follow-up appointment a few days later.
Thread lifts compared with other options
| Feature | Thread lift | Microfocused ultrasound (Ultherapy) | Radiofrequency (Thermage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Absorbable threads hold tissue higher | Focused ultrasound heats points in deeper layers | Radiofrequency heats the dermis in a broad pattern |
| Energy | None, mechanical | Focused ultrasound | Radiofrequency |
| Main effect | Visible repositioning on the day | Gradual tightening over months | Gradual firming and smoothing |
| Sensation | Injection stings, pulling during insertion | Deep heat and aching | Surface heat pulses |
| Downtime | One to two weeks of swelling and bruising | Usually little, mild redness | Usually little, mild redness |
At a glance
Thread lifts facts
| Products | PDO cog threads such as Mint Lift; PDO threads with T-shaped anchors such as Dooth by CGBIO; PLLA/PLGA cone sutures; PCL threads |
|---|---|
| Type | Absorbable suture, mechanical lift, no energy device |
| Dose unit | Number of threads per side and area treated |
| Numbing | Local anesthetic at entry points and along the paths |
| Session length | About one hour including marking and numbing |
| Downtime | Swelling and bruising for one to two weeks |
| Usual sessions | One procedure, repeated once the lift has faded |
| When results show | Immediately, then softening as swelling settles |
| Earliest flight home | After several days and a follow-up check, if comfortable |
Prices
Thread lifts cost in Korea
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Thread lifts · 2 cc
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $853₩1,173,000 + VATCompare clinicsThread lifts
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $36–$95₩49,000–₩130,000 + VATCompare clinicsPDO thread (per thread)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $36₩50,000 + VATCompare clinicsThread
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $50₩69,000 + VATCompare clinicsNasolabial thread — MINT Petit (per thread)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $65₩90,000 + VATCompare clinicsPDO/PCL thread — per thread
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $73₩100,000 + VATCompare clinicsPCL thread (per thread)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $73₩100,000 + VATCompare clinicsVolume thread (under-eye / nasolabial / Indian line) (per thread)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $80₩110,000 + VATCompare clinicsRecovery
What the days after look like
Tightness, tenderness at entry points and early swelling; cold packs, soft food, head raised at night.
Swelling and bruising usually at their peak; avoid wide yawning, chewing hard food and pressing the face.
Bruising fades and small dimples tend to relax; skip facial massage, saunas and dental work.
The face looks settled and the lift reads as natural; report any thread you can see or a bump that grows.
Collagen forms around the dissolving material, and the lift slowly softens.
Safety
Thread lifts risks and limits
- A 2026 meta-analysis by Zhou and Zhuang in Frontiers in Surgery, pooling 26 studies and 2,827 patients, reported swelling in 34% and bruising in 26% of cases.
- Zhou and Zhuang also reported visible or palpable threads in 10% and skin dimpling in 7%, with ear numbness and a pinching sensation in about 5% and 7%.
- Late problems beyond four weeks, such as a showing thread, persistent dimpling or migration, matter more than early swelling and may need adjustment or removal.
- Infection, granuloma, nerve injury and parotid gland injury are uncommon but documented.
- The lift is temporary and will not match a surgical facelift for heavy laxity.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Facial Thread Lifting ComplicationsJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2025 · Yi K, Park S · doi:10.1111/jocd.16745
A review of thread-lift complications that ranked bruising, pain, swelling, bleeding and dimpling as common, infection, granuloma, migration, nerve and parotid injury as rarer, and found ultrasound guidance helped reduce glandular and vascular injury.
- A meta-analysis of complications of thread liftingFrontiers in Surgery · 2026 · Zhou X, Zhuang S · doi:10.3389/fsurg.2026.1769458
A meta-analysis of 26 studies with 2,827 patients that reported swelling in 34%, bruising in 26%, visible or palpable threads in 10% and dimpling in 7%, with high heterogeneity between studies.
- Safety of Combining Facial Lifting with Suspension Threads and Microfocused Ultrasound With VisualizationJournal of Drugs in Dermatology · 2020 · Casabona G · doi:10.36849/jdd.2020.4771
A clinical report on the safety of combining suspension-thread facial lifting with microfocused ultrasound with visualization in the same treatment plan.
FAQ
Questions about Thread lifts in Korea
How often do complications follow a thread lift in Seoul?
Minor effects are common, while serious ones are uncommon. A 2026 meta-analysis by Zhou and Zhuang in Frontiers in Surgery pooled 26 studies and found swelling in 34% of patients, bruising in 26%, visible or palpable threads in 10% and dimpling in 7%. The studies varied widely, so treat these as rough guides. Ask the doctor how they handle each of these if it happens to you.
What does dimpling look like, and does it settle?
Dimpling is a small dent or pucker where a barb pulls on the skin from below, often near an entry point or along the cheek. It usually relaxes within days to a couple of weeks as swelling drops and the tissue settles. If a dent stays, the doctor may release it with gentle massage, a needle or a small adjustment. Persistent dimpling after four weeks deserves a check rather than waiting.
Could a thread show or poke out weeks later?
It can happen, mostly in thin skin or when a thread sits too shallow. The meta-analysis by Zhou and Zhuang counted visible or palpable threads among the late effects, those lasting beyond four weeks. An end that pokes through an entry point is usually trimmed or pulled out. Keep a photo of the product label so a doctor at home knows what material was used.
Which nerves or glands are at risk near the jaw?
The facial nerve branches and the parotid gland lie close to common thread paths near the jaw angle and cheek. The 2025 review by Yi and Park in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology described nerve damage and parotid gland injury as rare but serious. They noted that ultrasound guidance helped reduce glandular and vascular injury. Asking how the doctor maps these zones is a fair question at the consultation.
Can threads and an ultrasound lift be done in the same plan?
Yes, combination plans exist, and Casabona reported on the safety of pairing suspension threads with microfocused ultrasound with visualization in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in 2020. The order and timing vary by doctor. Many place ultrasound first, then threads, or space them apart. Ask for the sequence in writing so you know which day each step falls on during your stay.
How many nights should I stay before flying out?
Several nights after the procedure is a sensible plan, with a follow-up check before you leave. Swelling and bruising usually peak in the first two or three days, and a tender face is uncomfortable against a seat or pillow. Flying itself does not loosen the threads. Keep some flexibility in the return date in case a second check is needed.
What should I avoid in the first week?
Avoid pressure and big movements of the face. That means no facial massage, saunas, hard or chewy food, wide yawning, dental treatment or sleeping face down for roughly the first week, often longer for massage and saunas. Gentle washing is usually fine from the next day. Follow the clinic's written instructions closely, since protocols differ slightly between thread products and areas.
How is a migrated or infected thread treated?
A thread that has moved or become infected is usually removed, and an infection is treated with antibiotics. The 2025 review by Yi and Park listed management options ranging from massage and saline or filler injections for contour problems to surgery for persistent or severe cases. Early signs are spreading redness, warmth, increasing pain or discharge at an entry point, and they need prompt contact with the clinic.
Who places the threads during the procedure?
A licensed doctor performs the insertion in Korea, and the consultation should make clear who that is. Nurses often handle photos, numbing cream and cold packs before and after. Because technique and anatomy explain many complications, it is reasonable to ask how long the doctor has been placing threads, which products they use routinely and who handles any adjustment after the procedure.
Does it hurt once the anesthetic takes effect?
Most people describe pressure and a pulling sensation rather than sharp pain once the area is numb. The anesthetic injections themselves sting for a few seconds each. Afterward the face is sore and tight for several days, especially when chewing or smiling, and simple pain relief is usually enough. Tell the doctor if pain increases after the third day, as that is not the usual pattern.