Barbed threads such as Mint, Silhouette Soft and the PDO and PCL threads in the clinic's packages are placed under the skin to hold sagging cheeks and jawline tissue in a higher position. A thread lift in Korea at Pixelab Beauty Clinic is priced by thread line or package, so the total follows the areas you want lifted and the threads they need.
Is it for you?
Sagging that threads can hold, and when to wait
A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure in which fine threads carrying tiny barbs or cones are passed under the skin through small entry points. Once in place, the barbs catch the soft tissue, and gently drawing the thread moves that tissue upward. No incision is closed with stitches, and the threads stay hidden beneath the surface.
The lift is mechanical first. Tissue moves on the day, and as absorbable threads break down over the following months, collagen forms along the path each thread took, which adds some support of its own. That two-part effect suits early to moderate sagging, where the tissue still has enough elasticity to be repositioned.
The not-suitable list matters for two reasons. Threads in very thin skin can show or be felt, and heavy excess skin needs more lift than a thread can hold. Infection on the face or a tendency to bleed raises the risk at each entry point, so those are reasons to wait.
Usually a good fit
- Early to moderate sagging of the cheeks or jawline
- Soft jowls or a blurred jaw contour
- Wanting a lift without incisions
- A flat nasal bridge or tip (nose threads)
- Able to accept bruising and swelling for some days
We may suggest waiting
- Heavy excess skin or deep sagging
- Very thin skin where threads may show
- Active acne or infection on the face
- Pregnancy
- Bleeding disorder or blood thinners (tell the clinic first)
Your doctor
Founder and medical director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“From learning to teaching.”Trained at Seoul & Incheon St. Mary's Hospitals. Now leading hands-on sessions for visiting doctors.
- ResidentPlastic surgery, Catholic Univ. Seoul St. Mary's Hospital
- FellowClinical fellow, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital
- AlmaTitanium Global Trainer
- JeisysDENSITY ALPHA TIP Ambassador
- MemberKorean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Before & after
Before and after
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTERHow it works
How thread lifting holds tissue in place
Lifting threads are fine medical sutures with barbs or cones arranged along their length. Each one is guided through the fat layer under the skin with a needle or a blunt cannula, following a line drawn toward the direction of lift. When the thread is in position, its barbs grip the surrounding tissue, the tissue is eased upward, and the thread ends are trimmed so nothing remains on the surface.
PDO (polydioxanone) and PCL (polycaprolactone) are absorbable suture materials, and they are the threads named in the clinic's Peter Pan package. The body breaks them down gradually, and the tissue response around them is what continues after the barbs lose their grip. A two-year study of absorbable barbed PDO threads still found measurable facial improvement at the end of follow-up, with larger gains when other treatments were added (Ali, 2017). A systematic review found complication rates under 5% for absorbable threads, with differences between materials and anchoring methods (Ojha et al., 2024).
The evidence has clear limits. A meta-analysis tied non-absorbable threads and older age to more complications and advised that patients be told the lift may not last long-term (Niu et al., 2021). A safety review found that most thread-related side effects settled on their own and called for more research on lasting effect and safety (Pham et al., 2021).
The price list groups threads by line: a nose thread, two eye thread lines (Sculpt or N-Cog, and Matrix Contour, Mint or N-Scaffold), a line for N-Fix, Tops Lifting and Silhouette Fix, Silhouette Soft, and two packages. The before-and-after photos on this page were taken at the clinic; results vary with skin, degree of sagging and the threads used.
Sagging assessment
At consultationThe sagging pattern, skin thickness and areas to lift are assessed, and the thread line is chosen.
Marking
Entry points and the direction of lift are drawn on the face while you sit upright.
Numbing
Numbing cream or local anesthesia is used on the entry points and thread paths.
Thread placement
Threads go in through small entry points, the tissue is eased upward, and the ends are trimmed.
Symmetry check
Both sides are compared, and aftercare and warning signs are given before you leave.
Thread lift options on the Pixelab Beauty Clinic price list
| Criteria | Single thread lines | Silhouette Soft | Peter Pan package | Silhouette Rejuver package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lines on the price list | Nose, eye (Mint, N-Cog), N-Fix, Tops | Silhouette Soft | PDO and PCL threads | Silhouette and PDO threads |
| How it is sold | Per line, by area | Per session | Unlimited threads | Unlimited threads |
| Used for | Small areas such as nose or eye area | Suspension of cheek and jaw tissue | Several areas in one plan | Suspension plus supporting threads |
| Retouch | Not listed | Not listed | 1 retouch within 3 months | Retouch available |
| From | ₩110,000 + VAT | ₩700,000 + VAT | ₩1,990,000 + VAT | ₩3,990,000 + VAT |
The thread mix inside a package is chosen for each face; the table lists price-sheet lines and is not a ranking.
Session by session
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Treatment day | Threads are placed and daily routine can continue. |
| Days 3–7 | Bruising and swelling ease. |
| 1–3 months | Progress is checked, and extra threads are considered if needed. |
At a glance
Thread lift numbers in brief
| Numbing | Numbing cream or local anesthesia |
|---|---|
| Downtime | Daily routine right away; bruising and swelling ease in 3–7 days |
| Recommended sessions | Progress check at 1–3 months; extra threads considered then |
| How long results last | A year or longer in the clinic's guide |
| Earliest flight home | Same-day flight home is possible |
Prices
Thread Lift Cost in South Korea
Thread lift prices here follow the type of thread. The single lines, such as the nose thread, the eye threads and the N-Fix, Tops Lifting and Silhouette Fix line, are priced per unit, so the total grows with the number used. Silhouette Soft is priced per session. The two packages remove the count from the bill: Peter Pan covers unlimited PDO and PCL threads with one retouch within 3 months, and Silhouette Rejuver covers unlimited Silhouette and PDO threads with a retouch available.
On the price sheet the Mint thread sits in the eye thread line with Matrix Contour and N-Scaffold, and it is listed per thread. When several areas are treated, comparing a package with the sum of single lines is the way to see which works out lower for your plan.
Each card shows the amount before tax, with the total including 10% VAT underneath; VAT is added at payment. Ask for a quote that lists every thread line and count, and the retouch terms if you choose Silhouette Rejuver.
Nose thread lift
Per session₩110,000 + VAT₩121,000 with VATBook nowEye thread: Sculpt / N-Cog
Per unit₩150,000 + VAT₩165,000 with VATBook nowMint thread (eye thread line)
Per thread₩160,000 + VAT₩176,000 with VATBook nowN-Fix / Tops Lifting / Silhouette Fix
Per unit₩180,000 + VAT₩198,000 with VATBook nowSilhouette Soft
Per session₩700,000 + VAT₩770,000 with VATBook nowPeter Pan package
Unlimited PDO and PCL₩1,990,000 + VAT₩2,189,000 with VAT1 retouch within 3 monthsBook nowSilhouette Rejuver package
Unlimited Silhouette and PDO₩3,990,000 + VAT₩4,389,000 with VATRetouch availableBook nowRecovery
Thread lift recovery, day by day
Normal daily routine is possible; same-day flight home possible
Avoid rubbing or massaging the face while threads settle
Bruising and swelling ease over this window
Progress check; extra threads considered if needed
Safety
What can go wrong after a thread lift
Every thread passes through skin and fat, so the possible problems relate to the entry points, the thread path and the thread itself:
- Bruising and swelling, easing over 3 to 7 days.
- Tightness or soreness when chewing, yawning or smiling widely in the first days.
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin at an entry point or along a thread.
- Asymmetry between the two sides.
- A thread that can be seen or felt under thin skin, or one that works its way out.
- Infection at an entry point.
- Rarely, injury to a nerve or salivary gland.
- A lift that fades as tissue relaxes and threads absorb.
Message the clinic promptly if pain grows rather than eases, an area turns hot and red, discharge appears, or a thread end pokes through the skin.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Incidences of Complications Following Facial Thread-LiftingAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2021 · Niu Z et al. · doi:10.1007/s00266-021-02256-w
A meta-analysis linking non-absorbable threads and older age to more complications after facial thread lifting, and advising patients that the effect may not last long-term.
- Safety Profile of Thread Lifts on the Face and Neck: An Evidence-Based Systematic ReviewDermatologic Surgery · 2021 · Pham C et al. · doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000003189
A systematic review in which most thread-related side effects resolved on their own or with treatment; long-term effect and safety need more research.
- An Assessment and Comparison of Adverse Effect Rates in Differing Absorbable Thread Lift Suture MaterialsDermatologic Surgery · 2024 · Ojha A et al. · doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000004466
A systematic review comparing absorbable thread materials: complication rates differed by material and anchoring and stayed under 5% for absorbable threads. Low-certainty evidence.
- Two years’ outcome of thread lifting with absorbable barbed PDO threads: Innovative score for objective and subjective assessmentJournal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy · 2017 · Ali Y · doi:10.1080/14764172.2017.1368562
A two-year study of absorbable barbed PDO threads reporting meaningful facial improvement, greater when combined with toxin, filler or PRP. A single, small study.
FAQ
Thread lift questions answered
Do thread lift threads dissolve?
The PDO and PCL threads named in the clinic's Peter Pan package are absorbable and break down in the body over time. Collagen forms along the thread tracks as they go. A meta-analysis linked non-absorbable threads with more complications, which is one reason absorbable materials are used (Niu et al., 2021).
What is a Mint thread lift?
Mint is a brand of barbed lifting thread. On this clinic's price list it appears in the eye thread line with Matrix Contour and N-Scaffold, at ₩160,000 + VAT per thread. The number of threads depends on the area treated and how far the tissue has dropped.
What is a Silhouette Soft thread lift?
Silhouette Soft is a branded suspension thread with small cones along its length that grip tissue as the thread is drawn up. It is priced per session at ₩700,000 + VAT, and the Silhouette Rejuver package pairs Silhouette threads with PDO threads for wider areas.
What is the recovery like after a thread lift?
Daily routine can continue on the day of treatment, according to the clinic's guide, while bruising and swelling ease within 3 to 7 days. The number of threads, the areas treated and how easily you bruise all shift where you fall in that range, so leave a few quiet days before photographs.
How many days should I stay in Seoul for a thread lift?
The clinic's guide allows a same-day flight home after a thread lift. Bruising may still show on the journey, so you may prefer to keep a few days free in Seoul. The progress check falls 1 to 3 months later, and you can ask how that check fits your travel plans when you book.
How long does a thread lift last?
The clinic's guide gives a year or longer. Research is less settled: one meta-analysis advised telling patients the lift may not last long-term, while a two-year study of absorbable barbed PDO threads still recorded improvement (Ali, 2017). Aging continues after treatment, and the threads themselves are absorbed.
Does a thread lift hurt?
Numbing cream or local anesthesia is used before the threads go in. You may still feel pressure and a pulling sensation as each one is placed, and the face can feel tight or sore for some days afterward, especially when chewing or yawning.
Can I get a nose thread lift?
Yes. A nose thread lift is a separate line on the price list at ₩110,000 + VAT. Threads placed along the nasal bridge or toward the tip can add definition without an incision, and how much the shape changes depends on your nasal skin and structure.
What training does Dr. Jongkeun Song have?
Dr. Jongkeun Song is a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon who graduated from Konyang University College of Medicine and completed plastic surgery residency at The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Today Dr. Song is the Medical Director of Pixelab Beauty Clinic.
Are thread lift prices quoted with or without VAT?
Without. Each card shows the price before tax, and 10% VAT is added at payment, so a Silhouette Soft session comes to ₩770,000 with VAT included. A quote that lists every thread line and count makes the final total clear before you travel.
Is an English-speaking consultation available for a thread lift?
Yes. The clinic has an English interpreter on staff, so the thread plan, aftercare and warning signs can all be gone over in English. Before you travel, you can send questions on WhatsApp in English, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What should I know about deposits and cancellations?
Payment terms for overseas bookings, including any deposit and what happens if you cancel, are not set out on this page. Get them in writing before you transfer money, and check how a delayed or changed flight would be handled.