Hello. I am Director An Jae-seok of seoul chungdam dr ahnapa clinic in Dasan, Namyangju.

When I consult on thread lifting, the most commonly asked question after cost is the maintenance period.

"How long does it last once done?" "Some people say it loosens in 6 months, but others say it stays fine for over a year." "If I use longer-lasting threads, will it last longer?"

You naturally want to know this before deciding on the procedure.

First of all, there is no clear standard that divides thread lifting maintenance periods into 6 months and 1 year. Even with the same thread, the evaluation can differ depending on facial condition, surgical method, and what is considered as "remaining effect."

In 2009, I participated in the development of bidirectional barbed suture threads with representative Ryu Si-dae, and have continued research and treatment in Gangnam since 2005. From the perspective of someone who has been thinking about the structure of threads and surgical methods, there are parts I definitely want to clarify when explaining maintenance periods.

1. The time threads dissolve is different from the time your face remains lifted

I would like you to distinguish this part first.

"Since this thread dissolves slowly, my face will continue to be pulled up during that time, right?"

That's not necessarily the case.

The time the thread is absorbed in the body, the time the supporting force of tissue is maintained, and the period when you actually feel changes in your face are not the same concept.

Just because threads remain doesn't mean the pulling sensation right after the procedure is maintained as is. Conversely, it is difficult to simply explain the reaction of surrounding tissues that occurs as threads are absorbed as "the effect has ended because there are no threads left."

Therefore, it is difficult for me to say "this product will definitely last for over a year" just by looking at the material of the thread.

Try asking this in consultation.

"Is the period you're describing the time it takes for threads to be absorbed, or the period of visible lifting effect?"

If you distinguish between the two when listening, it also helps you understand advertising phrases.

2. The facial condition at the start is different

Even at the same age, facial sagging varies.

Some people have thin skin and little fat, while others have thick and heavy cheek tissue. Cases where sagging has just begun are different from cases where skin has been stretched significantly.

Thread lifting must judge suitability by considering these differences. If you expect a large change with just threads on a severely sagging face, you may feel disappointed with the results or maintenance period.

There are cases where shadows created by lost volume are mistaken for sagging. For such faces, pulling alone may not fully solve the concern.

I believe it is important in consultation to explain what parts are difficult to solve with thread lifting, as much as how much can be pulled.

Thread lifting changes are generally limited and temporary, and it is not a procedure from which you should expect the same degree of effect as surgical facelift. Cleveland Clinic Thread Lifting Guide

3. You should check the treatment plan rather than the thread name

Patients often ask about the product name or number of threads first.

Of course, it's something to check. However, it is difficult to compare maintenance periods based on that alone.

This is because the structure and length of the thread must be appropriate for the face, which areas will be supported in which direction, and in which layer of tissue they will be placed.

By participating in the development of bidirectional barbed suture threads, I have been interested in how the protrusions of the threads engage the tissue and in which direction the force is applied. Because of this experience, I still consider the actual plan applied to the face as important as the product name.

That doesn't mean that using a specific direction or technique will guarantee over 1 year of maintenance for everyone.

Inserting more threads doesn't proportionally extend the maintenance period either. Procedures beyond the necessary range can increase costs and inconvenience.

Along with "How many lines do you insert?", I also suggest asking this question.

"Why does my face need this type of thread, and what area are you trying to support?"

4. What point in time is your face being compared to?

This is often overlooked when discussing maintenance period.

Right after the procedure, there may be swelling and pulling together. If you think that the taut appearance at that time will continue to be maintained, you may accept the face becoming more natural during the recovery process as the effect disappearing.

Conversely, if you look in the mirror every day, you may become accustomed to the changed appearance and not feel the difference from before the procedure well.

Therefore, when reviewing thread lifting progress, it is good to compare photos from before the procedure and after recovery under the same conditions.

If the lighting, head angle, or expression is different, the jawline and nasolabial fold area can appear quite different. You should also check weight changes if possible.

What I want to recommend is not to ignore the feeling of "I seem to be sagging a bit these days." It's to verify both that feeling and actual changes.

You cannot simply conclude that a procedure has failed just because you felt the effect had diminished in 6 months, and you cannot promise the same maintenance period to another person just because a difference is visible after 1 year.

5. Post-procedure care and subsequent facial changes should also be examined

Following precautions after the procedure is important for recovery.

In the early stages, avoid strongly pressing or rubbing the procedure area, and it is good to follow the guidance of the medical professional who performed the procedure on when to restart massage or strenuous exercise.

However, good care cannot promise that the maintenance period will extend from 6 months to 1 year. Conversely, you should not attribute all shortened effects to the patient's lifestyle habits.

Even after the procedure, aging continues, and facial appearance can change due to weight changes or other procedures.

When receiving laser or injection treatments at other hospitals, please inform them of when and where you received thread lifting. The necessity and timing of additional procedures must be judged separately.

If bruising, redness, severe pain, thread exposure, or new asymmetry develops, it may be a situation requiring medical attention rather than a maintenance period issue.

"Then how long will it last for me?"

This question must be answered after directly examining your face.

Even with an examination, an exact expiration date cannot be determined. Public medical facility guides also explain that the effect of thread lifting is temporary, and cannot guarantee the presented period to an individual. Cleveland Clinic Thread Lifting Guide

When you consult for thread lifting at seoul chungdam dr ahnapa clinic , I hope you will check the following content along with just hearing the maintenance period numbers.

  • Areas where improvement can be expected in my face

  • Areas difficult to solve with thread lifting alone

  • Reasons for deciding on the threads used and treatment range

  • When to check progress and how to respond if abnormal symptoms occur

With this kind of explanation, you can more realistically accept the changes after the procedure.

You don't need to have it done again every 6 months

"I heard thread lifting needs to be done every 6 months?"

There is no set interval.

Rather than following a calendar schedule, you should first check the current remaining effect, tissue condition, uncomfortable symptoms, and need for additional procedures.

Just because the pulling has decreased from the beginning doesn't mean you need to add more threads right away. Repeat procedures without considering the type and location of previous treatment should be avoided.

When deciding on additional procedures, I hope you will check 'what is currently uncomfortable and how much' along with 'when it was done'.

My standards for thread lifting

I fully understand the desire for longer-lasting results.

However, there are things as important as the description of lasting a long time. Whether the procedure is suitable for my face, whether the change is natural, and whether recovery is progressing without discomfort.

Based on long-term research and clinical experience, I consider it more important to determine a range suitable for facial condition than to always pull strongly or use many threads.

If you are considering thread lifting in Dasan, Namyangju, along with asking "How long will it last?", also ask this:

"What changes and limitations can I expect from my face?"

It's not too late to decide after fully hearing the answer.

seoul chungdam dr ahnapa clinic Director An Jae-seok

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do slowly dissolving threads necessarily last longer?

The absorption period of threads is different from the maintenance period of visible lifting effects. The facial condition and treatment plan must be considered together with the material.

Q. Is it a failure if the pulling decreases in just 6 months?

You cannot judge based on that fact alone. You must compare the state before and after the procedure to determine whether the initial swelling and pulling have decreased, or the actual lifting effect has diminished.

Q. If collagen is generated, will the effect continue to be maintained?

Tissue reactions around the threads may occur, but this does not mean that the original lifting effect will be permanently maintained.

Q. Will the maintenance period extend if I receive other procedures together?

Other procedures can supplement separate concerns, but combining them does not necessarily extend the thread lifting maintenance period. The necessity and risks must be reviewed separately.

※ The effects and maintenance period of thread lifting vary by individual. Side effects such as bruising, swelling, pain, infection, asymmetry, skin dimpling, or thread non-integration or exposure may occur, so please make a decision about the procedure after sufficient consultation.

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