How long does a thread lift last, and does the change remain after the threads dissolve?

How long a thread lift lasts depends on the thread material, thickness, and degree of sagging, and dissolving threads are usually expected to last about 6 months to a little over a year. The force with which the threads hold and lift tissue decreases as they dissolve, but the collagen formed around them while they dissolve remains, so some elasticity continues.

What determines how long a thread lift lasts?

The dissolving threads used in thread lifts are made of materials such as PDO, PCL, and PLLA, and each dissolves in the body at a different speed. Generally, PDO dissolves over several months, while PCL and PLLA are known to remain longer. With threads that have large, firm barbs, or when multiple threads are inserted, the force holding the tissue tends to last longer.

In faces with deep sagging and a lot of facial fat, which are heavier, the lifted tissue may descend again faster even with the same threads. Habits of making big facial expressions, rapid weight change, sun exposure, and smoking also work to shorten how long a thread lift lasts.

Why changes remain after the threads dissolve

While the threads dissolve, the body recognizes them as foreign material and produces new collagen around them. The tissue formed this way remains along the path of the threads, which may help maintain some skin elasticity even after the threads have fully dissolved.

However, your face keeps aging during that time, so sagging progresses again, and the degree of lift gradually decreases compared with right after treatment. Whether to get it again is decided by assessing your condition when sagging starts to bother you again.

Recovery care to help a thread lift last

At our Suwon clinic, after a MINT thread lift, we advise not opening your mouth wide for 4 weeks so the threads don't move or break, and also being careful about long yawns or laughing widely.

For 3 days after treatment, take the prescribed medication, apply gentle cold compresses, and sleep in a proper position. For 7 days, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas, and vigorous exercise. Bruising, swelling, and a tight feeling usually ease within 1 to 2 weeks, but if pain gets progressively worse, warmth and redness persist, or a thread can be felt or is coming out of the skin, don't touch it and please contact the clinic. If you have an antibiotic allergy, please let us know before treatment.

Types of thread lifting in Suwon: how do Mint threads, Jamber thread, and dissolvable threads differ?

View MINT thread treatment information

FAQ

Q. How soon can I get a thread lift again?

A. With dissolving threads, we tend to reassess around the time most of the thread has dissolved and the lift has decreased, so the next treatment is usually discussed at around 1 year. We decide the type and number of threads again based on the degree of sagging and the results of the previous treatment.

Q. Does inserting more threads make a thread lift last longer?

A. More threads mean more points holding the tissue, but if they are inserted in a way that doesn't match the direction of sagging, the change won't last proportionally longer. The type and number of threads and the direction of insertion are decided based on the degree of sagging and skin thickness.

Q. Is there a problem if I can feel a thread after a thread lift?

A. In areas with thin skin, the end of a thread may be felt as swelling goes down, and this usually decreases as the thread dissolves. If a thread is visible through the skin or feels like it is coming out, don't touch or pull it; please contact the clinic.