Types of thread lifting in Suwon: how do Mint threads, Jamber thread, and dissolvable threads differ?
If you are looking into thread lifting because your cheeks sag or the area under your eyes is hollow but are confused by the many thread names, it helps to first know what each thread shape does. Most threads used in thread lifting are medical threads that gradually dissolve and are absorbed in the body, and what distinguishes the types is the thread's structure.
Threads with barbs on the surface, like Mint threads, hook sagging tissue and pull it, while spring-shaped threads like Jamber thread support hollow areas to fill volume rather than pulling. What people commonly call dissolvable threads is not one particular product but a term grouping these threads by material, so rather than the name, we first look at whether the area needs to be pulled or filled. At our Suwon clinic, during consultation we first look at the degree of sagging, skin thickness, and hollow areas, then decide the type and number of threads.
In this article, we outline in order how thread lifting works, the materials of dissolvable threads and differences by thread type, the process, recovery care, and side effects.
Types of thread lifting: key points
- Thread lifting works in two stages: the thread holds tissue to pull or support it, and while dissolving, it stimulates collagen production.
- PDO, PLLA, and PCL are used as materials for dissolvable threads, and they differ slightly in breakdown speed and firmness.
- Mint threads pull sagging cheeks with their barbs, Jamber thread support hollow areas with a spring structure, and Hiko supports the line of the nose.
- Swelling and bruising mostly subside within 1 to 2 weeks, and with Mint threads, take care not to open your mouth wide for 4 weeks.
How does thread lifting work?
A thread lift works in two stages. First, the barbs or structure of the thread placed under the skin hold sagging tissue and pull or support it in the desired direction. Then, as the thread dissolves over several months, the surrounding tissue reacts to it and is stimulated to produce new collagen.
So right after the treatment, the lifted shape is seen first, and after the swelling goes down, changes in skin texture and elasticity are watched over several weeks. Age-related sagging continues even while the thread dissolves, so how long the changes last varies greatly from person to person.
PDO, PLLA, and PCL are mainly used as materials for dissolvable threads. PDO has long been used for surgical sutures and dissolves relatively quickly, while PLLA and PCL break down more slowly. Even with the same material, the pulling force and where it is used differ depending on how the barbs are made and the thickness of the thread, so we do not choose based on material alone.
What is the difference between Mint threads, Jamber thread, and Hiko?
The three threads differ in structure, so what they do and where they are used also differ. The table below summarizes the structure and main areas of use for each thread type.
| Category | Structure and action | Main areas of use |
|---|---|---|
| MINT threads | Three-dimensional barbs made by a compression method run in a spiral to hook and pull sagging tissue | Sagging cheeks, beside the nasolabial folds, jawline |
| Jamber thread | A thin spring structure without barbs wraps and supports tissue to fill volume | Under-eye hollowing, nasolabial folds |
| Hiko | Dissolvable threads inserted along the bridge and toward the tip of the nose to support its line | Nasal bridge and nose tip |
With Mint threads, the deeper the sagging, the more important it is which layer and which direction they are inserted in rather than the number of threads. Jamber thread are inserted with a blunt-tipped cannula to reduce the burden on blood vessels and nerves, and are considered when the volume of a hollow area is more of a concern than pulling force. With Hiko, the two treatments are sometimes planned together, supporting the height of the nose tip with threads and filling the volume of the nasal bridge with filler.
How is thread lifting performed?
Criteria for choosing threads
A face whose sagging cheeks need to be lifted and a face whose hollow under-eyes need support use different threads even in the same thread lifting. When sagging and hollowing are both present, we divide the pulling and supporting threads by area, and areas with deep hollowing are sometimes addressed together with filler. Results are not proportional to the number of threads, so we first decide the direction and position and then use as many as needed.
Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic
- Personalized Consultation
- Photos (Before Treatment)
- Numbing Cream & Local Anesthesia
- Design
- Disinfection
- Treatment
- Photos (After Treatment)
The order above is based on Mint threads; Jamber thread follow the same order and take about 20 to 30 minutes, Hiko takes about 10 to 20 minutes or less, and you can return to daily life right after. Mint threads are offered per thread, and Super Hiko as a package combining 1cc of imported filler with 4 Hiko threads, and there are also separate packages for brow lifting and double-chin thread lifting. There is also a Bespoke thread lifting package in which Mint threads, Hiko, and Jamber thread are divided by area within a set number of threads after an examination.
View MINT thread treatment information
View Jamber thread treatment information
Recovery and care after thread lifting
- You can wash your face and wear makeup from 2 to 3 hours later, and the regeneration tape applied to the treated area stays on until it heals.
- To prevent inflammation and relieve pain, take the prescribed medication for 3 days without missing a dose, and apply gentle cold compresses to the treated area for 3 days.
- To reduce swelling, sleep in an upright position for 3 days, and for 7 days avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
- With Mint threads, for 4 weeks be careful with movements that open the mouth wide, such as yawning or laughing hard, so the threads do not shift or break.
With Jamber thread and Hiko, for 2 to 3 weeks, postpone things such as sleeping face down or on your side, meridian massage, and dental treatment so the treated area is not pressed hard or stimulated. A retreatment is decided in consultation with the medical team after bruising and swelling have subsided.
Thread lifting side effects and precautions
Swelling, bruising, pain, a pulling sensation, and a foreign-body sensation are common, and most subside within 1 to 2 weeks. Slight dimpling where threads were inserted often fades along with the swelling, and the degree of reaction and speed of recovery vary from person to person.
Rarely, infection, left-right asymmetry, or threads showing through or coming out of the skin can occur. Opening your mouth wide or pressing the treated area hard in the early period after treatment increases the risk of the threads shifting. If you have a medical history such as an antibiotic allergy, are prone to keloids, are taking blood-thinning medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, please be sure to tell us before the treatment.
If the pain keeps getting worse even after taking prescribed medication, the skin color changes, itching and heat continue, or a thread comes out of the skin, do not touch it and contact the clinic right away.
What should I check before thread lifting?
If these apply to you, start by separating sagging from hollowing
- My cheek flesh has descended, making the area beside my nasolabial folds and my jawline look heavy.
- The area under my eyes or around my nasolabial folds looks hollow rather than saggy.
- When I lift my cheeks with my hand, my facial contour looks different.
- The line of my nasal bridge or nose tip also bothers me.
If two or more apply, before choosing a thread name, it is best to first check which areas need to be pulled and which need to be filled. Whether to proceed, the method, and the scope are decided together in consultation after the medical team examines you.
In short, types of thread lifting are divided by thread structure, and the key is to first separate sagging from hollowing, then use as many threads suited to each area as needed.
FAQ
Q. When do dissolvable threads fully dissolve?
A. The breakdown speed differs by material, so they dissolve over several months or longer. While the threads dissolve, collagen production is stimulated in the surrounding tissue, and how long the changes last varies from person to person depending on the degree of sagging and lifestyle.
Q. Are MINT threads and Jamber thread ever used together?
A. When sagging cheeks and hollow under-eyes are both present, we sometimes divide pulling threads and supporting threads by area. Which threads and how many to use in which areas is decided in consultation, looking together at the degree of sagging and hollowing, skin thickness, and the changes you want.
Q. Does inserting more threads in thread lifting mean more lifting?
A. Results are not proportional to the number, and too many can look bumpy or unnatural. We first align the direction, layer, and position of the threads, then decide the number needed based on the degree of sagging and skin thickness.
Q. Can I go to work right after thread lifting?
A. You can return to daily life right away, but if swelling and bruising appear, they mostly subside within 1 to 2 weeks. If an important event is coming up soon, schedule the date with that period in mind, and manage swelling with cold compresses and an upright sleeping position for 3 days.
Q. Can I get a thread lift and filler together?
A. Sagging is sometimes addressed with threads and hollow areas with filler separately, and for the nose there is a package that combines Hiko and filler. Whether to receive them on the same day or separately after the swelling goes down is decided together in consultation depending on the area and your schedule.
Q. How can I find out the cost of thread lifting?
A. The cost depends on the type and number of threads, the treatment area, and the package. We guide you after deciding in consultation which threads and how many will be used in which area, and you can also check the items by thread type on the treatment information page.
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.