A thread lift. Use a suitable thread for the skin layer for a more significant effect.

A thread lift is a treatment to insert the medical thread into the sagging skin and then pulls and fixes the skin tissue of sagging cheeks and double chin to improve the face line and wrinkles around the nasolabial fold, under the eyes, and around the mouth.

A thread lift was first developed in the early 2000s in Russia. At that time, insoluble threads with various parts of the outside of the thread were cut to make hooks were used. It was very attractive to grab the skin tissue with the hook easily.

However, as time goes by, many problems occur. The insoluble thread was expected to last the lifting effect permanently, but it wasn’t real. Also, the remaining threads make a concern for possible trouble. Thus, the boom of a thread lift in the early 2000s was getting downturn after 5 to 6 years.

After that, a melting thread using PDO that was used in the operation room was developed. From 2008 to 2009, that was the starting point. At first, the mono thread, which shapes like general thread and is thin like hair, was developed. It didn’t have a lifting effect, but it stimulated the inside of the skin to regenerate collagen for skin elasticity.

The cog thread was developed with the idea of ‘How about adapting the hook used in the early 2000s?’ The cog thread has a hook that pulls the sagging skin tissue easily for an effective lifting effect, and when it melts, it stimulates around skin tissue to regenerate collagen to help the lifting effect. However, when the cog thread is produced, it should cut the thread surface, and the thread is partially weak.

The molding thread is a thread to supplement the weak part of the cog thread. The molding thread adapts the technology with molding pressure; the thread does not break easily and has the benefit of a long-lasting lifting effect. After that, many types of threads developed, such as molding thread with a cone shape, thread of twisted eight strands, PLLA (Poly L Lactic Acid), and PCL(Polycaprolactone).

During the thread lift process, not only one type of thread is used. Recently, many types of thread have been used to make use of the advantages of each thread and compensate for the disadvantages. Which layer and which type of thread is used has a great influence on the effect and last. The thread used during the process varies depending on the patient's focus, and it is important to select the suitable thread considering the effects and recovery.

Dr. Sungjae Yoon, a founder of Leaders dermatology clinic apgujeong branch, explained, "I recommend using various threads personally. When the skin sags, it sags overall from the deep layer to the surface layer, so it is more natural and effective to hold it in this way: once in the deep layer and once in the surface layer, rather than holding only one part,"

He added, "I use 'Shihouette****' to improve the volume and 'Vov****,' which has a strong pulling power when there is a lot of sagging. When I want to support it more firmly, I reinforce it with a twisted 'Tess****.' The twisted thread allows collagen fibers to grow a lot so that the effect can be long-lasting. When I want a stronger effect, use a 410mm long thread called 'QT****" and pull it up from the inside of your head. When I need to recover quickly, I use short or thin threads, and when I want a long-lasting with elasticity, I use threads that stimulate collagen production in parallel.

There are some cases of using a thread lift instead of filler in some areas. Dr. Yoon said," I recommend a thread lift than filler for under the eye. When I insert thinner threads inside the skin, collagen is formed around the skin and has a tightening effect."