Ageing in Your 40s: What Changes · Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

Why the 40s feel like a turning point

Many people say they looked much the same for years and then, in their 40s, suddenly looked tired in photos. The reason is that ageing moves deeper. The retaining ligaments, which act like anchor points between skin and bone, gradually become more lax. The fat compartments they support begin to slide, and the deep fat that props up the cheek from beneath starts to deflate. At the same time skin becomes thinner and less elastic, and in the late 40s perimenopause can accelerate collagen loss. Subtle bone remodelling around the eye socket and upper jaw also begins, so the scaffold beneath the soft tissue offers a little less support.

None of these changes is dramatic alone. Together they shift light and shadow on the face, which is why the change can seem sudden.

Where the changes show

Match the treatment to the cause

The most useful question in the 40s is not “which product?” but “is this a position problem, a support problem, a volume problem or a skin problem?”

• Position (sagging): a thread lift (실리프팅) repositions tissue; Doje's Mid-Face and lower-face thread lifts are designed to face shape and sagging. Ultherapy Prime can tighten at the SMAS level.
• Support: retaining-ligament filler restores a support point so that tissue sits higher.
• Volume: soft or structural filler, Radiesse or collagen boosters, judged after lifting.
• Skin: Rejuran, GOURI, Re2O or exosome for texture and resilience.

Common mistakes in this decade

• Filling a nasolabial fold repeatedly while the cheek above continues to descend, which can create a heavy look
• Choosing devices as a bundle rather than by depth, sagging, fat and elasticity
• Ignoring the neck and jawline until changes are advanced
• Comparing yourself with your 25-year-old face instead of aiming for a rested version of now

How Doje approaches the 40s

The 40s are where Doje's structure-first approach matters most. In a 1:1 consultation, Dr. Byun Jeik, a surgery specialist trained at Seoul National University Hospital, assesses which layers are driving the change. The clinic states 17 years of accumulated thread-lift experience, and its Mid-Face program combines a signature mid-face thread lift with retaining-ligament and nasolabial filler, with options such as Radiesse, Ultherapy Prime, Softwave or GOURI/Re2O added only as far as needed. The Marionette program follows the same logic for the lower face. See retaining ligaments explained.

Cost

Plans are quoted after a 1:1 consultation; ask for a written quote. Korean non-covered (비급여) aesthetic fees are set per plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is a thread lift suitable in my 40s?

For many people with mild to moderate sagging, yes. The clinic states results can last up to two years or more, depending on the individual.

Why do my nasolabial folds look deeper?

Usually because the cheek tissue above has descended and lost deep support, not just because the fold itself is empty.

Should I fill or lift?

Often both, in that order. Lifting first and then judging volume tends to need less filler and look more natural.

Does perimenopause affect my skin?

It can. Falling oestrogen is linked to drier, thinner skin and faster collagen loss, which is why skin quality becomes a bigger focus.

Ultherapy or Thermage in my 40s?

Ultherapy Prime reaches deeper towards the SMAS, while Thermage heats the dermis and fibrous tissue. The choice depends on where your laxity is.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Mid-Face program — lift and support for the cheek
• Marionette program — lower face and mouth corners
• Mid-face thread lift — repositioning the cheek
• Retaining-ligament filler — restoring support points
• Nasolabial folds — causes and options
• Jowls — early lower-face sagging
• Ageing in your 50s — what comes next

Medical information on this page is general education, not a diagnosis. Suitability, risks and the final plan are confirmed in a 1:1 consultation with Dr. Byun Jeik. Last updated 17 October 2026.