Ligament Filler vs Mid-Face Thread Lift — Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

Why the mid-face sags

The cheek is held in place by retaining ligaments — fibrous anchors that tether skin and fat to the deeper structure of the face. With age, bone gradually recedes, fat compartments deflate and shift, and the ligament areas lose some of their support. The result is a flatter cheek, a deeper nasolabial fold and a tired look even when you are rested.

Two strategies respond to that process:

• Retaining-ligament filler (인대 필러) restores support at the anchoring points. Small, precise amounts of a firmer, structural filler are placed deep, near where ligaments attach, so the tissue above is held up more effectively. It is a “foundation” approach rather than filling the fold itself.
• Mid-face thread lift (중안면 실리프팅) repositions tissue that has already descended. Dissolvable threads with small anchoring features are placed under the skin to lift the cheek upward and back, and to stimulate collagen around the threads as they dissolve.

How Doje Clinic approaches the mid-face

Dr. Byun Jeik’s approach is built on assessing facial structure and ageing pattern in a private 1:1 consultation. He is named by Medical Times among Korea’s “22 filler experts”, has demonstrated at the 2024 Juvederm MD Codes event, and Doje states 17 years of accumulated thread-lift experience. The question is always which layer has changed:

• Volume and support loss with little descent — ligament filler may be enough.
• Clear descent of the cheek with good volume — the thread lift is the lead.
• Both — the usual situation from the late 30s onward, and the reason the Mid-Face Program pairs them.

Ligament filler vs mid-face thread lift side by side

When Doje combines them

Lifting tissue without restoring support can look tight but hollow; adding support without lifting can add weight to tissue that has already fallen. Doje’s Mid-Face Program therefore commonly combines a signature mid-face thread lift with retaining-ligament filler and, where needed, nasolabial filler. Radiesse, Ultherapy Prime, Softwave or GOURI/Re2O are added only when deeper tightening or skin quality calls for them. The aim is a natural, refreshed mid-face — never an overfilled one.

Which should you choose?

• Ligament filler if your cheeks look flatter but have not moved much, often in the 30s.
• Mid-face thread lift if the cheek has visibly descended and the fold beside the nose has deepened.
• Both, via the Mid-Face Program if you have support loss and descent together.
• Neither alone if the main issue is skin quality — boosters or energy devices may come first.

Cost

Mid-face plans are quoted after a 1:1 consultation, since filler volume and thread design vary per face. Korean non-covered (비급여) aesthetic fees are set per plan; ask for a written quote.

Frequently asked questions

What are retaining ligaments?

They are fibrous anchors that hold facial skin and fat to deeper structures. Supporting these areas can help the tissue above sit better.

Is ligament filler the same as filling the nasolabial fold?

No. Ligament filler supports the face from deeper anchoring points, while nasolabial filler treats the fold itself. Doje may use both.

Can a thread lift replace filler?

Threads lift tissue but do not restore lost volume or support. When both descent and volume loss are present, they work better together.

Will I look overfilled?

The aim is a natural result. Dr. Byun uses conservative amounts and places filler for support rather than bulk.

How long do mid-face thread lifts last?

Doje states results can last up to two years or more, but individual results vary.

Can both be done on one day?

Often yes, within the Mid-Face Program. The plan is confirmed in your consultation.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Retaining-ligament filler
• Mid-face thread lift
• Mid-Face Program
• Facial retaining ligaments
• Sagging cheeks
• Nasolabial folds
• Mid-face volume loss
• Avoiding an overfilled look

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.