Mid-Face Program in Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

What is the Mid-Face Program?

The mid-face is the area between the lower eyelid and the corner of the mouth: the cheek pads, the lid–cheek junction and the nasolabial region. It is usually the first part of the face where ageing becomes structural rather than purely skin-deep. As the supporting ligaments loosen and the deep fat pads lose volume, the cheek slides downward and inward. The result is a flatter front of the face, a longer-looking lower eyelid and heavier folds beside the nose and mouth.

Because these changes have three separate causes – descent, deflation and skin laxity – a single treatment rarely corrects them well. Filler alone can make a descended cheek look heavy; threads alone cannot replace lost volume. The Mid-Face Program addresses each cause with a specific tool.

How Doje Clinic approaches the mid-face

Dr. Byun Jeik assesses whether your cheek has mainly dropped, mainly deflated, or both. The program is built from three core items:

• Doje signature mid-face thread lift (실리프팅) – repositions descended cheek tissue upward and backward along vectors planned for your face shape, drawing on the clinic's 17 years of accumulated thread-lift experience.
• Retaining-ligament filler – small, precise placements that reinforce the areas where ligaments anchor the soft tissue, so the lifted position has structural support.
• Nasolabial-line filler – softens the remaining depth of the smile line once the tissue above it has been lifted, which usually means less product is needed.

Options are added only when they change the result. Radiesse may be chosen where firmer, collagen-stimulating support is useful; Ultherapy Prime or Softwave where deeper tightening adds value; GOURI or Re2O where thin, tired skin is the remaining issue. Doje does not apply every option to every patient.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

• Suits people whose cheeks have visibly descended, with a flatter front view and heavier folds beside the nose.
• Suits patients who previously had nasolabial filler that looked heavy, because the cause above the fold was not treated.
• Suits those who want a natural, structurally supported change rather than added fullness.
• Less suitable when the main issue is purely skin quality with little descent; a skin-booster or device plan may be enough.
• Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active infection in the area, or with some bleeding disorders; very advanced laxity may need a surgical opinion.

What to expect, step by step

1. Consultation: Dr. Byun Jeik examines you upright and at rest, looking at cheek position, ligament lines and how the face moves when you smile.
2. Skin data: Mark-View 3D analysis can be added if skin texture and elasticity are part of the question.
3. Plan: you receive the proposed thread design, filler areas and any options, with reasons for each.
4. Treatment day: local anaesthesia; threads are usually placed first, then ligament and nasolabial filler are refined against the new position.
5. Check: a follow-up to assess symmetry and settling, and to decide whether any option is still worth adding.

Recovery and aftercare

Expect a tight, slightly over-lifted feeling in the cheeks for the first days, along with swelling that typically peaks around day two or three. Some people bruise at filler or entry points. Many patients return to normal social activity within about a week, depending on how they heal. For the first weeks avoid wide yawning, chewing very hard foods, facial massage, saunas and strenuous exercise; sleep on your back with the head raised. If you are travelling, plan a few calm days in Seoul before flying. Detailed guidance is on our thread-lift and filler aftercare pages.

Cost

The Mid-Face Program fee depends on the number of threads, the filler volume and which options, if any, you choose. It is quoted after your 1:1 consultation, and you can ask for a written quote. Korean non-covered (비급여) aesthetic fees are set per plan.

Frequently asked questions

Why combine threads with filler in the mid-face?

Threads reposition tissue that has dropped, while filler restores support where volume and ligament strength have been lost. Treating both causes usually looks more natural than either alone.

Will filling my nasolabial folds alone be enough?

If the cheek above has descended, fold filler alone can look heavy. Lifting first usually means the fold needs less product.

Are Radiesse, Ultherapy Prime or Softwave always included?

No. They are options added only when Dr. Byun Jeik judges that they will improve your specific result.

How long is the downtime?

Typically a few days to about a week of swelling or tightness, sometimes with bruising. It varies between individuals.

How long does the lift last?

The clinic states thread-lift results can last up to two years or more, but individual results vary and ageing continues.

Can I do this program on a short trip?

Yes, many patients do, but allow several days in Seoul for early recovery and a check before flying.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Mid-Face Thread Lift
• Retaining-Ligament Filler
• Nasolabial-Fold Filler
• Sagging Cheeks
• Mid-Face Volume Loss
• Ligament Filler vs Mid-Face Thread Lift
• Facial Retaining Ligaments Explained

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.