Thread Lift vs Surgical Facelift — Cheongdam & Apgujeong, Seoul

An honest comparison

Doje Clinic does not offer surgical facelifts, and this page is written to help you decide fairly rather than to steer you toward threads. Both procedures aim to reposition sagging tissue, but they work at very different scales.

A surgical facelift is performed through incisions, usually around the ear. The surgeon can release and reposition the SMAS and deeper structures and — crucially — remove excess skin. That last point is something no thread, injectable or energy device can do. For someone with heavy jowls, deep folds and a lot of loose skin on the lower face and neck, surgery can achieve a degree of change that non-surgical methods cannot reproduce. The trade-offs are anaesthesia, incisions, a longer recovery typically measured in weeks, and the general risks of surgery.

A thread lift works without incisions. Dissolvable threads with fine anchoring features are placed under the skin along planned vectors to lift descended tissue, and they stimulate collagen as they dissolve. Recovery is usually days rather than weeks, and the result is designed to look natural rather than pulled.

How Doje Clinic approaches it

Dr. Byun Jeik is a surgery specialist and former fellow of Seoul National University Hospital, so he assesses sagging with a surgeon's understanding of facial anatomy. The clinic states 17 years of accumulated thread-lift experience, with each lift designed to face shape and sagging pattern, aiming for a natural, immediate lift without lumpiness. Part of that experience is recognising the limits of threads. If excess skin is the dominant problem, he will tell you that a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon is more appropriate.

Side-by-side comparison

When Doje combines approaches

Doje does not combine threads with surgery, but it does combine threads with other non-surgical tools when they add something. In the Jawline Program, for example, a lower-face thread lift may be paired with double-chin liposuction or an energy device such as Ultherapy Prime. Patients who have had a facelift elsewhere in the past may also consider threads, energy devices or boosters later for maintenance; that is assessed case by case.

Which should you choose?

• A thread lift — if sagging is mild to moderate, your skin still has reasonable elasticity, and you want a natural lift with short downtime.
• A surgeon's consultation — if you have marked excess skin, deep jowls with a heavy neck, or have found non-surgical lifts no longer give a meaningful change.
• Energy devices first — if changes are early and mainly laxity; see first-time lifting.
• Not sure — a 1:1 assessment with Dr. Byun will clarify which side of the line you are on.

Recovery and aftercare

After a thread lift, avoid strenuous exercise, facial massage and wide mouth opening for the advised period; see thread lift aftercare.

Cost

Thread-lift fees are quoted after a 1:1 consultation because thread design varies. Ask for a written quote; Korean non-covered (비급여) aesthetic fees are set per plan.

Frequently asked questions

Does Doje Clinic perform facelift surgery?

No. Doje performs non-surgical treatments including thread lifts, and will advise you to see a surgeon if surgery would suit you better.

Can a thread lift replace a facelift?

Not for advanced sagging with significant excess skin, because threads cannot remove skin. For mild to moderate sagging, it can be a suitable alternative.

How long does a thread lift last compared with a facelift?

The clinic states thread lifts can last up to two years or more; facelifts typically last longer. Individual results vary.

Is a thread lift safer than surgery?

It is less invasive and usually has a shorter recovery, but every procedure has risks. These are discussed in your consultation.

Can I have threads after a facelift?

Often yes, for maintenance, depending on how the tissue has healed. This is assessed individually.

Related at Doje Clinic

• Thread lift
• Lower-face thread lift
• Jowls
• Sagging neck
• Ageing in your 60s
• What is the SMAS?
• Thread lift vs Ultherapy

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.