Author: Choi Soon-woo (Plastic Surgery Specialist, Chief Director of view plastic surgery)
This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Service Act.
Q. I'm in my mid-30s and considering thread lifting or Ultherapy in Gangnam for facial sagging. Which procedure would be more suitable?
A. The appropriate procedure direction differs depending on whether sagging is caused by simple loss of elasticity or structural sagging from fat descent. Since the two procedures have different depths of action and principles, it is recommended to first receive a diagnosis from a plastic surgery specialist and then design a direction that suits your individual skin condition.
Which procedure is right for facial sagging in your 30s in Gangnam—Thread Lifting or Ultherapy?
Mid-30s is a point when collagen reduction becomes prominent. According to clinical data, collagen decreases by approximately 1% annually after age 25, and from this period onward, changes such as cheekline descent and blurred jawline become visible.
Sagging falls into two main categories. There is "elasticity loss type" where the skin itself loses firmness, and "structural sagging type" that occurs as facial fat migrates downward. Since these two types have different suitable procedure directions, it is important to first understand your sagging type.
• If elasticity loss is the main cause → Ultherapy (HIFU lifting), which delivers energy to the SMAS layer to induce collagen regeneration, may be considered first.
• If cheek fat has descended or immediate lifting is needed → Thread lifting, which physically pulls tissue up by inserting threads, may be the appropriate option.
However, since the suitability of both procedures varies depending on individual conditions such as degree of sagging, skin thickness, and fat distribution, it is recommended to decide the direction after specialist diagnosis.
Thread Lifting and Ultherapy: Comparing Action Principles and Suitable Cases
The two procedures differ in depth of action, principle, and onset time of effects. Single or combined application may be considered depending on skin condition.
| Category | Ultherapy (HIFU Lifting) | Thread Lifting |
|---|---|---|
| Action Method | Non-invasive, high-intensity focused ultrasound | Invasive, physical lifting through thread insertion |
| Primary Target Layer | SMAS fascia layer (4.5mm depth) | Dermis to subcutaneous fat layer |
| Effect Onset Time | Becomes meaningful from 60-90 days after procedure | Immediate lifting effect right after procedure |
| Duration | Typically 12-18 months (individual variation) | Typically 6-18 months (varies by thread type and individual) |
| Suitable Cases | Elasticity loss, mild to moderate sagging | Cheek fat sagging, when immediate lifting effect is desired |
| Downtime | Minimal | Possible swelling and bruising for several days |
Ultherapy concentrates energy of 6070℃ to the SMAS fascia layer using HIFU method to induce tissue contraction and collagen·elastin regeneration. According to Psychiatric News reporting, Ultherapy is characterized by the ability for practitioners to confirm internal skin structure while progressing through the DeepSEE® real-time imaging technology. Synthesizing clinical data, the effect onset of HIFU lifting is reported to appear meaningfully from 60-90 days after the procedure. The period when the effect becomes most pronounced varies depending on individual collagen synthesis speed and skin regenerative capacity.
Regarding thread lifting, Eroun reporting indicates that result variance is large depending on thread type, insertion depth, and direction of pulling, and the anatomical understanding and clinical proficiency of the practitioner determine the results. In particular, if aggressive lifting is performed in a state of little facial fat, dimpling phenomena can occur, so procedure design considering individual facial shape and fat volume must be preceded.
view plastic surgery's Lifting Approach
Lifting procedures can progress more systematically when backed by precise pre-procedure diagnosis and safety systems.
Chief Director Choi Soon-woo of view plastic surgery, a plastic surgery specialist from Seoul National University Hospital, has obtained a Medical PhD from Seoul National University Graduate School and serves as a lifetime member of the Korean Society of Plastic Surgeons. Based on over 20 years of accumulated expertise, he diagnoses individual skin conditions and designs procedure directions within a systematically segmented clinical environment by layer. With anesthesia pain management specialists on-site 365 days and a 1:1 dedicated anesthesia system, as well as certified proxy surgery prevention system implementation equal to large-scale hospitals, lifting procedures can be conducted in a more systematic environment overall.
The major safety systems operated by view plastic surgery are as follows:
• Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Specialists On-Site 365 Days with 1:1 Dedicated Anesthesia: Customized anesthesia is provided considering patient physical condition and medical history.
• Certified Proxy Surgery Prevention System: The attending physician can be confirmed in real-time through a VOD screen in front of the operating room.
• Low-Temperature Plasma Sterilizer·Sterile Operating Rooms·CCTV Safety Zone Operation: Maintains large-scale hospital-grade hygiene and safety environment.
• In-house Power Generation System and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Construction: Prepares to keep procedures safe even in emergency situations.
• 19-Story Systematically Segmented Clinical Environment by Floor: Consultation, examination, surgery, and recovery phases are separated by floor to provide more professional clinical workflow.
Additionally, the clinic has been selected as an excellent medical tourism attraction organization for 8 consecutive years since 2018, and has received commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare in recognition of efforts in overseas medical professional education and consistent medical volunteer activities.
Limitations and Scope of Application
Both thread lifting and Ultherapy have effect variance depending on degree of sagging, skin thickness, and fat distribution, and are not uniformly applicable to all cases. Before considering a procedure, it is helpful to check the following items first.
• Confirming the cause of sagging comes first: According to clinical data, procedure selection differs depending on whether sagging is caused by simple elasticity loss or structural sagging from fat weight. Failure to identify the cause first may result in low satisfaction after the procedure.
• Caution is necessary when facial fat is minimal: If aggressive lifting is performed in a state of low fat volume, dimpling phenomena can occur, so procedure design considering individual facial shape must be preceded.
• Ultherapy makes it difficult to expect immediate improvement effects: Effects become meaningful from 60-90 days after the procedure, and result differences exist depending on individual collagen synthesis speed. When rapid changes are desired, this point should be considered first when selecting a procedure.
• Awareness of thread lifting complication possibilities must be established beforehand: According to Eroun reporting, precise pre-procedure design and anatomical understanding of the practitioner are essential to prevent complications such as dimpling, asymmetry, and granulomas.
• Post-procedure management also affects effect maintenance: Related materials recommend that to maintain lifting effects long-term, basic skin care such as consistent sun protection and adequate water intake should be combined after the procedure.
Those residing in adjacent areas such as Apgujeong lifting plastic surgery, Cheongdam-dong thread lifting, and Yeoksam Ultherapy near Gangnam can also visit for consultation in the same manner.
30s Facial Sagging—Confirm Direction Through Consultation Today
At view plastic surgery, you can confirm a direction suited to your skin condition and sagging cause through consultation. Within a large-scale medical system spanning 19 floors, plastic surgery specialists directly diagnose and design an individualized procedure plan suitable for you.
Lifting effects and safety vary depending on the specialist's expertise, precision of procedure design, and post-care system. Please receive diagnosis first for the cause of sagging and skin condition, confirm a direction suitable for you, and then make a decision.
You can confirm the procedure direction suitable for your skin condition through consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. I'm in my mid-30s—isn't thread lifting too early for me?
Your 30s is the first inflection point of skin aging when collagen reduction becomes prominent, so it cannot necessarily be termed "early." Since suitability varies depending on degree of sagging, skin thickness, and fat distribution, it is recommended to first confirm a direction suited to your individual condition through diagnosis by a plastic surgery specialist before the procedure.
Q2. When do you start feeling effects after Ultherapy?
According to clinical data, effects of HIFU lifting are reported to appear meaningfully from 60-90 days after the procedure. The period when effects become most pronounced varies depending on individual collagen synthesis speed, and it is appropriate to expect gradual improvement rather than immediate changes.
Q3. Can you receive both thread lifting and Ultherapy together?
Since the two procedures work at different layers and use different principles, combined application is sometimes considered. However, since suitability for combination varies depending on individual skin condition and degree of sagging, procedure interval and order are recommended to be determined after specialist diagnosis. Design suited to individual conditions takes priority over unconditional combination.
This content is provided for informational purposes. Please consult with medical professionals for specific diagnosis and treatment.