Can You Get a Facelift After Thread Lifts?
Yes. What Korean surgeons say about operating on a face that's had thread lifts: how long dissolving threads last, why they cut out visible threads instead of pulling them, and what to bring to the consultation.
Short answer: Yes. A Korean plastic surgeon told Korea's Industry Daily in 2020 that a facelift can be done any time after a thread lift, and that threads found during surgery are simply cut out. Pulling them hard to get them all can tear the SMAS layer, so surgeons take only what they see. Bring the thread type, count and dates.
A lot of people who sit down for a facelift consultation have already had a thread lift (실리프팅), sometimes several. They want to know if the old threads get in the way.
One woman who paid ₩5.5 million (about $3,900) for a full facelift wrote on the Korean community Sungyesa that she wished she'd skipped the years of threads and laser lifting and gone straight to surgery. That's one opinion. The surgical question is simpler.
Do old threads stop you from getting a facelift?
No. Dr. Park Jun-hyung of a Seoul plastic surgery clinic said in a 2020 Industry Daily (산업일보) article that a facelift is fine "any time" after a thread lift. During surgery, the surgeon trims whatever thread shows up in the field.
He was specific about one thing: don't yank. Pulling a thread hard to get the whole length out can tear the SMAS (스마스가 찢어질 수 있다), the layer a facelift depends on. So surgeons remove what's visible and leave the rest.
How long do dissolving threads stay in?
It depends on the material. A 2022 paper on lifting threads in the journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society used these reference breakdown times:
| Thread | Roughly breaks down in |
|---|---|
| PDO | about 6 months |
| PLLA | 1 to 2 years |
| PCL | about 3 years |
Other Korean sources give shorter numbers for PCL, from "over a year" to about 24 months. Either way, a thread put in last year may still be partly there. That's normal and surgeons work around it.
Permanent threads are a different case. If you aren't sure whether yours dissolve, say so. A surgeon who knows to expect a permanent thread will plan for it.
Does a history of thread lifts make surgery harder?
The 2020 article didn't say so, and we couldn't find a Korean surgeon putting a number on it. Korean surgeons talk about adhesions (유착) mainly for revision facelifts, where a December 2025 Kormedi article said scar tissue raises the risk of nerve and blood-flow problems.
A few threads aren't a previous facelift. Still, ask the surgeon directly: given my threads, does anything change in how you operate?
What should you tell the surgeon?
Everything you can find. Ideally:
- Thread type (PDO, PCL, PLLA, or brand name) and whether it dissolves
- How many threads, and where on the face
- Dates of each session
- Any lumps, dimples or infections afterward
If your threads were done in the US, ask that clinic for records before you fly. A photo of the product box or the invoice helps.
Anything that came up after a thread lift, like a lump that never went away, should be mentioned at the first consultation, not on surgery day.
Should you wait after your last thread lift?
The 2020 article named no waiting period. If your last session was weeks ago rather than months, ask the surgeon whether they'd rather wait, and bring that date to the consultation.
If you're still choosing between the two, read thread lift or facelift, and bring the list to your consultation alongside our questions to ask a Korean facelift surgeon.
How we help
- Free, itemized quotes from 2 to 3 specialist clinics, with your thread history sent ahead so each surgeon plans for it.
- An interpreter in the consultation room to go through the thread types and dates.
- Airport pickup and scheduling across hospitals.
Ask for free quotes from the form below.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have a facelift after a thread lift?
Yes. A Korean plastic surgeon said in 2020 that a facelift can be done any time after a thread lift.
What happens to the old threads during a facelift?
The surgeon cuts out any thread that appears during surgery. They don't pull threads out fully, because that can tear the SMAS layer.
How long do PDO threads last in the face?
A 2022 Korean journal paper used about 6 months for PDO to break down, 1 to 2 years for PLLA and about 3 years for PCL.
What do I need to tell my surgeon about past thread lifts?
The thread type, how many, where, the dates, and any lumps or infections afterward.
Get free, itemized quotes from 2–3 specialist clinics
Two taps and an email address. We ask clinics run by board-certified specialists for line-by-line quotes and the dates they can take you, and email them to you, usually within two business days. Free, and no obligation.
Keep reading
- Is a Facelift in Korea Done Under General Anesthesia or Sedation?
Korean clinics do facelifts under either general anesthesia (전신마취) or IV sedation (수면마취). Who gives each one, why it matters, Korea's operating-room CCTV law, and what to ask before you book.
- Can You Get a Facelift and Eyelid Surgery on the Same Trip to Korea?
Yes, and Korean surgeons often do them in one operation. What it adds to surgery time, how the stitch dates line up, why upper eyelid surgery can drop the brows, and when splitting them makes more sense.
This guide is general information for people researching treatment abroad. It is not medical advice and does not establish a patient relationship. Only a licensed surgeon who has examined you can say whether a procedure is appropriate for you.