All three are sold as “lifting.” They work at three different depths, and depth is what decides how long the result holds. Here is the honest comparison, including who each one is wrong for.
Ageing does not only thin the skin. The SMAS (the fibromuscular layer beneath the skin), the deep fat compartments, and the retaining ligaments that anchor them to bone all descend together. The cheek hollows, the nasolabial fold deepens, and the jawline loses its edge.
This matters for one practical reason: if the descent happened below the skin, pulling the skin cannot correct it. Skin-only tension flattens the face, transfers load to the incision, and tends to relax again within a few years. The question is never “how hard do we pull” — it is which layer carries the lift.
“We do not pull the skin — we return the tissue to its original position.”
The SMAS and deep-plane tissues are released from the retaining ligaments and repositioned along a superior-posterior vector. Because the deep layer carries the load, the skin is closed with minimal tension. This is the option for clear midface descent, a deep nasolabial fold, and a jawline that has lost definition.
A shorter incision concentrating on the lower face and jawline. Less dissection than a full facelift, and correspondingly less correction. Reasonable for early to moderate descent where the concern is a specific line rather than global sagging.
Absorbable barbed (cog) threads engage the skin and subcutaneous layer and suspend it. Recovery is quick because nothing deep is dissected — and for the same reason the effect is comparatively short-lived. Suited to mild laxity, or to patients who want a first step without surgery.
※ These are not three grades of the same procedure. They act on different tissue, so the right choice follows from which layer has descended, not from budget or recovery time alone.
Two surgeons can both call an operation a “facelift” and produce very different results, because they worked at different planes.
When the lift is carried at the SMAS and deep plane, tension sits on strong fibromuscular tissue rather than on skin. Two things follow: the incision line closes without being stretched, so it can settle discreetly along the ear contour; and the correction is held by tissue that does not stretch out as readily as skin does. Published outcome analysis of deep-plane technique reports longevity in the range of 5–15 years (Jacono AA, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2014). Ageing itself continues — no facelift is permanent.
The anatomical basis for working in this plane is described by Mendelson BC (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2008). For the full technical discussion see the Dual-Deep Plane Facelift guide; for brow, upper-lid and forehead descent see the brow lift and upper blepharoplasty guide.
| Facelift (SMAS/Deep Plane) | Mini Lift | Thread Lift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Surgical | Surgical, short incision | Non-surgical |
| Layer treated | SMAS & deep plane | Lower face, limited | Skin & subcutaneous |
| Best for | Clear, global descent | Early–moderate, focal | Mild laxity |
| Longevity (literature) | 5–15 years reported | Shorter than full lift | Comparatively short |
| Recovery | Sutures 7–10 days; daily life 2–4 weeks | Similar, less extensive | Days |
| Anaesthesia | IV sedation with local | IV sedation with local | Local |
※ General tendencies only. Longevity, recovery and candidacy differ from person to person and are determined at consultation.
Not sure whether this applies to your case?
Send your photos and questions on WhatsApp Request a 1:1 consultationThere is a fourth answer we give regularly: not yet. Operating on descent that has not developed produces a change patients do not notice and a scar they do. Which layer has moved — and whether it has moved enough — is determined by examination, not by photographs.
Every operation at AVA is performed by Dr. Kim Seungsoo from first incision to final suture, and no patient's surgery begins until the previous one is finished.
As with any surgical procedure, the following may occur and will be discussed in full at consultation.
Thread lifts carry their own profile: palpability or visibility of threads, dimpling, asymmetry, and rarely extrusion or infection.
No. They act on different layers. Threads suspend skin and subcutaneous tissue; a facelift repositions the SMAS and deep plane. If the descent is in the deep layer, threads can only mask it briefly.
Sutures come out at 7–10 days, and most patients are comfortable going out at that point with sunglasses. Daily activities generally resume at 2–4 weeks, roughly 70–80% of swelling settles by 3 months, and the contour finalises over 6–12 months. Individual variation applies.
Incisions follow the natural creases in front of and behind the ear and along the hairline. Because the lift is carried deep, the closure is not under tension, which is the main factor in how a scar matures. Healing tendency and smoking also affect the outcome, and no surgeon can promise an invisible scar.
Plan to stay until the sutures are removed and your surgeon has cleared you to fly. See the section below on planning your trip.
Patients who travel to Seoul for surgery usually want one question answered first: how long do I need to stay?
See real cases — photo reviews from our patients (written in Korean).
Appointments & Consultations
Clinic Hours: Weekdays 10:00-19:00 / Saturdays 10:00-17:00 / Sundays Closed
1:1 Consultation Request Return to Home WhatsApp Consultation Call Us