Thread Lift

Deep Cheek Thread Lift in Seoul: Planning Your Visit

A visit-planning guide to the deep cheek thread lift at RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam: who it is meant for, how long to allow for the session and the swelling, and why it is not offered to everyone.

Plan a consultation

Published: 2026-10-15

Updated: 2026-10-15

At a glance

Strong cog threads, mainly PCL or PLA, are placed deeper than in a standard thread lift, near the deep medial cheek fat.
The session takes 40-60 minutes under local anaesthesia. Swelling can last a little longer than after a superficial lift, about 3-7 days.
It is not suited to everyone. Superficial and deep sagging are assessed separately before the doctor decides whether to proceed.

What is different about a deep cheek thread lift?

A deep cheek thread lift supports the inner cheek from a deeper level than a standard thread lift. Strong cog threads, mainly of the PCL or PLLA type, are placed near the deep medial cheek fat and pull along the line that runs from the zygomatic ligament to the deep fat. The lift comes from the physical pull, and collagen is also induced as the threads break down.

It is meant for a specific situation: a superficial thread lift that did not hold, or hollowing under the cheekbones appearing together with deep nasolabial folds. Where a filler adds volume, this treatment moves volume that has slipped down back upward. At RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Jin-Young Kim often plans it as a 2-layer design, with a deep support line and a superficial lift to finish the contour.

How much time should I set aside?

Set aside 40-60 minutes for the treatment, on top of the consultation, and expect local anaesthesia. The overview figure for swelling is 3-5 days, but because a deep layer is treated the main swelling can run to 3-7 days, and most of it has gone within 1-2 weeks. Wide mouth opening, exaggerated expressions and strong massage are to be avoided for 1-2 weeks. Tell us your travel dates and any blood-thinning medicine before you come.

Treatment time	40-60 minutes
Anaesthesia	Local anaesthesia
Daily activities	Swelling settles in 3-5 days as a guide; the main swelling may last 3-7 days and mostly clears within 1-2 weeks
How long it lasts	About 12 months as a general guide; generally about 12-24 months with PCL threads

When a deep cheek thread lift is not the right choice

A deep cheek thread lift is not a treatment for every sagging cheek. If the sagging sits in the superficial layer, a standard thread lift addresses it and the deep approach is not needed. It also does not add volume, so for deep lines a filler may be recommended alongside it. The zygomatic branch of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve run through this area, so the doctor proceeds only when the assessment supports it and tells you when it does not.

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Purpose & suitability

A previous superficial thread lift faded quickly and weak deep support is suspected.

Hollowing under the cheekbones, under-eye lines and deep nasolabial folds have appeared together, typically from the late 30s to the 50s.

A superficial lift alone has been assessed as not enough for your degree of sagging.

You want a non-surgical option and care most about how well the result holds.

You plan to stage it with a superficial thread lift or fillers.

Treatment process

Assessment. Dr. Jin-Young Kim checks how deep the cheek sagging goes and what you have had done before, to see whether deep support has weakened or a superficial lift would be enough.
Two-layer plan. The direction of the PCL or PLA cog threads is set along the deep support line, and the doctor decides whether a superficial lift is added and in which order.
Insertion. Under local anaesthesia, the threads are placed down to the deep line while keeping clear of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve, and the descended volume is moved upward.
Aftercare briefing. You are told how to manage swelling, what the next stage could be, such as a superficial lift or filler, and when a touch-up might be planned.

Time & recovery

The main swelling lasts about 3-7 days and has mostly gone within 1-2 weeks. It can last slightly longer than after a superficial thread lift because a deeper layer is treated. Bruising and tightness are also usual.

For 1-2 weeks, avoid opening your mouth wide, exaggerated facial expressions and strong massage. The deep support line needs that time to settle.

With PCL threads the result generally holds for about 12-24 months, depending on the thread and on your skin. Treating the deep structure tends to hold longer than a superficial lift alone.

Limitations & precautions

The treatment is not carried out during pregnancy or where the skin has an active infection.

Tell the doctor at the consultation if you take anticoagulants. Entering a deep layer makes bruising and bleeding possible.

Temporary asymmetry, dimpling and knot irritation can occur and mostly settle with time. Rare cases of infection and of irritation of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve or the infraorbital nerve have been reported and are explained beforehand.

Outcomes differ from person to person, and an in-person consultation with a specialist is required before any plan is made.

Frequently asked questions

How many days should I allow for a deep cheek thread lift in Seoul?

Allow 40-60 minutes for the deep cheek thread lift itself, done under local anaesthesia, and then plan for the swelling. The main swelling lasts about 3-7 days and mostly clears within 1-2 weeks, and for 1-2 weeks wide mouth opening and strong massage should be avoided.

Filler or a deep cheek thread lift for hollows under the cheekbones?

Filler and a deep cheek thread lift do different jobs. Filler adds volume, while the thread lift moves volume that has dropped back upward and supports the inner cheek, which is where deep nasolabial folds often start. The two are sometimes combined, and for deep lines the doctor may recommend filler as well.

I take blood thinners. Can I still have it?

Tell the doctor about any anticoagulant at the consultation, before a deep cheek thread lift is planned. The threads go into a deep layer, so bruising and bleeding are possible, and the doctor needs this information to judge whether and how to proceed.

Do I also need a standard thread lift?

Often, but not always. Adding a standard (superficial) thread lift to a deep cheek thread lift frequently makes the result more stable, with the deep layer providing support and the superficial layer refining the contour. Dr. Jin-Young Kim decides at the consultation whether the combination is needed and in which order.

My last thread lift faded quickly. Is the deep cheek version the answer?

It may be, and that is one of the main reasons a deep cheek thread lift is considered. A superficial lift that does not hold can point to weakened support near the deep medial cheek fat. The treatment is not suited to everyone, though, so superficial and deep sagging are assessed separately before a decision is made.