Q. I’m thinking about nose surgery, but I previously had a Hiko thread procedure. Could that be a problem?

Hello. I’m Director Seo Chan-eol of AB Plastic Surgery.

Many people undergo nose thread lifting because it has the advantages of being simple and having a quick recovery. However, as in the previous post, since there are limitations and satisfactory results are not always achieved, I would like to share some points to keep in mind if you are considering surgery later on.

In cases where surgery is considered later, some people have a stable procedure state but the shape or height has returned a lot compared to right after the procedure. In other cases, too many threads were inserted, the placement was incorrect, or the threads were exposed at the nasal tip or inner mucosa, or inflammation or infection occurred.

In any case, these threads are removed completely during surgery, because the ultimate goal of surgery is to achieve the best possible result in terms of the shape and line of the nose. If the threads are left behind, they may feel uneven or bulge under the skin, and they can also cause inflammation.

As a foreign body, a membrane forms around the thread, including around the protrusions, so that it can separate from the body. Threads in the nasal bridge are inserted into the subcutaneous tissue for volume, so after the thread and the surrounding encapsulating membranes are removed, the skin is often wrinkled and thinned.

The biggest problem with thinned skin is that it limits the use of implants. Because the skin does not stretch well, and even if it does stretch the implant may show through, a lower implant is generally selected. In severe cases, fascia or dermis may also need to be added. Also, if the choice of implant for the nasal bridge is limited by the skin, then in order to achieve a natural-looking line, the height of the nasal tip may also have to be limited.

In addition, in the inner nose or the nasal tip, threads that have been in place for a long time may damage the cartilage and cause atrophy and deformity, or may create severe scar tissue, making the skin and tissue hard. This also increases the difficulty of surgery and can limit the results.

In conclusion, as a result of such procedures, there may be thinned skin, thickened scar tissue, or cartilage damage, which worsens the conditions for achieving the desired line and nasal tip height, increases the difficulty of surgery, and may reduce the range of improvement that can be achieved.

It is a simple procedure with quick recovery, but if it does not suit you and you later consider surgery, these problems may also arise, so special caution is needed.

I hope this was helpful, and I’ll end here.