When Fillers Alone Aren’t Enough: Mokdong Thread Lifting

Mokdong Thread Lifting

Hello.

I’m Kim Jin-hyun, the medical director of U&I Clinic’s Mokdong Branch.

“ I had filler injected, but it migrated to one side,

and as time passed, it actually started to look more unnatural.”

Many more people than you might expect have had this experience.

At first, the added volume may look fine, but whenever you smile or make facial expressions, it can gradually appear more unnatural, with the filler becoming lumpy and prominent in places other than where it was originally injected.

In many cases, this happens not because of a problem with the filler itself, but because volume was added while leaving the sagging skin untreated.

The breakdown of facial contours is not just a problem on the skin’s surface. It is part of a process involving changes throughout the underlying tissue structure.

So today, I’ll explain in detail when thread lifting may be needed, along with an actual case.

Table of Contents

1. Why the Face Sags

2. The Principles and Role of Thread Lifting

3. Changes Seen in an Actual Case

Mokdong Thread Lifting

1. Why the Face Sags

As we age, collagen and elastin in the dermal layer decrease, and the supporting strength of the retaining ligaments that hold up the facial tissues also weakens.

During this process, the soft tissues, including the skin and fat layers, gradually move downward.

When the tissues sag, the facial muscles may contract more strongly to compensate. This can, in turn, cause the condition to worsen more quickly.

As a result, the mid-cheek area moves downward, weakening the jawline. The area beside the mouth may also fold and sag, making the nasolabial and marionette lines more prominent as well.

What happens if you continue adding only filler to make the face look tighter in this condition?

Whenever you make facial expressions, the muscles move and continuously apply force to the filler, causing it to be pushed toward the area with less resistance.

This can result in the filler accumulating as a bulge in an area other than the original injection site.

Ultimately, defining the contours of a face with reduced elasticity has limitations if you only fill empty areas.

This is why a procedure that lifts the sagging tissues themselves may need to be performed together with volume enhancement.

Mokdong Thread Lifting

2. The Principles and Role of Thread Lifting

Thread lifting is a procedure in which threads are inserted beneath the skin to directly lift sagging tissues.

Collagen production may then be induced around the threads, which can also help improve the skin’s own supportive strength.

In addition, when thread lifting helps establish the structure of the tissues, any filler or volume-enhancing procedure performed afterward may settle more stably, which can help reduce migration to one side. :)

One important aspect of thread lifting is determining the direction of lifting.

That is because the areas to be lifted and the angle at which they are lifted can determine the results and level of satisfaction.

• Whether the person has a small or large amount of facial fat
• Whether the skin has sufficient elasticity
• Whether the fat layer is thick
• Whether the mid-cheek area or the jawline is the main concern

The type of thread and insertion direction may vary depending on the individual’s skin condition and concerns.

In particular, it is important to assess from both the front and side whether the jawline, cheek line, and lower-face contours connect into a natural-looking line.

Mokdong Thread Lifting

3. Changes Seen in an Actual Case

Let’s first look at the photos taken before the procedure.

Before the procedure

1. The mid-cheek area had moved downward, creating a heavy, sagging appearance beneath the cheeks.

2. The nasolabial and marionette lines were both prominent, making the overall lower face look heavy and congested.

3. The jawline was not clearly defined, so the contours appeared indistinct in the side view.

How did the appearance change immediately after thread lifting? Let’s compare the results from various angles.

Immediately after the procedure

The mid-cheek area was lifted, reducing the heaviness beneath the cheeks, and the lines around the nasolabial area appeared more smoothly defined.

In particular, from the side, the jawline also appeared more clearly defined than before.

There was still some swelling immediately after the procedure, and the contours became more naturally settled over time.

Severely sagging skin cannot be addressed by filling alone.

This is why we recommend lifting the sagging tissues first with thread lifting, which uses physical support, and then supplementing the volume afterward.

Therefore, if you are considering Mokdong thread lifting, first check how closely the clinic assesses and approaches your individual degree of sagging.

This was Kim Jin-hyun, medical director of U&I Clinic’s Mokdong Branch.

Thank you.

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