Thread lifting and Thermage,

They are both lifting,

so you shouldn't call them the same

Hongdae Beautystone Clinic

This is Wi Young-jin.

💡 Before reading

please check first

Q. Thread lifting and Thermage, aren't both of them

just ways to lift sagging skin?

A. They may seem to have similar goals,

but the mechanisms that happen in the skin are completely different.

One is about 'pulling up',

and the other is about 'making the skin itself firmer'.

Q. Then which one should I choose?

A. First, you need to distinguish whether the problem is that your face is 'sagging',

or that it lacks 'elasticity'.

You need to determine that first.

💡 Director Wi Young-jin's

key insight

If you want a physical, firm lift,

choose thread lifting,

and if you want to make the skin itself bouncier,

choose Thermage.

"They're both lifting,"

if you say that,

I explain it like this

There is a phrase I hear most often in the consultation room.

"Thread lifting and Thermage,

which one is better?"

But there's one important thing here.

Putting these two procedures on the same level

and comparing them,

may already be starting from the wrong premise.

Honestly, thread lifting and Thermage

only share the word 'lifting';

what happens in the skin

is completely different.

Thread lifting is a procedure that inserts threads into the skin

and physically pulls up the tissue.

On the other hand, Thermage delivers

radiofrequency heat energy to the deep layers of the skin,

stimulates collagen,

and tightens the skin itself.

It's not about pulling,

but about inducing the skin itself to become firmer and more elastic.

👨‍⚕️ Director Wi Young-jin's key summary

Thread lifting is a 'structural correction'

that physically holds and lifts the tissue.

Thermage uses radiofrequency heat

to induce collagen remodeling,

which is a 'biological improvement'.

If sagging is severe and the contours have collapsed, thread lifting is better;

if the skin texture feels rough and the elasticity is gone,

Thermage is the more accurate choice.

So if you're wondering which one suits me,

try distinguishing it like this

When thread lifting is more suitable

— When cheek fat has sagged downward

and nasolabial folds have deepened

— When the jawline becomes unclear

and the lower face looks heavy

— In your 40s and beyond, when tissue sagging itself

is the main problem

When Thermage is more suitable

— When the skin feels overall dull

and the texture has become rough

— When improvement in elasticity is needed over a wide area,

such as around the eyes, forehead, or neck

— In your mid-to-late 30s, when loss of elasticity,

rather than sagging, is the main concern

❓ Frequently asked questions

Q1. Can I get Thermage after thread lifting?

Yes, you can do them together,

or have them done in stages.

Usually, we recommend doing it

2 to 4 weeks after thread lifting.

Q2. Is there a difference between Thermage FLX and the older Thermage?

Compared with the older model, FLX added a vibration function,

so the pain has been significantly reduced.

The energy delivery algorithm has also been improved,

making it much more advanced

in terms of treatment convenience.

Q3. I'm in my mid-40s; if I had to choose just one, what should I pick?

If the jawline has started to collapse,

I would recommend thread lifting first.

On the other hand, if skin texture or elasticity is the main concern,

it makes sense to consider Thermage first.

This has been Wi Young-jin.

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