Korean V-Lift

The Korean V-Lift, or Korean Face Lift, is a minimally invasive thread lifting technique designed to gently lift sagging areas of the face without any longer periods of time off. Fine, degradable threads made of polydioxanone (PDO) or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) are used, which are carefully inserted into the tissue without destroying the nerves or blood vessels. As a result, the Korean V-Lift is the ideal alternative to a complex surgical facelift.

The thread lifting technique is primarily intended for patients who also suffer from mild to moderate sagging of the lower parts of the face, in addition to wrinkles from the age of 40. The cheeks start to hang down, the chin line blurs and the area where the face meets the neck loses its shape. Saggy areas on the body can also be treated, in addition to the face. The Korean V-Lift is therefore also ideal for tightening the abdomen after extreme weight loss or childbirth.
All facial signs of ageing such as forehead wrinkles, marionette lines and laughter lines, volume loss on the lower eyelid, drooping eyebrows, sagging cheeks, sagging neck and chin areas, “hamster cheeks” as well as a doughy looking tissue structure can be treated. But sagging parts of the body, where many other treatments are powerless, such as sagging skin on the underside of the upper arms or in the area around the inner and back of the thighs, can be significantly tightened using the threads, including the buttocks region. Furthermore, the method is also ideal for a tummy tuck after childbirth or extreme weight loss.

It is important to clarify your expectations beforehand. Some patients have unrealistically high expectations. Although good and clearly visible results can be achieved with a Korean V-Lift, some wishes can only be fulfilled by an invasive facelift.

After marking the puncture sites, the threads are pushed under the skin using a special needle and placed so that they are invisible from the outside and cannot slip. Depending on the area to be treated, threads are smooth, twisted or have a barbed hook. The treatment itself is virtually painless thanks to an anaesthetic ointment or localised nerve blocking injection.
Polydiaxonone (PDO) and poly-L lactic acid (PLLA) threads are used. Both have been used in surgery for subcutaneous sutures for decades and are therefore extremely well tolerated. Depending on the area to be treated, threads are smooth, twisted or even have a barbed hook. The threads break down completely in the tissue within six to eight months and produce a lifting effect in the skin: they stimulate collagen production in the connective tissue, creating an exceptionally natural but intensive tightening and smoothening effect for roughly one to three years (depending on the thread material). The threads are carefully placed under the skin using special fine needles without injuring the nerves or blood vessels. A mechanical system ensures that the thread leaves the needle just when it is in the right place in the tissue. The treatment is virtually painless thanks to an anaesthetic ointment or localised nerve blocking injection.

Typically, the Korean V-Lift takes between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the work involved and the number of threads used.

Everyday activities can basically be resumed immediately after the Korean V-Lift. You may experience some swelling or slight bruising for two to three days. A minimal restriction in facial movements is also not uncommon in the first week. Sometimes the bruises last up to two weeks.

Different threads are used for the Korean V-Lift, depending on how much the area of skin to be treated is to be lifted. These dissolve completely within eight months. This stimulates the collagen formation in the connective tissue, resulting in a facelift-like effect. The result: the skin looks considerably tighter. Depending on the thread material, the natural result will last for around one to three years, i.e., you can expect the parts of the face and neck to be smoother and tighter although the result always looks natural.

The minimally invasive procedure is not associated with any serious side-effects of any kind. The only risk is the threads getting infected. The thread lifting should therefore be performed in a sterile environment and only by fully trained and qualified dermatologists. At our practice, we recommend a short treatment with antibiotics on the day of treatment and the day after, similar to when wisdom teeth are removed.