A filler or fat-grafting history does not rule out a thread lift. Edition first checks the product, timing, area and current tissue, then plans the thread route around what is already there.
Having had filler or fat grafting does not, by itself, rule out a thread lift at Edition. What it changes is the order of the consultation. Before any thread is planned, the surgeon establishes what was done, when, where, and what state the tissue is in now — and only then designs the thread path around it, or, after a recent fat graft, waits until the tissue has settled.
Most people considering a thread lift have had something done before, whether filler in the cheeks, fat grafting to restore volume, a laser or radiofrequency treatment, or an earlier set of threads. The question is rarely whether there is a history, but what it means for the plan.
A previous treatment is information, not a barrier. For filler, Edition checks the product, the date, the area and how much appears to remain, because filler near the deep cheek or the corners of the mouth can sit along the route threads would take. For fat grafting, the key question is whether the grafted tissue has had time to stabilise. Lasers, radiofrequency and earlier threads are assessed in the same way. The decision is made in consultation once the tissue has been examined.
Does previous filler or fat grafting rule out a thread lift?
No. At Edition a treatment history does not close the door on a thread lift. The type of previous treatment, its timing and the present condition of the tissue are confirmed first, and the decision follows from that assessment.
The reason for checking is practical rather than cautious for its own sake. Filler and fat both occupy space beneath the skin, and a thread lift works by passing absorbable threads through that same territory to support descended tissue. Knowing what is already there, and how settled it is, is part of designing a path that does what it is meant to.
What is checked if you have had filler?
For a filler history, Edition looks at four things: the type of filler, when it was injected, where, and how much of it appears to remain. Fillers differ in how long they persist, and the same product injected in a different area can matter to a thread lift or not matter at all.
The areas that count most are the deep cheek and the region around the corners of the mouth, because these are common routes for threads. Where filler remains there, its position and amount are taken into account when the path and direction of each thread are planned. Whether anything about the existing filler needs to change first is a judgement made after examination rather than a standard step.
Why does timing matter after fat grafting?
Grafted fat takes time to settle into the tissue around it. Immediately after a graft, that tissue has not yet stabilised, and placing threads that lift and hold it is approached with caution. Edition’s approach is to allow sufficient time after the graft, confirm that the tissue has become stable, and then decide on a thread lift.
How does a treatment history change the plan?
The table summarises what each type of history prompts at an Edition consultation.
| Previous treatment | What is checked | How it can affect the thread lift |
|---|---|---|
| Filler | Type of product, date, area and how much remains | Remaining filler in the deep cheek or around the mouth is reflected in the route and direction of the threads |
| Fat grafting | Date of the graft and whether the tissue has stabilised | Soon after a graft the thread lift is approached with caution; the decision is made once the tissue is judged stable |
| Laser or radiofrequency | Type and date of the treatment, and how the tissue has recovered | After a recent treatment, the timing of the thread lift is set according to the tissue’s recovery |
| Earlier threads | Type of thread, date of the procedure and tissue condition | Removal is not automatically required, but a new plan is not made without first assessing what is already there |
What about lasers, radiofrequency or earlier threads?
Energy-based treatments such as lasers and radiofrequency deliver heat to the skin and the layers beneath it. If one has been carried out recently, Edition checks how the tissue has recovered before setting a date for threads. Tissue still responding to one treatment is not given a second stimulus on top of it.
Earlier threads follow the same logic. The type of thread and when it was placed are confirmed, together with the condition of the tissue, before a repeat procedure is planned. Having old threads removed is not a requirement in every case, but a new plan is not drawn up without that assessment.
What should you bring to the consultation?
The most useful preparation is a simple record of past treatments: what was done, roughly when, in which areas, and, for filler, the product name if you know it. The clinic that carried out the treatment can often confirm the product and date if you are unsure.
A consultation can still go ahead without a complete record. The more detail there is, however, the more precisely the thread route can be planned, and the sooner the conversation can move from establishing the history to discussing the design itself.
Does the order matter after the thread lift, too?
It does. Treatment history is not only about what came before. If other procedures are planned after a thread lift, the interval is considered in the same way. As a general guide, Ultherapy can be considered after a recovery period of four to six weeks following a thread lift, and radiofrequency lifting such as Density after at least four to six weeks; the actual timing is agreed with the treating doctor.
Frequently asked questions
I had cheek filler some time ago. Can I still have a thread lift?
Usually a filler history does not prevent a thread lift. The type, date, area and remaining amount are checked, and any filler that remains along the thread route is taken into account in the design.
Does filler need to be dissolved before threads go in?
There is no single answer. Depending on the product, the timing and what remains, the plan may simply work around it or an adjustment may be needed. This is decided after examination.
How long after fat grafting should I wait?
There is no fixed period that applies to everyone. The tissue needs time to stabilise after a graft, and whether it has done so is confirmed at consultation before a thread lift is decided.
I don’t remember which filler I had. Is that a problem?
A consultation can still take place. It helps to ask the clinic that treated you for the product name and date, because more detail allows the thread route to be planned more precisely.
I had a laser treatment last month. Does that affect timing?
It can. After a recent laser or radiofrequency treatment, Edition checks how the tissue has recovered before setting a date for the thread lift.
Is a treatment history a reason to use more threads?
Not automatically. The number is set by the design, which takes the history into account along with the cause and extent of sagging and the goal of the correction.
About the medical reviewer
Dae-hee Han, MD — Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon (specialist certificate No. 2045, issued 3 March 2014; medical licence 00394, issued 26 February 2009). Master’s degree, Ajou University School of Medicine. Training at the Craniofacial Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (2013), and the IFAAS Mini Fellowship, University of Florida, USA (2016). He carries out consultation, the procedure and follow-up personally; fee guidance is given by the clinic’s consultation manager.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-28
Clinic information
Edition Plastic Surgery Clinic & Dermatology
6F, OPUS 407, 407 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06614, Republic of Korea
One minute on foot from Gangnam Station Exit 10
Tel +82-2-591-0100 · editionprs@gmail.com
Consultation hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00 · Saturday 10:00–17:00 · closed Sundays and public holidays
Disclaimer
Individual results may vary. Bleeding, infection, swelling, asymmetry, and scarring can occur. Please decide after a full consultation with a board-certified specialist.
This page is general medical information. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not promise a particular outcome. Fees are given after an in-person consultation.