A deeper nasolabial fold can come from descended cheek tissue or from a groove that has lost volume. Lifting helps the first, not the second. How Edition tells them apart and what follows.
Thread lifting softens a nasolabial fold when the fold has been deepened by cheek tissue that has slipped downwards and now rests against it. It does much less when the groove itself has lost volume, because a thread repositions tissue; it does not add any. Many faces show a little of both, which is why the fold is examined for its cause before a method is chosen.
The nasolabial fold is often the first thing patients point to in the mirror, and it is easy to treat it as a line that needs erasing. In practice the line is usually a symptom. What sits above it, and what has happened beneath it, decides whether lifting is the right instrument or only a partial one.
A deeper fold has two broad explanations: tissue from the cheek descending and gathering beside the mouth, or a groove that has hollowed through volume loss. Lifting answers the first and not the second. Where both are present, Edition may plan a thread lift for position and a separate volume treatment for the hollow, decided after examination rather than by default.
Why does a nasolabial fold become deeper with age?
A nasolabial fold deepens for reasons that mostly lie outside the fold. At Edition, sagging is assessed through three separate causes: loss of elasticity in the skin itself, a change in where the facial fat sits, and loosening of the retaining ligaments that normally hold soft tissue in place. When any of these allows cheek tissue to move down, the extra weight collects at the edge of the mouth and the shallow crease that was always there starts to read as a deep line.
Volume loss works differently. The tissue has not travelled; there is simply less of it in the groove, so the surface sinks. Both produce a fold that looks deeper, and they are easily confused.
When can a thread lift soften the fold?
A thread lift can soften the fold when descended tissue is pressing on it. Threads are placed beneath the skin to move that tissue back towards where it used to sit, so the load on the fold falls and the line relaxes. In this situation lifting is aimed at the cause, not only at the appearance.
The fold responds indirectly, through the cheek. That is why the plan at Edition is drawn around the mid-face and the corners of the mouth rather than along the line itself, and why the lifting direction is designed with the face viewed from the front, at forty-five degrees and in profile.
Why doesn't pulling fill a hollow groove?
Pulling does not fill a hollow groove because a thread changes where tissue is, not how much tissue there is. If the groove has sunk through volume loss, raising the cheek can leave the dip exactly where it was. The fold may look slightly different, but the part that bothered the patient remains.
That is not a poorly performed lift but a mismatch between method and cause, which the diagnostic step exists to prevent.
How does Edition tell sagging apart from volume loss?
Edition tells the two apart by examination rather than by looking at the fold alone. During a consultation of around twenty to thirty minutes, the surgeon assesses skin elasticity, how the fat is distributed across the cheek and lower face, and the condition of the retaining ligaments. The question being answered is which of these is driving the change, and in what proportion.
The consultation can end with the conclusion that a thread lift is not the right approach. That is a legitimate result of the assessment, not a failure of it, and the reasons are explained so that the patient understands what was found.
| What the examination finds | What is usually considered | What threads contribute |
|---|---|---|
| Cheek tissue has descended and gathers beside the mouth | Thread lift | Repositions the tissue that is deepening the fold |
| The groove has hollowed through volume loss | Volume restoration, such as a collagen booster or filler | Little; the hollow is not caused by position |
| Both descent and hollowing | Thread lift together with volume restoration, weighed case by case | Addresses the positional part only |
| Skin sagging is advanced and there is a large amount of excess skin | A facelift may be more effective | Limited; threads do not reduce the amount of skin |
What if the fold shows both sagging and volume loss?
A fold that shows both sagging and volume loss is common, and it calls for two tools with different jobs. A thread lift can set the position of the descended tissue, and a volume treatment can address the hollow that remains. Edition considers collagen boosters and filler for the volume side. Lifting at the clinic is performed by Dr. Dae-hee Han, while skin and injectable treatments are handled by a separate doctor.
Pairing the two is a choice made from the diagnosis, not a standard package; where the problem is descent alone, a thread lift on its own is often sufficient.
Does previous filler around the mouth change the plan?
Previous filler around the mouth does not rule out a thread lift, but it does change how the plan is drawn. Edition checks the type of filler, when and where it was injected, and how much of it is still present. If product remains near the mouth or in the deep cheek, that is taken into account when deciding the path and direction of each thread.
When is the fold a sign that threads are not enough?
The fold can be a sign that threads are not enough when it is one part of more advanced sagging across the lower face. A thread lift suits early to moderate descent, where there is not much surplus skin and the main concern is sagging in the deep cheek or around the mouth. Where the skin itself has stretched considerably, moving tissue will not remove the excess, and a surgical option is discussed instead. Where fat volume is the main cause, liposuction or contouring is considered first.
Frequently asked questions
Will a thread lift remove my nasolabial folds completely?
A thread lift is not designed to erase a line. When descended tissue is deepening the fold, lifting that tissue can soften it; how much depends on the cause and on the individual.
Is filler or a thread lift the right choice for a nasolabial fold?
Neither is ranked above the other. Volume loss points towards filling, descent points towards lifting, and a mixture points towards considering both. The examination decides which applies.
Can I tell at home whether my fold is sagging or volume loss?
It is hard to judge reliably in a mirror, because both produce a deeper line. The distinction depends on assessing skin elasticity, fat distribution and the retaining ligaments in person.
Why is the thread lift planned around my cheek rather than the fold?
Because the fold usually deepens under weight from above. Moving the cheek tissue is how the load on the fold is reduced.
If both causes are present, are both treatments done on the same day?
Timing and combination are decided at consultation according to what was found. Pairing is an option drawn from the diagnosis, not a fixed routine.
What if a thread lift has already been done and a hollow remains?
A remaining hollow is often a sign of volume loss rather than a result of the lift. Volume restoration or another approach can be discussed after the area has been re-examined.
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.