Edition does not book thread-lift patients in for a retouch at a set interval. Progress is checked at about a month, and any later treatment is planned only after the face has been examined again.
Edition does not give thread lift patients a date for their next procedure. There is no standing interval of the “come back every so many months” kind. Instead, progress is checked at around one month after the procedure, and whether a retouch is appropriate later on is decided by examining the face at that point — what has held, what has changed, and what the tissue looks like now.
Patients sometimes find this less reassuring than a fixed schedule would be. A calendar feels like a plan. But a date set in advance can only be based on an average, and an average describes nobody's face in particular. How long a thread lift holds varies from person to person, and so does the point at which anything further makes sense.
This page explains why timing is left open, what the follow-up is for, and what actually determines when a retouch is worth discussing.
Retouch timing at Edition is set by examination, not by the calendar. The clinic checks progress about a month after the procedure, and any later treatment is planned only once the face has been reassessed. The reason is that how long a result holds depends on the thread chosen and on individual factors such as skin elasticity, the pace of ageing, lifestyle and weight change, so a fixed interval would fit some patients and not others.
Why doesn't Edition set a retouch schedule in advance?
Because the information needed to set one does not exist at the start. On the day of the procedure, nobody can know how a particular face will settle, how quickly its tissue will change, or how the patient's circumstances will develop over the following year. A schedule written then would be a guess presented as a plan.
There is a second reason. A recommendation to return at a fixed interval can drift into something closer to a subscription — treatment arriving because the date has come round, rather than because the face needs it. Edition prefers that each decision about further treatment rest on what the examination actually shows.
What is the one-month follow-up for?
The follow-up at around one month is a check of how the tissue has settled, not a pre-booked retouch. By then, the swelling and tightness of the first week have usually eased and any temporary unevenness has generally improved over the first one to two weeks. The clinic looks at the lifting effect and the state of recovery together.
The visit also establishes a reference point for later. The photographs taken before the procedure record where the face started, and the follow-up records where it has settled. Any later conversation about a retouch can then compare real observations rather than impressions.
What determines how long a result holds?
Part of the answer is the thread. PDO threads such as Silhouette Fix and Mint generally hold for around six to eight months, while Silhouette Soft and Aptos generally hold for around one year to one and a half years. These are typical ranges, and individual results vary.
The rest depends on the person. Edition considers eight factors that shape how long a result lasts, listed in the table below. Two people with the same thread can therefore reach the point of considering a retouch at quite different times.
| Factor | Why it matters for timing |
|---|---|
| Skin elasticity | Affects how well the repositioned tissue holds its new place |
| Pace of ageing | Descent continues after the procedure at an individual rate |
| Lifestyle | Daily habits influence how the tissue changes over time |
| Weight change | Gaining or losing weight alters the tissue the threads support |
| Area treated | Different parts of the face behave differently |
| Tissue condition | The state of the tissue at the outset shapes how it settles |
| Degree of sagging | More advanced descent places different demands on the lift |
| Thread type | PDO threads and Silhouette Soft or Aptos have different typical ranges |
How is the decision about a retouch actually made?
When a patient returns with a sense that the result has changed, Edition examines the face as it is at that moment. The questions are the same ones asked before the first procedure: what is causing the current appearance, and is a thread lift still the right tool for it.
The answer is not always another thread lift. Sagging that has progressed further may call for a different approach, and some changes may come from volume loss rather than descent. The earlier procedure is part of the history the examination takes into account — the type of thread used, when it was placed and the present condition of the tissue are all checked before a new plan is drawn up.
What should you watch for between visits?
Nothing needs to be tracked against a timetable. It is enough to notice how your face looks to you over the months and to get in touch if something prompts a question. Edition takes questions by phone and through its KakaoTalk channel, including during recovery.
If you find yourself wanting a retouch mainly because a certain number of months has passed, that is worth mentioning at the consultation. The more useful starting point is what you are seeing in the mirror, and why.
Frequently asked questions
When should I come back for another thread lift?
There is no fixed date. Edition checks progress at around one month, and any later treatment is decided by examining your face at that time.
Is the one-month visit a retouch?
No. It is a check of how the tissue has settled and how recovery is going. Further treatment is considered separately, based on what the examination shows.
Can a thread lift be repeated?
Yes, where the examination supports it. The type of thread previously used, when it was placed and the current state of the tissue are checked first.
Why not just give me an average interval?
Because an average does not describe your face. Duration depends on the thread and on factors such as skin elasticity, lifestyle and weight change, so a fixed interval would fit some people and not others.
How long do the threads last?
PDO threads such as Silhouette Fix and Mint generally last around six to eight months; Silhouette Soft and Aptos around one year to one and a half years. Individual results vary.
Could the answer at a later visit be something other than threads?
Yes. If sagging has progressed further or the change turns out to be volume loss, a different approach may be more suitable, and the clinic will explain why.
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.