Silhouette Soft grips tissue with cones in two directions; Aptos is weighed when skin quality matters too. How Edition chooses between them and why "premium" says little about fit.
Silhouette Soft and Aptos are the two threads Edition uses for concerns centred on the mid-face — the cheek area that slips downward and flattens as the face ages. Silhouette Soft holds tissue with a bidirectional cone structure, which suits mid-face descent that has taken volume with it and the repositioning of the deep cheek fat. Aptos is used mainly in the mid-face when an improvement in the skin itself is wanted alongside the lift. Both last roughly one year to one and a half years, with individual variation.
What neither of them is, in clinical terms, is “premium”. The word is common in thread-lift marketing and in the way patients search, but it describes positioning rather than a type of sagging. At Edition the thread is chosen for the kind of descent in front of the surgeon, and the duration follows from that choice rather than driving it.
This page explains what each thread is used for, how the two sit alongside PDO threads, and the situations in which neither is the right tool.
Choosing between Silhouette Soft, Aptos and PDO threads is a diagnostic decision, not a question of grade. Silhouette Soft grips tissue with cones running in both directions and is used where the mid-face has dropped together with its volume; Aptos is considered where the skin also needs attention. A longer duration comes with choosing the right thread for the case and is not a reason to pick one. When the real problem is lost volume or surplus skin, a different approach is discussed instead.
What does Silhouette Soft do in the mid-face?
Silhouette Soft is a thread with cones arranged in two directions along its length. The cones hold the soft tissue so that it can be repositioned rather than simply pulled. At Edition it is used where the mid-face has descended with its volume — the fuller part of the cheek that has moved lower over time — and where the deep cheek fat needs to be moved back towards where it sat.
Because it holds a volume of tissue and relocates it, Silhouette Soft is less about tightening a line than about restoring the position of the cheek.
What is Aptos chosen for?
Aptos is a lifting thread that Edition uses mainly in the mid-face, in cases where an improvement in skin quality is expected alongside the lift. The difference from Silhouette Soft is one of emphasis. Both are mid-face threads, but Aptos is considered when the patient's concern includes how the skin looks and feels, not only where the tissue sits.
Are these “premium” threads?
Many patients arrive having searched for a premium thread lift. The word does not correspond to any clinical category; it usually means a thread that costs more or lasts longer, and neither says whether the thread fits the face.
Edition's approach is put plainly by Dr. Dae-hee Han, the plastic surgeon who plans thread lifts at the clinic:
“What matters is not that a particular thread is always better, but that the most suitable thread is chosen after accurately analysing the patient's skin elasticity, fat distribution and the cause of the sagging.” — Dr. Dae-hee Han, board-certified plastic surgeon
Read that way, quality is a property of the match rather than of the product. The right thread for a face is the one whose way of holding tissue corresponds to the way that face has changed.
How do Silhouette Soft and Aptos compare with PDO threads?
Edition works with three families of thread. The table sets out what each is used for and how long it typically lasts. The durations vary from person to person.
| Thread | How it is described | Typical use at Edition | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDO (Silhouette Fix, Mint) | Firm hold and a lifting effect | Re-defining lines that have collapsed | Around 6–8 months |
| Silhouette Soft | Bidirectional cone structure that grips tissue | Mid-face descent with volume; repositioning the deep cheek fat | Around 1 to 1.5 years |
| Aptos | Lift with an expected improvement in the skin | Mainly the mid-face | Around 1 to 1.5 years |
The three are not steps on a ladder from basic to advanced. Each answers a different question about a face.
Does a longer duration make them the better choice?
It is tempting to read that table from right to left and choose by the last column. Edition does the opposite. The thread that suits the type of sagging is chosen first, and the duration is what comes with it.
Duration also varies more than a single range suggests. Eight individual factors shift where a person falls: skin elasticity, the pace of ageing, lifestyle, changes in weight, the area treated, the condition of the tissue, how far the sagging has progressed, and the type of thread. A longer-lasting thread placed in a face it does not suit does not produce a longer-lasting result.
How is the direction of lift decided?
Choosing the thread is half of the plan; placing it is the other half. Edition designs the lifting direction from the front, at 45 degrees and in profile, because a mid-face that looks corrected from the front can read differently from the side.
For the mid-face in particular, the tissue is moved outward and back towards the area behind the hairline rather than straight up. Pulling vertically tends to gather tissue over the cheekbone and make the middle of the face look more prominent. The number of threads, which averages around 14 across the whole face, follows from these decisions and is a reference point rather than a target.
When is neither thread the answer?
When the main issue is lost volume, lifting the tissue does not replace what has gone, and a collagen booster or filler is considered. When the skin has stretched so far that there is more of it than the face needs, threads can reposition tissue but cannot reduce the amount of skin, and a facelift may be more effective. When fat volume is the main cause of heaviness, liposuction or contouring is weighed first. And if the concern is the size of the cheekbone itself, that is a matter of bone, which a soft-tissue thread does not reach.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silhouette Soft better than Aptos?
Neither is better in general. Silhouette Soft is chosen for mid-face descent that includes volume and for repositioning the deep cheek fat; Aptos is weighed when skin quality is part of the concern. The examination decides which fits.
How long do Silhouette Soft and Aptos last?
Roughly one year to one and a half years, with individual variation. PDO threads last around six to eight months. Skin elasticity, lifestyle and the degree of sagging all move a person within the range.
Can I ask for a specific thread?
You can raise it, and it will be discussed. The final choice at Edition depends on what the examination shows about the cause of your sagging rather than on the name of the product.
How many threads will be used?
Across the whole face the average is around 14, adjusted to the degree of descent and the goal. It is a reference point, and placement and direction matter more than the count.
Does the result last indefinitely?
No. The threads are absorbable and the effect lasts for a period that depends on the thread and the person. How long it lasts in your case is discussed at consultation.
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.