At Edition, thread type, placement, direction and count are agreed at the design stage, while the patient can weigh them. The procedure carries out that design, and any change returns to consultation.
At Edition, the thread lift plan is fixed before you enter the procedure room, and it is not expanded once you are there. The type of thread, where each thread goes, the direction it lifts and roughly how many are used are all decided at the design stage, with you awake and able to discuss them. The procedure then carries out that plan. If something needs to change, the change goes back to consultation rather than being made on the table.
This can sound rigid, particularly to patients who assume that more can simply be added if the surgeon sees an opportunity. The rule exists for the opposite reason: to make sure that every decision about your face is taken at a point where you understand it and have agreed to it.
This page explains where the plan is made, why it is not extended on the day, and what happens if you want something different.
Every element of a thread lift at Edition — thread type, placement, direction and approximate count — is settled during the face analysis and design step, before anaesthesia. The procedure executes that design rather than adding to it. A change of plan is treated as a new decision and returns to consultation, so that nothing is done to your face that was not discussed with you while you could weigh it up.
Where is the plan actually made?
The plan is made in the first two of the seven steps that make up a thread-lift visit at Edition: the consultation and the face analysis and design. The consultation, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes, identifies what is causing the sagging — skin laxity, fat descent or loosening of the retaining ligaments — reviews any previous procedures, and asks whether a thread lift is the right approach at all.
The design step then turns that diagnosis into a concrete plan. The direction of lift is chosen with the whole face in view, including front, three-quarter and side angles, and the threads are selected to match the type of sagging.
| Step | What is settled here |
|---|---|
| Consultation | The cause of sagging, previous procedures, and whether threads are appropriate |
| Face analysis and design | Thread type, placement, direction of lift and approximate number |
| Photographs | A reference point for comparing the result later |
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia, with short sedation if agreed for comfort |
| Procedure | The agreed design is carried out as planned |
| Recovery and check | Initial settling is observed before leaving |
| Aftercare guidance and going home | What to avoid and when to get in touch |
Why is the plan not expanded on the day?
Because the moment of the procedure is the wrong moment to make new decisions. Once anaesthesia has begun, you are no longer in a position to weigh a proposal properly. Under local anaesthesia many patients feel pulling and pressure rather than sharp pain, and with sedation many do not remember the procedure afterwards. Neither is a state in which to agree to something new.
There is also a practical reason. The design was built around a diagnosis. Adding threads or treating a new area on the spot would mean acting without that same reasoning behind it. Edition's view is that a plan which cannot be explained in advance should not be carried out.
What if the surgeon notices something during the procedure?
The procedure still follows the agreed design. If something observed on the day suggests that a different plan might serve you better, it becomes a topic for a further consultation, not an addition made while you are on the table.
This protects the consent you gave. What you agreed to is what is done, and anything beyond it is discussed with you when you can ask questions and decide.
What if you want to change your mind?
Changing your mind before the procedure is entirely possible. If, after the design has been explained, you would like a different emphasis or want to hold back on an area, the design is revisited before anaesthesia. The point is simply that any change happens in conversation, not in the procedure room.
The same applies to requests for extra treatments on the day. If you ask to add something — another area, or a separate skin or injectable treatment — it returns to consultation, where the reason for it can be assessed like any other part of the plan.
Why does a fixed plan matter for the result?
Thread lifting at Edition depends on direction and placement more than on quantity. The average number of threads across the face is around 14, but that is a reference point adjusted to the degree of descent, not a target. A plan that grew during the procedure would tend to grow in number, the part of the design that says least about the result.
A fixed plan also makes the result easier to judge. The photographs taken before the procedure, the design and the one-month follow-up can be compared directly, because what was done is exactly what was planned.
How long does carrying out the plan take?
The procedure itself generally takes 15 to 20 minutes, which is shorter than the consultation that precedes it. That proportion reflects where the work lies: most of the thinking happens before the procedure room, and the procedure is the execution of it. Both times vary with the patient's condition and the extent of treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can the surgeon add more threads during the procedure if needed?
Not at Edition. The procedure carries out the design agreed beforehand. If a change seems worthwhile, it is discussed at a further consultation.
What is decided at the design stage?
The type of thread, where the threads are placed, the direction of lift and the approximate number, all based on the cause of your sagging.
Can I change the plan before the procedure starts?
Yes. Any change is made in conversation before anaesthesia, so that you understand and agree to it.
Can I add another treatment on the same day?
A request made on the day returns to consultation. Additional treatments are considered on the basis of the diagnosis, like every other part of the plan.
Why are photographs taken beforehand?
They record where the face started, giving a reference point for comparing the result at follow-up.
Will I be aware during the procedure?
Under local anaesthesia many people feel pulling or pressure rather than pain, though sensation varies. With sedation, many do not remember the procedure. The choice is made 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.