Four lifting options, set side by side: what each one addresses, where a thread lift reaches its limit, when an incision becomes necessary, and why the forehead is assessed on its own terms.
The four lifting options at Edition Plastic Surgery sit on a scale matched to how far sagging has progressed. A thread lift involves no incision and suits early to moderate descent; a mini-incision lift uses a small incision in front of the ear for the mid to lower face; a facelift uses a wider incision and also removes excess skin; and a brow lift is reserved for sagging of the forehead. Which one fits depends on the amount of loose skin, where the descent is, and what is causing it.
Patients often arrive with one of these names already in mind, usually the least invasive one. That is understandable. The difficulty is that each option answers a different question, and choosing by preference rather than by finding can leave the main problem untouched.
This page sets the four side by side and explains the point at which the recommendation moves from one to the next.
The deciding factor is not age or preference but what the examination shows. Where tissue has shifted and the skin has not stretched much, threads can reposition it without surgery. As loose skin increases, an incision becomes necessary, because only surgery can remove skin. The forehead is assessed on its own terms, since brow descent is a separate problem from sagging in the cheeks and jaw.
What decides which of the four options fits?
Three findings decide which option fits. The first is the degree of sagging, and specifically how much surplus skin there is. The second is where the descent is concentrated: the mid-face, the lower face and jawline, or the forehead. The third is the cause, which Edition divides into loss of skin elasticity, a shift in fat position, and loosening of the retaining ligaments.
These are established at the consultation before any option is named. A preference for a particular procedure is taken into account, but it does not replace the finding.
| Option | Incision | Main area | Tends to fit when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thread lift | None | Mid-face, deep cheek, corners of the mouth | Sagging is early to moderate and there is not much excess skin |
| Mini-incision lift | Small incision in front of the ear | Mid to lower face | Descent goes beyond what repositioning alone can address, without the extent that calls for a full facelift |
| Facelift | Wider incision | The face more broadly, including removal of excess skin | Skin sagging is advanced and surplus skin needs to be removed |
| Brow lift | Surgical, focused on the forehead | Forehead | The concern is descent of the forehead and brow |
When is a thread lift the right match?
A thread lift is the right match when tissue has moved but the skin has not stretched a great deal. Threads are placed beneath the skin to carry descended tissue back into position, and the direction of that movement is designed for each face. At Edition, sagging in the deep cheek and around the mouth is the typical concern this approach is used for.
The limit is built into the method. A thread changes where tissue sits; it does not change how much skin there is. Once the surplus is significant, a thread lift can still move tissue, but the excess remains visible.
What does a mini-incision lift add?
A mini-incision lift adds a surgical step for faces that have moved past the range of threads. A small incision is made in front of the ear, which gives access to the mid and lower face in a way that non-incisional work cannot. It sits between threads and a facelift, and it is considered when the examination places a patient in that middle band.
When does a facelift become the more effective option?
A facelift becomes the more effective option when skin sagging has progressed considerably. The incision is wider, and the procedure includes tidying the excess skin that has accumulated. Because threads only reposition tissue, they cannot achieve that step, and in this situation Edition discusses a facelift rather than proposing threads that would fall short.
This is why a thread lift is not recommended to every patient who asks for one. A recommendation towards surgery is a finding about the skin, not a judgement about the patient’s wishes.
Why is the brow lift assessed separately?
The brow lift is assessed separately because forehead sagging is its own problem. A heavy brow can make the upper face look tired, but treating the cheeks or jawline does not change it. Edition uses the brow lift specifically for forehead descent, and considers it alongside, not instead of, the assessment of the lower face.
What if fat volume is the main cause of the heaviness?
If fat volume is the main cause, none of the lifting options is the first step. Lifting moves tissue; it does not reduce its bulk. In that situation Edition considers liposuction or contouring procedures before, or alongside, any lift, so that the plan addresses the volume that is actually creating the heaviness.
Who makes the recommendation, and on what basis?
At Edition, lifting is planned and performed by Dr. Dae-hee Han, a board-certified plastic surgeon. The recommendation is based on the examination, and the consultation can end with the advice that a different option from the one requested would suit the face better. That conclusion, and the reasons for it, are part of the result of the assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a thread lift replace a facelift?
Not where skin sagging is advanced. A thread lift repositions tissue but cannot remove excess skin, which is the part a facelift addresses.
Is a mini-incision lift the same as a facelift?
No. It uses a small incision in front of the ear and addresses the mid to lower face, whereas a facelift involves a wider incision and includes removal of excess skin.
Does my age decide which option I need?
Age is not the deciding factor. The amount of excess skin, where the descent is and what is causing it are what the choice depends on.
Will a thread lift help a heavy forehead?
Forehead descent is assessed separately, and a brow lift is the option designed for it. Lifting the cheeks does not change the position of the brow.
I only want a non-surgical option. Is that possible?
Your preference is part of the discussion. The consultation will explain what threads can realistically reach in your case and where they would stop, so that the choice is made with that in view.
What if the heaviness is mostly fat?
Then liposuction or contouring is considered first, because lifting moves tissue without reducing its volume.
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.