ACE PDO Thread Lift in Korea: What the Label Means

An ace pdo thread lift korea is a non-surgical lift: dissolving PDO (polydioxanone) threads go under the skin to pull sagging cheeks and the jawline upward for a period of time, and in Seoul it's done as an outpatient visit. If you're fitting it into a long weekend, the flight home is usually the real worry: swelling, tenderness, and who looks at a sore spot once you've left Korea.

At Time Return Clinic in Yeouido, thread entry points sit inside the hairline rather than on the face, and one of the threads we use is a collagen-film lifting thread patented in Korea in 2021.

Here is what people usually believe when they type that search, next to what's closer to the facts.

If a long weekend is all the leave you have for an ace pdo thread lift korea trip, message the clinic with two things: the area that bothers you (jawline, cheeks, neck or a body area) and your arrival and departure dates. The clinic replies with the times available on those dates, so you can check whether a visit fits before you book flights. We're open Mon–Fri 10:00–20:00 and Sat 10:00–16:00.

What does “ACE PDO” mean when you see it on a menu?

I don't list a thread under the name ACE. The threads I use are Careis TAPS, Quill and Apromedion, plus my own patented collagen-film thread. If you searched for an ace pdo thread lift korea menu item, ask whoever wrote that menu which maker and which material the ACE name refers to.

PDO stands for polydioxanone, an absorbable suture material. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes a thread lift as a procedure using absorbable, barbed sutures. It doesn't rank one material label over another.

On our thread lifting page I name the makers instead of a label. I am a key doctor for TAPS, Quill and Apromedion threads, and the collagen-film lifting thread is registered as a Korean patent (January 2021).

So in any consultation, three questions tell you more than the label: whose thread is it, what is it made of, and how many go in on each side.

A thread lift moves tissue; it doesn't remove skin

Threads lift and anchor tissue. They can't cut away excess skin, so heavy jowls or deep folds along the neck usually call for a different conversation.

Risks and side effects to know

On our thread lifting page, the aims are listed as reshaping the face line, correcting asymmetry, repositioning fat, and supporting collagen volume and elasticity. Loose skin is pulled back and anchored beyond the hairline, which can make the face look smaller. For the face line, the clinic's 3-step program pairs thread lifting with 3D Balance filler for lines that need filling and Minus Fat for lines that need reducing.

Where threads struggle is easy to predict. A face with a lot of loose skin, or someone hoping for a result that looks like surgery, is usually better served by hearing that before the trip than after it.

Will anyone see where the threads went in?

Usually not on the face itself. For an ace pdo thread lift korea visit at Time Return, entry points are placed inside the hairline, and threads are not pulled out toward the cheekbones.

Three details help keep the visible signs down. An infrared vein viewer (AccuVein) shows the blood vessels so they can be avoided. Cannula-type threads cause less tissue damage, which lowers the chance of bruising, swelling and pain. And an anesthesia system first used in dentistry reduces the sting of the numbing injections, with local numbing added during the procedure if needed. Temporary bruising or swelling can still occur.

What can go wrong, and how often?

Swelling is the most common issue. Dimpling, numbness or tingling, infection and a thread end working its way out are less common, but they do happen.

A discussion of a meta-analysis on facial threadlifting, published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2021, reports pooled rates of swelling at 32.9%, dimpling at 11.7% and paresthesia (tingling or numbness) at 6.8%. Thread extrusion was 3.9%, infection 3.1%, and visible or palpable threads 1.8%. The letter's authors argue that swelling usually resolves within two weeks. These rates come from studies of facial threads in general, not from my own patients' outcomes.

On my thread lifting page I list bleeding, infection or inflammation as possible. Results vary by individual. People taking blood thinners, those with an active skin infection in the area, and anyone pregnant are commonly asked to wait. Whether threads suit your face at all is decided at the in-person exam.

Doctor's note

The complication I most want people to know about before they fly is dimpling, a small pucker or dent in the skin over a thread. It can fade on its own, but in an airport bathroom mirror it is easy to mistake for something worse. If you already know it's possible, you will recognise it. If something worries you before the trip, message me with the concern and your dates, and I will reply with times to look at it. I'd much rather you plan for swelling than plan for nothing.

If you take a blood thinner, have had threads or filler before, or are working around a fixed flight, put that in your first message along with your dates. We reply with the times available, and you'll know which day of your trip to keep open for the visit.

Can you fit a thread lift into a long weekend in Seoul?

In short, it can fit if you accept flying home with some swelling, and if you don't plan the visit for a Sunday. The clinic is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Most people searching ace pdo thread lift korea are working with a short trip, so getting to the clinic matters. From Incheon Airport, limousine bus 6007 stops at Eugene Investment & Securities (behind Conrad Hotel), about 5 minutes on foot. The limousine stop back to the airport is right in front of the 1st-floor clinic. From Gimpo Airport, Line 9 runs to Yeouido Station, and Exit 4 is about 4 minutes away. Consultation and treatment take place in private rooms.

As general reasoning, a visit early in the trip leaves more days for the first swelling to settle before you board. If you're coming from Manila or nearby, our guide on planning a Seoul trip from the Philippines covers the travel side in more detail.

Can you pair threads with Rejuran or a skin booster?

Threads work on position, while boosters work on skin quality, so the two are often combined. My thread lifting page says lifts are often combined with Ulthera, Rejuran, skin boosters or Exilis. If you searched ace pdo thread lift korea hoping for one bundled plan, there isn't one: I set the combination and the order one-to-one at the exam.

To stack a Rejuran session onto the same trip, check the day-by-day Rejuran downtime timeline before you set the order.

Body threads are a separate plan

Loose skin on the abdomen or thighs after weight loss is treated with Body Ssok lifting, which uses a dissolving collagen-film thread made for the body.

The clinic's body page describes a same-day procedure under partial anesthesia, with a return to daily activities right away. It suggests about 3–5 sessions, 1–2 months apart, with the number set by how loose the skin is. Bruising and swelling generally fade within 1–2 weeks, and sauna, massage and hard exercise are best avoided for 1–2 weeks. The page gives about 1–3 years for the lift, tied to thread type and maintenance.

Spaced sessions mean more than one trip, which is worth knowing before you plan just one. Dr. Kim Yoo-ju's patents and key-doctor roles are listed on our doctors page.

Before you book flights, send one WhatsApp message with the area you want lifted, face or body, plus the dates you'll be in Seoul. You can write in English. The clinic replies with the times available, and from there you can decide whether this trip covers it or whether body sessions spaced 1–2 months apart need two visits.