Lifting dermatology clinics compared by area

Updated 2026-11-08

Lifting at a dermatology clinic falls into two broad types. One uses devices that deliver energy such as high-intensity focused ultrasound or radiofrequency to a set depth in the skin, where the heat makes tissue contract and stimulates new collagen. The other is the thread lift, which places dissolvable threads under the skin to pull sagging tissue up and hold it in place.

Device lifting involves no incision and usually allows a quick return to daily life, but changes appear gradually over weeks to months and are modest. Thread lifts show a pulling effect right away but can bring swelling, bruising and a tight feeling. When sagging is severe, both have limits, and a comparison with surgical facelifts may be needed.

Checklist for choosing a clinic for Lifting

Why a device or threads The choice should have a reason: devices are often suggested for thin skin with mild sagging, threads when sagging tissue needs to be moved upward. When you consult a clinic in your area, ask why they recommend that method and what would change if you chose another.
Device depth and intensity With ultrasound devices, each cartridge fitted to the tip delivers heat to a different depth; with radiofrequency devices, energy intensity and the cooling method affect results. If you're having a device procedure in your area, ask how the depth for each area and the total energy are decided.
Thread material and dissolving time Threads used in thread lifts are usually made of material that dissolves slowly in the body, and dissolving speed and lifting strength vary by composition. Having a clinic in your area explain with a diagram, before the procedure, whether the threads are barbed and how many go in which direction makes it easier to understand.
Anesthesia and pain control Device lifting is often done with numbing cream alone, while thread lifts use local anesthesia, with sedation added if needed. If a clinic in your area uses sedation, check its recovery area and monitoring equipment, and whether you need someone to accompany you.
Recovery time and restrictions After a thread lift, you're often told to avoid opening your mouth wide or massaging your face firmly for a while. When booking a date in your area, also make sure it doesn't clash with dental work or important plans.

Warning signs to watch for

Blisters or scabs If redness after device lifting hasn't settled after several days, or line-shaped marks, blisters or scabs appear, it may be a burn. Don't pop them; have the wound checked at the clinic in your area that treated you.
Numbness or uneven mouth movement Tingling or reduced sensation in part of the face, or one corner of the mouth moving less when you smile, may signal that a nerve has been affected. It's usually temporary, but record how it develops from the day it starts and tell the clinic in your area that treated you so you can be examined.
Threads you can feel or see If after a thread lift the skin dimples, a thread end can be felt or seen, or the area becomes red, swollen and warm, a problem with thread position or an infection may be suspected. Showing it quickly to the clinic in your area that treated you keeps the fix simple.
Pressure to do too much at once Plans that stack several devices at high intensity in one session raise the risk of swelling and burns, and there is concern that faces with little fat may end up with hollow-looking cheeks. If you receive such a proposal in your area, reconsider whether each procedure is truly needed.

Lifting clinics by area

Choose an area to see its dermatology clinic ranking along with what to check when consulting about Lifting.

Seoul

Busan

Incheon

Daegu

Gwangju

Daejeon

Ulsan

Samsan·Seongnam·Mugeo·Sinjeong38 clinics

Gyeonggi

Gangwon

Chungbuk

Cheongju58 clinics

Chungnam

Jeonbuk

Jeonnam

Gyeongbuk

Gyeongnam

Jeju

Frequently asked questions

Do lifting results show right away?

Device lifting works gradually; thread lifts show fairly soon. Devices need time for new collagen after heating, so change is often felt over weeks to months. Before treatment in your area, photograph your face in consistent lighting for comparison.

How often can I have device lifting?

There's no set cycle; it varies by device and skin. As it uses heat, very short intervals are discouraged; several months to about a year is often cited. If you also get other device treatments in your area, give their dates.

Do the threads from a thread lift stay in the body?

Commonly used threads dissolve and are absorbed over time. Depending on material, dissolving takes several months to over a year, and tissue changes around them are described as lasting a while afterward. When consulting in your area, confirm the thread material.

Is lifting very painful?

Pain varies by method, area and personal sensitivity. Heat near bone or in deep layers often causes a sharp, tingling pain, so numbing cream, painkillers or sedation may be used. If you're pain-sensitive, ask a clinic in your area about anesthesia.

Can lifting achieve the same effect as surgery?

With severe sagging, procedures alone are unlikely to match surgery. Device and thread lifts are described as options for mild to moderate sagging and don't remove loose skin. A consultation in your area may even conclude that surgery is more suitable.

Final notes

Lifting methods differ in how they work and how recovery goes, so it's hard to compare them under one name. When choosing a clinic in your area, look at what they recommend, device or threads, and why, and how they explain the risks of burns and nerve injury. If you have facial implants or filler from earlier treatment, discuss it with the doctor before the procedure.