Quick liftPDO threads
- Beyond the lift
- Limited
- Hyaluronic acid
- No
- Typical duration
- 6–9 months
- Absorption time
- About 6 months
🌏 For international patients · Interpreter on-site · Same price as locals
Thread Lifting · HERA Gangnam
A non-surgical thread lift with Aptos threads made of P(LA/CL) and hyaluronic acid, planned by HERA directors who completed the official APTOS Professional Course. Results vary from person to person.
HERA Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, Gangnam · Last updated 23 October 2026

MFDS-approved thread
Approved in Korea as a facial tissue fixation thread
Local anesthesia
No general anesthesia; numbing at the entry points
No incisions
Threads go in through a fine needle or cannula
Up to 24 months
Per manufacturer and clinic guidance; varies
Since 1996
Aptos threads were developed in Georgia almost 30 years ago, and the same family of surgeons still leads the company.
1996
Georgian plastic surgeon Dr. Marlen Sulamanidze develops the first barbed Aptos threads for lifting.
Next generation
Plastic surgeons Dr. George and Dr. Konstantin Sulamanidze carry the threads and methods further.
2020
Aptos receives U.S. FDA permission to distribute its sutures in the United States.
Today
Per the manufacturer, Aptos threads are marketed in more than 50 countries.
2026
HERA's directors complete the official APTOS Professional Course at the headquarters in Georgia.
Sources: APTOS manufacturer FAQ and company profile; Investor.ge (December 2020).

01 · What it is
Aptos threads are barbed threads placed under the skin along planned lines. The barbs hold tissue in its lifted position straight away. The thread itself is made of P(LA/CL), a copolymer of PLLA and PCL that is absorbed slowly, and the NAMICA threads also carry hyaluronic acid (HA). As the thread absorbs, the surrounding skin builds new collagen, so the result is not only a pull.
NAMICA threads coat the P(LA/CL) thread with HA held in micro, sub-micro and nano particles.
Lifting, contouring and biostimulation are the three results the manufacturer designs the thread for.
Different Aptos threads and methods are made for the cheeks, jawline, brows, folds and fine lines.
The manufacturer holds CE marking, ISO 13485:2016, FDA and MDSAP certifications.
Approved in Korea
Aptos threads are approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) as facial tissue fixation threads, a Class 4 medical device.
MFDS · Class 4 medical device02 · Watch
A short film from HERA's own channel. The narration is in Korean; the treatment steps speak for themselves.
03 · Thread types
The material of the thread decides how long it stays and what it adds beyond the lift.
Quick lift
Lift + collagen + HA
Collagen stimulationCompare by
PDO threads
Aptos (P(LA/CL) + HA)
PLLA threads
| Feature | PDO threads | PLLA threads | Aptos (P(LA/CL) + HA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical duration | 6–9 months | 12–18 months | Up to 24 months |
| Absorption time | About 6 months | About 8 months | About 24 months |
| Beyond the lift | Limited | Collagen stimulation | Collagen stimulation + HA |
| Hyaluronic acid | No | No | Yes (NAMICA threads) |
Figures from manufacturer information and HERA's Korean treatment guide. Duration depends on skin, area, thread type and lifestyle, and cannot be guaranteed.
Straight answers, based on manufacturer information and how HERA plans thread lifts.
04 · How it works
Step 01Barbed threads go in along planned vectors and hold sagging tissue in its lifted position from day one.
Step 02Thread direction and depth follow your bone structure, so the jawline and cheek line are redefined, not just pulled.
Step 03As P(LA/CL) absorbs, the skin forms new collagen; in NAMICA threads, HA is released in stages over the following months.
NAMICA HA particles
Micro
Quick and long-term release
Sub-micro
Gradual release over 1–3 months
Nano
Steady release over 3–6 months
HA release stages per the manufacturer (NAMICA technology).
Treatment areas
Areas are combined to suit your face, and each one is planned with its own thread and direction.

01
Lifts cheeks that have started to descend and softens the shadow beside the nose.
NAMICA 19 · NAMICA 10 · Light Lift 50

02
A cleaner jawline and less looseness under the chin.
NAMICA · Light Lift 25 · Light Lift 50

03
A slightly higher, more open brow line, and softer folds from the nose to the mouth and from the mouth corners down.
Light Lift 50 · Light Lift 25 · NAMICA · Light Lift Spring · Nano Spring

04
Fine threads for the forehead, crow's feet, eyelid skin and between the brows.
Nano Vitis · Nano Spring
Thread names are from the manufacturer's range. Your doctor chooses the thread, method and number after examining your face.
Recommended for
Mid-face volume that has slipped downward, deepening the line beside the nose.
Jowls forming along the jaw so the face looks wider at the bottom.
Skin under the chin and on the neck that has lost its tight line.
Brows that sit lower than before and make the eyes look tired.
Folds from the nose to the mouth and from the mouth corners down.
Skin that looks dull or thin, where the collagen-stimulating effect helps.
05 · Who it's for
If one or more of these sounds like you, an Aptos thread lift is worth a conversation at HERA.
A good consultation also says when threads are not the answer. Depending on your face, your doctor may suggest:
Heavy skin excess
A surgical facelift reaches further than threads can; ask us at your consultation.
Mainly volume loss
Filler restores lost volume; it can be combined with threads.
Learn moreSkin quality only
Skin boosters target texture and glow without lifting.
Learn moreDeep-layer tightening
Ultherapy works on the deep SMAS layer and pairs well with threads.
Learn more06 · Why HERA

01
Dr. Kim Jong Seon and Dr. Lee Jong Hoon completed the official APTOS Professional Course in Georgia (April 2026).
02
Both directors presented their own case records at the Aptos Xperts Alliance Forum in Seoul (June 2026).
03
Dr. Lee has run 20+ physician thread-lifting seminars and live demonstrations, and co-authored LIFTINGOLOGY.
04
English replies on WhatsApp, an interpreter on site, and the same price as local patients.

Published textbook
Science and Clinical Practice in Aesthetic Medicine
LIFTINGOLOGY is a Korean clinical textbook on lifting, written by an editorial committee of lifting specialists and published by Medical World. Dr. Lee also completed the official APTOS Professional Course (2026) and has led more than 20 hands-on thread-lifting seminars for physicians.
Ask Dr. Lee on WhatsAppYour treatment day
Your visit includes a consultation and marking before the procedure, so allow time for each step.
Your doctor examines how your face has descended and chooses the thread type, direction and number.
Entry points and thread lines are drawn on your face for a balanced lift.
Numbing cream and local anesthesia are applied at the entry points.
Threads are placed in the target layer through a fine needle or cannula and gently repositioned.
Your doctor checks symmetry and fine-tunes the lift before you sit up.
You get care instructions for the following days and a plan for follow-up.
Aftercare at a glance
From HERA's thread-lift aftercare guidance. Your doctor will give instructions for your own treatment.
07 · After your session
This is the typical course, based on manufacturer information. Your own timing may differ.
Right after
The barbs hold the new position at once. Mild swelling, tightness or small bruises at entry points usually ease within a few days.
1–3 months
Sub-micro HA particles in NAMICA threads release over this period.
3–6 months
Nano HA particles keep releasing while new collagen forms around the thread.
About 1 year
The manufacturer designs the collagen-stimulating effect to last beyond a year.
Up to 24 months
The lifting effect is designed to last up to 24 months; upkeep is planned with your doctor.
Timing and results vary from person to person. No result can be guaranteed.
08 · Treatment info
From manufacturer information and HERA's treatment guide. Results vary from person to person.
Pricing
The price depends on the thread type and how many threads your face needs, so it is set after your doctor examines you.
International patients pay the same price as local patients.
Consult
Send front and side photos on WhatsApp and ask about the thread plan and price. We reply in English.
Get a quote on WhatsAppAcademic & training
HERA's directors take part in manufacturer training and teach visiting doctors in the same treatment rooms where they see patients.
Visiting Clinician Program · 20 Oct 2026
A lecture and live demonstration for visiting Mexican clinicians: Dr. Lee Jong Hoon on CaHA neck-line treatment (DCLASSY), Dr. Kim Jong Seon on full-face REALLO INJECT FINE. This event covered injectables, not Aptos threads.









Choose your doctor
Each of our three doctors concentrates on one kind of treatment. Pick the one that matches your concern. That doctor plans your treatment and performs it.

Focus
Lifting
Dr. Kim looks at where your face has dropped, the skin, the fat pads or the jawline, then chooses Ultherapy, Thermage or a thread lift, or combines them.
Treatments
Why patients see this doctor
Real stories
Videos posted by patients who came from abroad.
From the HERA blog
Guides written at HERA on thread lifts: how they work, real results, cost and recovery.

HERA's two directors completed the official APTOS Professional Course at the manufacturer's headquarters in Georgia, then presented their own case records at the invitation-only A.X.A Forum in Seoul.
6 min read
An honest guide to thread lift in Korea: how PDO thread lifting works, who it suits, realistic downtime, thread lift vs filler, and how pricing works at HERA Clinic in Gangnam.
11 min read
A PDO thread lift places absorbable threads under the skin to lift early sagging along the cheeks and jawline. It suits early sag, not heavy loose skin or fat, and mild swelling usually eases within a few days.
8 min read
A V lift in Korea usually means threads for sagging or Sok-Sok Face Injection for fat. Which one fits your jaw, who should consider surgery instead, and how soon you can fly.
9 min read
A Korean facelift can mean surgery that removes loose skin or a non-surgical lift with threads, energy devices or injections. Which fits depends on skin excess, where the sagging sits, volume loss and your days in Seoul.
8 min readFAQ
Travelling for treatment raises practical questions. Here are the ones we hear most.

Let's talk
Send us a message. The consultation is free, and our team replies in English.