Get to know what is best for your skin needs
By Puteri Syafeeqa | April 25th, 2025
The desire to appear young, fresh, and genuinely glowing is a constant in a world where beauty trends shift more quickly than our TikTok feeds. Good news is that you no longer need to have surgery to accomplish it because of the wonders of non-surgical aesthetics. Introducing thread-based face lifting, one of the most popular skincare inventions to emerge from South Korea and currently causing a stir worldwide.
The choices can become a bit complicated, though, as is the case with all advances in beauty. Here comes Thread Lift and Shopping Lift. Despite their similar names, these two treatments are not the same.
Shopping Lift: Gentle Threads & Glowy Skin
Shopping Lift, a distinctively Korean cosmetic procedure using tiny acupuncture needles and ultra-thin threads which are finer than a hair strand for the face lift effect. It is regarded as minimally invasive, you can benefit from collagen augmentation and facial lifting without having to encounter scalpels, sutures, or a significant recovery time.
Once the threads are placed under the skin, they work continuously to help your skin naturally produce collagen, improving its firmness, elasticity, and overall texture.
Shopping Lift is ideal for:
· People in their 20s or 30s starting to notice mild skin sagging or dullness
· Those wanting a glass skin effect with tighter pores and firmer skin
· Individuals who prefer gentle, natural-looking results than other face lifting methods
· Individuals who cannot afford much downtime
· First-timers who are curious but cautious about aesthetic procedures
Thread Lift: Sculpt and Snatch
On the other hand, Thread Lift is a procedure that is frequently referred to as a "quick facelift" due to its rapid nature and ability to produce immediate lifting and contouring outcomes without the need for surgery. Although it is likewise non-surgical, it is a little more powerful than Shopping Lift and employs thicker threads with stronger support, resulting from the tiny hooks or cones designed to gently tug on the skin.The cheekbones, jawline, and neck are among the sagging areas that these threads help to lift. Similar to Shopping Lift, the threads dissolve over time and encourage your skin to produce more collagen, hence even after the threads are removed, your skin continues to improve.
The Thread Lift works best for:
· People in their late 30s to 50s with moderate sagging
· Those looking for more dramatic lifting and contouring
· Individuals with drooping cheeks, jowls, or necklines
Can The Treatments Be Combined With Fillers?
Combining PDO thread lifts with dermal fillers is a good approach to a facial rejuvenation, offering both lifting and volumizing effects for a youthful appearance.
When PDO threads and dermal fillers are used together, they offer a comprehensive, dual function effect. PDO threads work by lifting and tightening sagging skin, providing an immediate lift and stimulating collagen production for a long-term skin firmness. Dermal fillers complement this by restoring lost volume in areas such as cheeks and under the eyes, which often experience hollowing with age. The combination of these treatments not only lifts and volumizes but also enhances facial contours, refining features like the jawline and cheekbones for a balanced and youthful appearance.
What About Aftercare?
Both treatments are outpatient procedures, but post care is key:
· Avoid makeup on the day of the procedure especially with Shopping Lift
· Do not rub or massage your face for at least a week
· Skip saunas, hot showers, and facial equipment
· Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated
· Be gentle with your skincare and drink lots of water
If you are opting for the Thread Lift, plan for a couple of days of rest, especially if you have events or photo shooting sessions coming up.
The choice between Thread Lift and Shopping Lift ultimately depends on your age, skin goals, and desired level of boldness. There is no denying that the days of relying solely on surgery to reverse time are long gone. A youthful glow can be achieved with these thread-based treatments with just a little needle.
