Understanding Jawline Lifting, Starting with Thread Lifts: A Non-Surgical Approach to Revitalizing a Sagging Lower Face

Jawline lifting is not a single procedure name. The causes for a blurred lower face and sagging flesh below the jawline vary from person to person, and it is closer to a comprehensive concept that combines several methods tailored to those causes. Discerning whether the cause is skin sagging, subcutaneous fat, or muscle issues comes before choosing the type of procedure.

Among them, thread lifting is a method where you can expect an immediate jawline refining effect by physically pulling up the sagged tissues. Adding ultrasound HIFU or radiofrequency RF, which stimulate collagen, can aim for both traction and elasticity improvement at the same time. This article is organized around a non-surgical approach from a dermatological perspective—specifically thread lifting—rather than incision plastic surgery.

🧭 What exactly is jawline lifting?

Jawline lifting is a general term for procedures aimed at clearly reviving the line of the mandibular border (the jaw-neck boundary). The core targets for improvement are the jowl sagging below the mandibular line (commonly known as bulldog fat), the marionette lines extending from the corners of the mouth to the jaw, and the blurred jaw-neck boundary.

At the center of the structural reasons why the face sags is the SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System). The SMAS layer is a thin fibro-muscular layer located between the subcutaneous fat and muscle, and when it relaxes with age, the entire tissue above it is pushed downward. In the neck area, a muscle called the platysma is involved in pulling the jawline downward.

An aesthetically well-arranged jaw-neck angle is called the cervicomental angle, and as a reference value, about 105 to 120 degrees is considered ideal. While it is not an absolute standard, it is used as an index to gauge before and after the procedure.

📌 Key Summary: Jawline lifting is not a single procedure but a concept of combining methods according to the cause (skin, fat, muscle), and SMAS relaxation is at the center of aging.

🧵 On what principle does thread lifting lift the jawline?

Thread lifting is a procedure where dissolvable threads are inserted under the skin to pull the sagged tissue upward, while simultaneously inducing collagen production around the threads. Its feature is that you can expect both the immediate effect of pulling up and the effect of elasticity filling up over time.

Depending on the type of thread, the absorption period and the sense of persistence vary.

Since the collagen induced in its place remains even after the thread is absorbed and disappears, the time when the thread disappears does not exactly coincide with the time when the effect disappears.

However, it is not a cure-all. If the skin is very thin, the thread may show through or be felt, and there is also a possibility of dimples (sunkenness) or left-right asymmetry. Therefore, the process of examining the face to understand the skin thickness and degree of sagging, and then designing the type, number, and hooking direction of the threads is important. This preliminary judgment is also prioritized when dealing with thread lifting at Gangnam Onlif Clinic.

📌 Key Summary: Thread lifting involves immediate traction + collagen induction occurring simultaneously, and the sense of persistence varies, with PDO at 6-8 months and PLLA/PCL at the 12-24 month level.

⚡ What changes when combined with laser, ultrasound, and radiofrequency?

While thread lifting plays the role of pulling up the tissues, HIFU and RF play the role of strengthening the foundation of elasticity underneath. Rather than overlapping, they are a combination that fills each other's gaps, so they are often designed together.

HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) targets different depths depending on the cartridge. 1.5mm targets the shallow dermis, 3.0mm targets the deep dermis and subcutaneous fat, and 4.5mm targets near the SMAS fascia, inducing collagen regeneration through heat stimulation. Radiofrequency RF (Thermage, InMode, Needle RF families) heats the dermal layer to contract collagen and boost elasticity.

For both methods, the full effect appears as collagen regenerates over 1 to 3 months after the procedure, and the maintenance period is roughly 6 to 12 months. You can understand it as a flow where the line is set with thread lifting, and the skin texture and elasticity are supported with ultrasound and radiofrequency, making the results settle more naturally.

Depending on the situation, auxiliary procedures may also be added to this.

• Botulinum Toxin (Botox): Refines the jawline by relaxing the masseter muscle of the square jaw or the platysma band. Effect starts in 1-2 weeks, peaks at 4-8 weeks, and lasts 3-6 months. However, excessive square jaw botox can cause cheek hollows or sagging of the lower face, so caution is needed if there is pre-existing sagging.

• Hyaluronic Acid Filler: Sculpts the mandibular line contour by compensating for a receding chin or chin tip. Lasts about 6 to 18 months. Since there is a risk of vascular occlusion, the decision for the procedure is important.

• Fat Dissolving Injection (Deoxycholic Acid): Used for the purpose of reducing submental fat, and protocols vary depending on the ingredients.

📌 Key Summary: A combination of pulling up with thread lifting and supporting elasticity with HIFU/RF is common, and HIFU targets are divided by depth (1.5, 3.0, 4.5mm).

🔍 Is my double chin fat or sagging?

Just because the area under the chin looks thick does not mean the cause is the same. Since various reasons such as fat, receding chin (skeleton), muscle bands, salivary gland hypertrophy, and edema appear in similar shapes, identifying the cause is first.

Here is a simple check method you can refer to at home.

• Take photos from the front, side, and 45-degree angles to compare the sagging positions and shadows.

• If the muscles stand out when you bite down slightly, you can suspect masseter or muscle factors.

• The vertical bands on the neck that stand out when you tilt your head down are heavily related to the platysma.

If fat is the main cause and skin elasticity is sufficient, a fat-targeted approach is more suitable, while if skin sagging is the main cause, elasticity and traction procedures such as thread lifting, ultrasound, and radiofrequency are more appropriate. Since causes are often mixed, it is safer to confirm through an actual examination rather than concluding solely by self-judgment.

📌 Key Summary: The causes of a double chin are divided into fat, skeleton, muscle, salivary glands, edema, etc., and identifying the cause comes before choosing the procedure.

🗓️ How long does the effect last, and how should it be managed?

No lifting can permanently stop aging. Once the maintenance period passes, re-treatment or additional management is required, and this is not a limitation of technology but rather because aging continues to progress.

The sense of persistence is summarized as follows.

It is also good to follow common management rules after the procedure. Sun protection, avoiding rapid weight changes, and abstaining from drinking, saunas, and strenuous exercise for a certain period are basic. In particular, if a weight change is planned, it is more advantageous for maintaining the results to set plans after the weight stabilizes.

To clear up one misconception, pulling the skin harder is not necessarily better. Results that are excessively pulled are easy to look unnatural, and the direction pursued by Onlif is also natural improvement that clears away only the sagging without changing the original impression.

📌 Key Summary: Lifting requires re-management after the maintenance period, and sun, weight, and lifestyle management affect maintaining the results for a long time.

🏥 What should I look for when choosing a procedure?

First, diagnosing the cause comes before choosing a procedure. This is because even for the same 'jawline concern', the answer varies depending on whether fat, sagging, or muscle is the main problem.

The elements that determine safety and results are similar.

• Check whether genuine equipment and genuine materials are used.

• If it is thread lifting, check if the type of thread and the hooking direction design fit the individual's face.

• If considering complex procedures, listen to the explanation of the order and intervals.

Onlif pursues a method of dividing procedures by field so that each handles the area they excel in. This is an approach born from the idea that it is difficult for one person to perform all procedures equally well. We focus on refining a natural lower face line by combining thread lifting with ultrasound and radiofrequency lifting.

For reference, interest in lifting is concentrated in those in their 40s and older (accounting for over 70% of those in their 40s and older in 2020, according to data from one clinic), but recently, a trend of expanding to those in their 20s and 30s is also visible. There is no correct answer for the starting point, and the time you start to care about sagging is the time worth consulting.

📌 Key Summary: The core is to check in the order of Cause Diagnosis → Genuine Equipment/Materials → Personalized Custom Design, and to build a combination with the goal of natural improvement.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which jawline lifting procedure is the most effective?

There is no single set answer. This is because the appropriate method varies depending on the main cause, such as fat, skin sagging, or muscle. If traction of sagged tissue is needed, thread lifting is designed, and if elasticity reinforcement is needed, HIFU/RF are combined.

Which should I do first, HIFU or thread lifting?

If sagging is distinct and there is a great need to physically pull it up, the line is set with thread lifting, and HIFU/RF are often performed together or sequentially to strengthen the elasticity foundation. Since the order varies depending on the condition of the face, it is better to decide after an examination.

What should I do if the thread shows through or dimples occur after thread lifting?

If the skin is thin, the thread may be felt or show through, and temporary dimples may occur immediately after the procedure. Most ease over time, but if they persist, it is safe to check the condition at the place where the procedure was performed and discuss adjustment methods.

Can receiving HIFU frequently cause cheek hollows?

If the procedure is performed excessively or too frequently beyond necessity, there is a possibility that it may affect the subcutaneous fat. Therefore, a design that adheres to appropriate intervals and intensity is important. If you have a face with less volume, you must look at this point more cautiously.

Does receiving square jaw botox lift the jawline?

If the masseter muscle is large and looks angular, it has the effect of making the jawline look refined. However, if received excessively when sagging is already present, cheek hollows or lower face sagging can become prominent, so judgment is required.

I am in the process of losing weight, can I still receive the procedure?

Weight fluctuations affect maintaining the results. If a large weight loss or gain is planned, it is more advantageous to plan after the weight stabilizes. If you are in progress, it is good to talk about this plan together during the consultation.

Can men also receive jawline lifting?

It is possible. However, since men have different skin thickness, skeletal structure, and beard hair follicles, the design of the thread type, direction, or procedure intensity may differ from those for women. Judgment tailored to the individual's condition is required.