Walking into the clinic in Apgujeong
I remember staring at the clinic door in Apgujeong for a good five minutes before actually stepping inside. It’s a busy area, and there are so many of these places squeezed into every building that you get a bit dizzy just reading the signs. I had been thinking about doing something about my marionette lines for months. It felt like every time I looked in the mirror, those two lines were getting a little deeper, especially after a long week of work. I had tried those fancy facial rollers and even spent way too much time watching videos on how to massage my mid-face, but honestly, it felt like I was just moving skin around without actually changing the structure. I finally booked an appointment, mostly because the price for the PCL thread lift seemed manageable, around 800,000 KRW, which felt like a reasonable gamble compared to surgery.
The reality of the consultation
Inside, it didn’t feel like some high-end medical center. It was actually quite loud and chaotic. The consultant talked really fast, mentioning things like SMAS lifting and how my mid-face was sagging because of bone structural changes, not just skin elasticity. I didn’t fully understand the anatomy part, but I just nodded along. They showed me these PCL threads and explained how they have tiny barbs that hold the tissue up. I kept thinking about those historical stories of people using bands to pull back their hair for a temporary lift. It’s funny how the method changes but the goal stays exactly the same. I walked out with a scheduled date for the procedure, feeling both excited and slightly nervous about having things inserted under my skin.
The procedure and the immediate aftermath
The actual process was weirder than I expected. You’re awake, so you hear everything, which is probably the worst part. I could feel the tugging, and there was a strange snapping sound that I tried to ignore by focusing on the ceiling tiles. They spent a lot of time around the lower face and the nasolabial folds—the area that really bothered me. Right after, my face was swollen. It wasn’t the kind of swelling where you look like a different person, but I definitely didn’t want to go grab dinner with friends afterward. My jaw felt heavy, and opening my mouth to eat anything bigger than a spoonful of rice was a chore for at least three days. I had to eat soft food, which became annoying really quickly.
Was it worth the recovery time?
About two weeks later, the swelling went down, and the tightness started to feel a bit more natural. My marionette lines were definitely less noticeable, but I couldn’t help but wonder if it was actually the threads or just the remaining residual swelling that was ‘filling’ them in. I also had a lingering worry about the long-term effect. I’d read stories about people getting fillers in their nasolabial folds and ending up with weird puffiness, and I really didn’t want that. The threads are supposed to stimulate collagen, which sounds good in theory, but looking in the mirror every morning, I’m still waiting for that ‘perfect’ result that the consultants promise. It looks better, sure, but I keep checking for any unevenness along my jawline whenever the light hits my face from the side.
Lingering questions about long-term results
It’s been a bit over a month now, and I’m still not entirely convinced if this is a once-a-year thing or if I’ll need a ‘touch-up’ way sooner than I planned. Some days I look at my reflection and think it was a great decision, but other days, when I’m tired, I feel like the sag is just coming back. Maybe it’s my imagination. I see some people online talking about getting double chin injections or extra filler to smooth out what the threads left behind, and that’s the last thing I want to do. I’m currently at a point where I’m just waiting to see how long these results hold up before I decide if I’m going to do this again. For now, I’m just trying to avoid over-massaging my face, which is a habit I’m still trying to break.