Thread Lifting in Bali

Thread lifts require more recovery planning. Avoid flying for 2-4 days due to swelling and the healing process. Expect swelling and bruising for 1-2 weeks. Avoid opening your mouth wide (no big bites of food) for 2 weeks. No strenuous exercise for 2 weeks. Sleep face-up, elevated, for 1 week. No facial massage for 4 weeks. This is better scheduled at the end of a longer Bali stay, or plan a relaxed recovery week. Results are immediate with continued improvement over 3-6 months!

You can fly after 48 hours, but plan your thread lift at the start of your holiday. Expect mild swelling and bruising for the first 3-5 days. Avoid massage, facials, dental work, and vigorous exercise for 2 weeks. Most clients feel social-ready within 7 days — the result just keeps improving from there.

The threads themselves dissolve over 6-8 months. However the collagen stimulated around each thread path remains and continues improving skin structure for 12-18 months. Most clients schedule a top-up around month 12 to maintain the lift.

Each addresses jowling differently. Jawline filler (IDR 4,500,000 per syringe at SŌMA) restores structural definition — it doesn't lift sagging skin but creates a sharper jawline that camouflages jowls. Zero downtime, results last 12–18 months. Thread lift (from IDR 2,400,000 per area) physically lifts sagging tissue — best for moderate laxity. Recovery is 1–2 weeks but results last up to 2 years. HIFU uses focused ultrasound to tighten the SMAS layer (the same layer targeted in facelifts) — no downtime but results take 2–3 months to develop as new collagen builds. For mild jowling, filler alone may be enough. For moderate sagging, a combination of threads and filler is often best. For overall skin tightening, HIFU is a great foundation. Our doctor will assess your facial anatomy and recommend the right approach — often it's a combination strategy.

No — with topical numbing cream and local anaesthetic at each entry point, the procedure is comfortable. You'll feel pressure and some tugging as threads are deployed, but not pain. Most clients describe it as less uncomfortable than a filler session.

Both address mid-face volume loss but work differently. Cheek fillers (from IDR 4,500,000 / ~$265 USD per syringe at SŌMA) instantly restore volume with zero downtime — you can go out to dinner that night. Results last 12–18 months. Thread lifts (from IDR 2,400,000 / ~$141 USD per area) physically lift sagging tissue using dissolvable PDO threads and stimulate collagen along the thread path. Results are immediate with continued improvement over 3–6 months, but require 1–2 weeks of recovery (no wide mouth opening, sleeping face-up). A 2021 meta-analysis in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (PMID: 33821308) reviewed thread lift outcomes and complications. For a holiday, fillers are more practical. For longer-term lifting, threads can be excellent. Many clients benefit from combining both — filler for volume plus threads for lift. Our doctor will advise based on your facial anatomy.

It depends on your anatomy and how much lift you want. Mild jowling might need 4-6 threads per side; a more comprehensive lift can use 10-15 per side. Dr. Shirley maps your treatment plan at consultation with a clear thread count and cost.

A facelift removes excess skin and tightens muscle — producing dramatic results that last 10+ years, with 2-3 weeks of recovery. Threads lift by anchoring existing tissue and stimulate collagen — producing natural, subtle results lasting 12-18 months with minimal downtime. Threads are ideal for early-to-moderate sagging, not replacement for surgery in severe cases.

Yes, and we often recommend it. Botox to relax depressor muscles, fillers to restore lost volume in cheeks, threads to lift sagging tissue — each addresses a different problem. Your doctor will sequence these in the right order at consultation.

PDO threads are FDA-cleared and CE-marked. They dissolve completely, leaving no foreign material in your tissues. The main risks are mild bruising, asymmetry if not well placed, and thread migration (rare with experienced practitioners). At SŌMA, threads are only inserted by Dr. Shirley or certified doctors trained in the technique.

No. The threads are placed beneath the skin and dissolve completely over 6-8 months. The entry points heal to invisible pinpoints within days. Friends might ask if you've been on holiday — they won't spot the threads.

You can't remove PDO threads immediately, but they naturally dissolve over 6-8 months. If you want the lift adjusted earlier, additional threads or subtle filler can rebalance the result. Dr. Shirley's approach is conservative — we lift less than you think you need, review at 2 weeks, and add if needed.

People with severe skin laxity (better suited to a surgical facelift), active skin infection at the treatment site, bleeding disorders or on anticoagulants, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or autoimmune conditions affecting wound healing. Full consultation to determine suitability.