Just as Juvederm is the king of hyaluronic acid, Mint Lift is the top name in facial thread lifting. Its results are strong yet natural, it causes little discomfort afterward, and it is a mainstream PDO thread brand in Taiwan. This article explains what really makes Mint Lift stand out.
What Is Mint Lift?
Mint Lift is the thread brand with the largest market share in Korea. Before reading its pros and cons, it helps to understand what thread lifting is. Thread lifting is actually much lower risk than filler injections; the name just sounds scarier than it is.
The process is similar to injecting filler. With filler, the product is pushed through a blunt cannula into the face. With threads, the thread is loaded inside the cannula, the cannula is advanced to the fascia layer, and when the needle is withdrawn the thread stays in place. That is why some people call it a "scarless fascia lift."
The best thing about Mint Lift is that its threads are one-piece, pre-loaded cannula threads. They are easier for the doctor to place, and unlike traditional thread lifting they do not need to be looped back, which lowers the risk of infection after treatment.
Mint Lift Results and 3 Key Features
Mint Lift mainly lifts sagging nasolabial folds and marionette lines and puts the apple cheeks back in position, giving a younger look. Some people feel they look tired and assume the cause is hollowness, but filling in a lot of product not only fails to solve the real problem, it can end up causing an overfilled, puffy face.
Many people look older not because of hollowness but because of sagging. As we age, gravity pulls fat and muscle down, and Mint Lift is meant to work against that pull.
I have a patient who has had regular thread lifts for more than ten years. Her face is so firm that no one would guess she is 40; it looks as tight as a 20-year-old's.
(1) One-piece construction with strong lifting power and low breakage
The secret behind Mint Lift's pull is that its threads are one-piece molded threads. What does that mean? Think of the street-stall egg cakes: the mold is already shaped like Pompompurin or Hello Kitty, and one press stamps out the shape you want. Mint Lift works the same way. The mold already has the fishbone shape built in, and pressing it forms the fishbone thread in one step.
Traditional cut threads are made first and then cut to create the fishbone barbs. Compared with one-piece threads they break more easily, and their lifting effect is not as strong.
(2) Threads in every thickness and length
Quite a few patients ask me why I don't use the Blue Diamond fishbone thread. It is One Size, like walking into a clothing store where the clerk says, "Sorry, we only have one size." I find that unreasonable, so I don't use it. Every patient is different, and some people have thin skin that is not suited to such a thick thread. The Blue Diamond thread is hard to adjust to different conditions.
Mint Lift's biggest advantage is that it comes in many lengths and thicknesses, so different areas can use different threads when planning the thread path.
The 3 Types of Thread, Explained in One Table
Different Mint Lift threads do different jobs. The threads I use in treatment fall into three types by function:
| Thread type | Function | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting thread | Has barbs and can move tissue | Contour lines and areas that need to be repositioned |
| Anchoring thread | Pure fixation, does not pull | Reinforcement near ligaments and anchor points |
| Support thread | Supports, compresses and lifts slightly | Repositioning apple cheeks, forehead, and areas that need to be "held in place" |
For lifting and anchoring threads, I prefer Mint's Fine and Fix (you will see how they are combined in the section on jowls).
Some threads can both anchor and lift, some only anchor, and some anchor and compress. Interesting, isn't it? In my hands threads are not disposable supplies; they are three different tools. Your face sags in its own way, so the combination of tools differs for each person.
(3) Fewer side effects after treatment
Mint Lift threads are cannula threads: one thread comes with one blunt needle. Unlike traditional thread lifting, which needs a thread-insertion device, the wound is smaller and infection after treatment is less likely.
Mint Lift Compared with Other Threads
| Blue Diamond fishbone thread | Meteroa | Temira | Mint Lift | Bell thread | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | PDO | PDO | PDO | PDO | PLLA |
| Thread thickness (smaller number = thicker) | 16G | 18G | Phoenix: 18G, Rose thread: 19G, Baby thread: 23G | 18G, 19G | |
| Pros and cons | – Strong lift – Too thick to place many threads | – Strong lift | – Different thicknesses suit different areas | – Tough, durable thread | – Lasts longer – Can be placed in expression areas – Most expensive |
Mint Lift Cost
The short answer: at Golden Apple Aesthetic Clinic, Mint Lift thread lifting for the nasolabial folds is a fixed NT$42,000. Priced per thread, long threads are NT$11,000–13,000 each, medium threads NT$6,000–8,000 each, and short threads NT$3,500–5,000 each.
Because Mint Lift comes in many lengths, prices vary widely. Some doctors prefer long threads and others prefer short ones. As long as the final lift looks good, every doctor's thread layout logic will naturally differ.
Every patient's condition is different, and adding up long and short threads at different prices is like a math problem with X plus Y, where in the end neither the patient nor I are sure of the total. So at Golden Apple Aesthetic Clinic, Mint Lift thread lifting for the nasolabial folds is a fixed NT$42,000.
- Long thread price: NT$11,000–13,000 each
- Medium thread price: NT$6,000–8,000 each
- Short thread price: NT$3,500–5,000 each
How Long Does Mint Lift Last?
The lifting effect of Mint Lift lasts about a year and a half. Of course, as time passes, whether you have a facelift, thread lift or ultrasound tightening, everyone eventually ages and sags. Regular thread lifting only slows that process down; don't treat it as an elixir of immortality.
Mint Lift Recovery
What people care about most is how long recovery takes and whether a husband or coworker will notice. Below is how a friend of mine looked right after her thread lift. The incisions are near the hairline and are usually completely invisible the next day. What mainly needs to recover is the swelling from the anesthetic, which takes 3–5 days to go down, so the lift is most obvious after about a week.
Mint Lift Aftercare
The most important thing after Mint Lift: take your medication, take your medication, take your medication.
I say it three times because some patients just don't like taking pills. Thread lifting leaves more puncture points than filler, so to avoid infection, please finish the whole course of antibiotics.
What should I watch out for after a thread lift?
Avoid washing your face on the day of treatment (washing your hair is fine, because my entry points are not in the hair). For a month afterward, avoid facial massage or anything that presses hard on the face.
Are there diet restrictions after a thread lift?
You can eat normally. You may feel some pulling when chewing hard during the first week, and it gradually fades after that.
Can I exercise normally after a thread lift?
Normal exercise is fine.
How soon can I get filler after a thread lift?
Some areas that do not conflict can be treated together with the threads. For hollow cheeks that overlap the thread path, I recommend waiting two weeks after the thread lift until the swelling subsides before injecting hyaluronic acid or a collagen stimulator.
How soon can I have HIFU after a thread lift?
Combining HIFU with thread lifting can strengthen and prolong the lift. I recommend waiting at least one month after the thread lift before having HIFU.
How soon can I have laser or HydraFacial after a thread lift?
There is no effect at all; you can have laser treatment any time after a thread lift.
FAQ
What is Mint Lift?
Mint Lift is the thread brand with the largest market share in Korea. The process is like injecting filler: the thread is placed into the fascia layer through a blunt cannula, which is why it is also called a "scarless fascia lift." It is actually much lower risk than filler injections.
How long does Mint Lift last?
The lift lasts about a year and a half. People eventually age and sag, and regular thread lifting only slows the process down; don't treat it as an elixir of immortality.
How long is Mint Lift recovery? Will people notice?
The incisions are near the hairline and are usually completely invisible the next day. What needs to recover is the anesthetic swelling, which takes 3–5 days to go down, and the lift is most obvious after about a week.
How is Mint Lift better than the Blue Diamond fishbone thread?
The Blue Diamond fishbone thread is One Size and its 16G thread is too thick to adjust to each person's condition. Mint Lift comes in many lengths and thicknesses, so different areas can use different threads when planning the thread path.
How soon can I have HIFU after a thread lift?
HIFU after a thread lift can strengthen and prolong the lift, but I recommend waiting at least one month after the threads before having HIFU.
What should I watch out for after Mint Lift?
Most important is to finish the antibiotics to prevent infection. Avoid washing your face on the day of treatment (washing your hair is fine), and avoid facial massage or hard pressure on the face for a month.
