The under-eye area is the most delicate skin on the face — only about 0.5mm thick, roughly 1/4 to 1/3 the thickness of other facial skin. Under-eye skin is thin with little subcutaneous fat and low collagen, making it the first area to develop fine lines, laxity, and mild bags. Common under-eye concerns: (1) Fine lines — facial expressions and collagen loss create under-eye lines, most visible when smiling. (2) Mild eye bags — mild fat prolapse or edema creates a lax appearance. (3) Under-eye laxity — collagen loss reduces elasticity, making the area look tired and aged. (4) Deepening tear troughs — depression at the junction of the under-eye and cheek, creating shadow. Treatment options for the under-eye are limited — HA filler suits hollowness but offers limited lift for laxity and fine lines; surgery (blepharoplasty) is invasive with long recovery. Rappoel Dermatology near Gangnam Station, Seoul, uses APTOS thread lifting — ultra-fine APTOS threads embedded deep in the under-eye skin for physical lift of lax tissue + collagen neogenesis stimulation, non-surgically tightening the under-eye in 30 minutes to improve fine lines and mild laxity.
Technical Advantages of APTOS Under-Eye Threads
- Ultra-fine threads for the delicate periorbital area: APTOS offers ultra-fine gauges (such as APTOS 29G, APTOS Mini) — thread diameter of only about 0.12mm, finer than a hair strand, ideal for the thin under-eye area, completely invisible after embedding
- Physical lift + collagen neogenesis dual effect: After embedding: (1) The thread’s barbed or smooth structure physically supports and lifts lax tissue, immediately improving under-eye laxity. (2) Threads stimulate surrounding tissue for collagen neogenesis, providing long-term tightening and fine line smoothing — effects lasting 6-12+ months
- APTOS Korean-origin patented threads: APTOS is a leading brand in Korean thread lifting — threads use absorbable materials such as PDO (polydioxanone), with high safety, complete absorption, and no residue
- Non-surgical with no incisions: Threads are embedded via needle puncture — only needle-hole entry points, no surgical incisions or sutures, short recovery (1-3 days), returning to daily life the same day
- Combinable with HA filler: Under-eye thread lifting + tear trough HA filler combination — threads lift laxity, filler fills depressions, comprehensively improving the under-eye area for optimal results
Treatment Strategies for Different Under-Eye Concerns
- Fine line type: Prominent under-eye lines, most visible when smiling. Strategy: embed 2-4 APTOS smooth threads in the fine line area — collagen neogenesis visibly smooths lines, restoring smooth skin
- Mild laxity type: Lax under-eye skin lacking elasticity, looking tired. Strategy: embed 3-5 APTOS threads (barbed lifting threads) along the under-eye curve — physical lift of lax tissue with immediate tightening, long-term collagen consolidation
- Mild bag + fine line combination: Mild fatty bags with under-eye fine lines. Strategy: 2-3 lifting threads below the bag + 2 smooth threads in the fine line area — lifting laxity while smoothing lines (severe bags should have surgery first)
- Tear trough + laxity combination: Tear trough hollowness with under-eye skin laxity. Strategy: 3-4 APTOS lifting threads + tear trough HA filler — thread + filler combination for comprehensive improvement
- Dark circle + laxity combination: Under-eye laxity with pigment or vascular dark circles. Strategy: APTOS lift (3-4 threads) + pigment-type circles treated with IV whitening or laser — addressing laxity and pigmentation together
Rappoel Under-Eye APTOS Thread Lifting Treatment Protocol
- Under-eye assessment and plan design (10 min): Assess fine line depth, laxity, bag type, tear trough status → check skin elasticity and thickness → photograph → establish thread plan (thread type, quantity, placement path)
- Cleansing and anesthesia (5 min): Periorbital makeup removal → alcohol disinfection → topical lidocaine cream for 10-15 minutes → if needed, infraorbital nerve block for a painless procedure
- Thread embedding (15-20 min): Ultra-fine needle entry from the lateral eye corner or outer under-eye → embed APTOS threads in the deep under-eye skin layer (0.5-1cm spacing between threads) → gentle adjustment for lifting effect → trim excess (2-4 threads per side)
- Lift adjustment and immediate assessment (3 min): Gentle pressing to shape → patient checks mirror for under-eye tightening → check symmetry → micro-adjust
- Post-care instructions (2 min): Precautions (avoid pressing/rubbing the under-eye for 24 hours, avoid makeup and eye rubbing for 48 hours, avoid high-heat environments and strenuous exercise for 1 week, avoid laughing and exaggerated expressions for 3 days) → 2-week follow-up
The under-eye APTOS thread procedure takes about 30 minutes, with immediate lifting and tightening, optimal collagen results at 1-3 months, lasting 6-12 months. Located 3 minutes from Gangnam Station Exit 10, with seamless English and Chinese consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do under-eye thread results last? Are the threads absorbed?
Under-eye APTOS thread results last 6-12 months, with threads completely absorbed by the body. Timeline: (1) Immediately — physical lift with visible under-eye tightening (approximately 40-50% of results). (2) 1-3 months — collagen neogenesis strengthens results, with more visible fine line smoothing. (3) 3-6 months — optimal results. (4) 6-12 months — threads gradually absorbed (PDO fully biodegradable), collagen results still maintaining, effect gradually diminishing. Rappoel recommends: when results visibly diminish (typically 8-12 months), a second embedding can be done — building on the collagen foundation, second results are usually better and last longer.
Is under-eye thread lifting safe? Isn’t the eye area too fragile?
With a qualified physician, under-eye thread lifting is safe — but the eye area is indeed delicate, requiring an experienced operator. Rappoel’s risk controls: (1) Physician experience — performed by physicians with extensive thread lifting experience, familiar with under-eye anatomy. (2) Thread selection — APTOS ultra-fine threads (29G) minimize trauma to thin under-eye skin. (3) Anesthesia control — infraorbital nerve block ensures painlessness while avoiding excess anesthesia affecting precision. (4) Embedding depth — threads placed in the safe plane between the subcutaneous fat and superficial muscle layer, avoiding vessels and nerves. (5) Possible side effects — mild swelling (1-3 days), bruising (resolves in 3-7 days), needle-hole discomfort — all temporary. Rappoel provides detailed post-care guidance, with the clinic reachable anytime for abnormalities.
What’s the difference between threads and HA filler for the under-eye? How to choose?
Threads and HA filler solve different under-eye problems: (1) Threads — ‘lift and tighten,’ physically lifting lax tissue with threads + stimulating collagen, suited for skin laxity, fine lines, and mild drooping. Improving skin firmness and elasticity. (2) HA filler — ‘fill depressions,’ using HA to fill tear trough hollowness and volume loss, suited for under-eye hollowness and prominent tear troughs. Improving volume fullness. (3) Choosing — laxity and fine lines primarily → choose threads; tear trough hollowness primarily → choose HA filler; both → thread + filler combination is optimal. Rappoel precisely assesses laxity and hollowness during consultation for the best plan.
How fast do under-eye threads work? How long is recovery?
Under-eye thread timeline: (1) Immediately — physical lift with visible tightening and finer lines (approximately 40-50% of results). (2) 1-3 days — mild swelling and needle-hole redness, normal, ice packs relieve. (3) 3-7 days — swelling subsides, bruising fades, natural appearance, normal social activity. (4) 1-3 months — collagen neogenesis continues, lines further smooth, optimal results. Recovery notes: (1) Avoid pressing/rubbing the under-eye for 24 hours. (2) Avoid makeup and eye rubbing for 48 hours. (3) Avoid high-heat environments (sauna, hot showers) and strenuous exercise for 1 week. (4) Avoid laughing and exaggerated expressions for 3 days. Rappoel provides detailed post-care guidance.
What’s the difference between APTOS and other thread brands?
APTOS is a leading brand in Korean thread lifting, with key differences from others: (1) Thread material — APTOS primarily uses PDO (polydioxanone), with high biocompatibility, complete absorption, and long-term clinical safety validation; some brands use PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid), PCL (polycaprolactone) with different properties. (2) Thread design — APTOS offers a rich range of thread types (lifting, smooth, screw, cone) and gauges (29G to 18G) for precise selection by area and need. (3) Korean-origin quality — APTOS has high market share in Korean thread lifting with extensive clinical data. (4) Under-eye-specific threads — APTOS provides ultra-fine gauges suited for delicate areas like the under-eye. Rappoel chooses APTOS for its clinically excellent thread quality, safety, and applicability.
Under-eye lines making you look tired? Rappoel APTOS under-eye threads — non-surgical 30 minutes for a firm, youthful gaze!
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