Nose Thread Lift (Hiko)
코 실리프팅 / 하이코 · also: 하이코, Hiko nose lift, non-surgical rhinoplasty, 바비코
Absorbable threads inserted along the bridge or into the tip to raise and define the nose without an incision. It's quick, reversible by time, and popular across Asia — but the effect is modest, temporary, and the tip carries a genuine infection risk that honest clinics will tell you about.
This breaks the skin or carries vascular/systemic risk, so a medical intake is required before treatment.
How it works
PDO threads are threaded through a needle along the nasal bridge or into the tip, where they provide mechanical support and stimulate collagen along their path. The threads themselves dissolve over roughly four to eight months; the collagen laid down around them is what carries any remaining effect, which is why results outlast the material but still fade.
Thread · acts at 2–6 mm · deepest layer: Fat layer
Subcutaneous fat. Volume, contour, and the target of fat-reducing treatments.
Depths are indicative and vary by device, cartridge, body area and individual.
Thread
Absorbable barbed sutures are passed through the tissue plane and anchored, lifting mechanically and laying down collagen as they dissolve.
People choose this for
Products & devices used
Not all "Nose Thread Lift (Hiko)" is the same — the specific brand or machine changes the price and the feel. Common options in Korea:
Absorbable barbed sutures that physically reposition tissue and stimulate collagen; results last 12–18 months.
What it does
- ✓Slightly higher, straighter bridge
- ✓More defined tip
- ✓No incision or general anaesthetic
- ✓Back to normal in a day or two
Good for you if
- •Testing a higher nose before committing to surgery
- •Mild bridge definition
- •People who cannot take surgical downtime
Aftercare
- ✓Take the prescribed antibiotics fully; this is not optional for nose threads.
- ✓Sleep on your back and don't press, massage or rest glasses heavily on the bridge for two weeks.
- ✓Expect swelling and possible bruising for 3–5 days.
- ✓Contact the clinic straight away for increasing pain, spreading redness or discharge.
Not suitable if
- !Previous rhinoplasty or implants in the nose without a surgeon's assessment.
- !Active acne, infection or inflamed skin on the nose.
- !Keloid tendency.
- !Diabetes or immunosuppression, which raise the infection risk considerably.
- !Pregnancy.
FAQ
How much higher will my nose actually get?
Modestly. Threads add support, not structure, and the change is subtle compared with a cartilage rhinoplasty. If you're hoping for a dramatic difference, this is the wrong treatment and a good doctor will say so.
What's the risk at the tip?
The nasal tip has relatively poor blood supply, which makes it more vulnerable to infection than most places threads are placed. Infection, thread extrusion and visible irregularity are all documented. Take antibiotics seriously and report increasing pain or redness immediately rather than waiting.
Can it be removed?
Threads can sometimes be retrieved early, but once they've begun dissolving and tissue has grown around them, removal is difficult. Practically speaking, you wait it out.
Should I do this before rhinoplasty?
Many people use it as a preview. Tell any future surgeon you've had threads — scar tissue along the bridge can affect surgical planning.
Price range by care tier
Market ranges for reference — actual quotes depend on the clinic, doctor and area.
Before you compare quotes: what this price is actually per
- Thread lifts are sold per thread. A visible lift usually needs 4–10 per side, so a per-thread price is a fraction of the real total.
Priced per thread, usually quoted in pairs. One Seoul list ran ₩150k for two bridge threads, ₩250k for two tip threads and ₩350k for a heavier cog design — so the thread type, not just the count, moves the price. A full nose commonly uses more than one pair.
Won prices quoted above are from a dated reference price list for one Seoul clinic chain (2026-07-24), used to show the shape of pricing — not a national average, and not a quote. Prices include 10% VAT: the foreign-patient cosmetic VAT refund ended on 31 December 2025.
How it compares
Nose Thread Lift (Hiko) beside the other Lifting & Tightening options travellers usually weigh against it.
| Comparison factor | Nose Thread Lift (Hiko)코 실리프팅 / 하이코 | Ulthera울쎄라 | Shurink Universe슈링크 유니버스 | Thermage FLX써마지 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best at | A higher nose without surgery — with real caveats | The gold-standard ultrasound lift | The value-tier lifting favorite | Radiofrequency skin tightening |
| Depth reached | Fat layer · 2–6 mm | SMAS · 1.5–4.5 mm | SMAS · 1.5–4.5 mm | Dermis · 1–3 mm |
| How it works | Thread | Focused ultrasound | Focused ultrasound | Monopolar radiofrequency |
| Downtime | 1–5 days | 0–1 days | 0–1 days | 0–1 days |
| Pain | gentlest | |||
| Visits for full result | 1 visit | 1 visit | 1–3 visits | 1 visit |
| Results last | 6 months to 2 years | 12–18 months | 6–12 months | 12–24 months |
| Trip fit | One visit, plus recovery days to plan around | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days |
| Priced per | per thread | per shot | per shot | per shot |
| From | ₩150k–350k | ₩600k–1.2M | ₩150k–400k | ₩700k–1.3M |
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