Budget through payment, not just the listed price
I suggest dividing the budget into three layers: the listed price for the thread product and count, VAT added at payment, and any add-ons written into the quote. Our listed prices exclude VAT, and 10% is added at payment, so the total including VAT is the figure that matters for comparison.
If anesthesia, sedation, or after-treatment medication is not written into the quote, do not assume it is included. Any other injection added after the thread lift should also be listed separately. This shows whether a price difference comes from the thread product itself or from a different combination of treatments.
If you were already planning to visit Seoul, count only the changes to transport and accommodation and the time added by the treatment. If the trip is solely for the procedure, include airfare, accommodation, local transport, and time off work in the full budget. If the treatment price difference does not cover those added costs, there is no need to fly just for the price.
Ten Aptos threads and ten cog threads are not the same plan
Thread count states a quantity; it does not explain the thread structure or how it will be placed. Aptos and standard cog threads have different structures, so dividing both prices by 10 does not produce a comparable “price per thread.”
In my own clinical comparison experience, individual cog threads could give a good lift immediately, but sometimes did not have enough holding strength and later settled downward. With Aptos placed in multiple crossing passes, I found the tension and duration better, which is why I now choose it more often. This is my procedural experience, not a pricing formula that converts one Aptos thread into a number of cog threads, and it does not mean every face needs the more expensive product.
Why our clinic lists Aptos separately from absorbable threads
I mainly use Aptos EVHA. It is 19 cm long and comes in a box of 10 threads. MINT and cog threads are listed separately under absorbable threads. Separating the product names and thread counts is meant to show you what you are comparing, not to pile up choices.
The product, thread count, and lifting direction still depend on the facial tissue and direction of sagging. The 10-thread and 20-thread entries are price-list options, not a fixed count for every person. A lower price for another thread product is also not a reason to increase its count until the totals look similar.
Keep contouring or other injections separate from the thread lift
Lifting along the fascial direction alone is sometimes not enough when the subcutaneous fat has also descended. At our clinic, I usually assess whether contouring or fat-dissolving injections are needed at the same time. If the face has lost volume, restoring volume may also need to be discussed.
These accompanying treatments are not another name for Aptos or absorbable threads, and they should not be assumed to be included in the listed price. If they are added, the quote should separate the thread lift, injections, and other items so you can see which treatment each charge covers.
When sagging is minimal, I do not recommend forcing an “early maintenance” thread lift
When sagging is minimal, a thread lift is usually unnecessary. Some people are very concerned subjectively, but an examination of the facial tissue by layer shows no area that needs treatment. In that situation, there is no need to put a larger thread-lift budget into the plan just because you are worried about future sagging.
On the other hand, for someone over 40 who has tried other lifting treatments with limited benefit, a thread lift or Aptos may become a reasonable next option to compare. The price list can answer the budget question first, but whether treatment is needed and which thread to use can only be decided after examining your face.
