The nasolabial fold is the crease that runs from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth, and the clinic's nasolabial fold treatment in Korea softens it with 2 cc of HILO WAVE (HIGHER Corporation) injectable plus four absorbable threads. The session takes 30–40 minutes under local anesthesia. The aim is a shallower line that still moves when you smile, without a heavy, overfilled cheek.
Is it for you?
Who the nasolabial package suits
Smile lines deepen for more than one reason. Skin loses elasticity, the fat compartments of the mid-cheek thin out and slide, and the cheek starts to fold over the upper lip at the point where it is anchored. A small amount of injectable placed under the fold, together with threads that add support along its length, addresses a fold that is mainly a crease and a shallow hollow.
The limit is weight. When a heavy, sagging cheek is what pushes the fold forward, product and threads under the line cannot hold that tissue up for long, and the conversation moves to lifting procedures instead. The four-week rule on wide mouth opening also matters for planning, since it affects eating, yawning and any dental visit you had booked for the same month.
Usually a good fit
- Moderate smile lines visible at rest as well as when smiling
- Wanting the fold softened with a modest volume of product
- Cheek skin that still has reasonable firmness
- Able to stay in Seoul two to three days after the session
- Comfortable avoiding wide mouth opening for four weeks
We may suggest waiting
- Heavy cheek and jowl sagging as the main cause of the fold
- Active acne, cold sores or infection around the mouth or cheeks
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Dental work planned in the four weeks after treatment
- Expecting the line to disappear completely
How it works
How the nasolabial package works on the fold
A nasolabial fold is not a simple wrinkle in the skin surface. It forms where the mobile cheek meets the upper lip, which is held more firmly to the deeper tissues, so the fold is partly a shadow cast by the cheek and partly a groove under the skin. That is why the package combines two tools: HILO WAVE, an injectable placed under the groove, and threads laid along the line to support it from within the soft tissue.
The threads used for this purpose dissolve over time, so they leave nothing to remove. Research on the method is still thin. In a prospective comparison, folds treated with polydioxanone (PDO) cog threads plus botulinum toxin showed more improvement in depth and satisfaction at three and six months than threads alone, with mild bruising and swelling in both groups (Shinde, 2026). That study tested a different combination and a small group, so it explains the principle and does not predict the result of this package. ENTER Plastic Surgery holds a MINT Lift (Hans Biomed) genuine-product certificate, issued in November 2025, for the thread products it uses.
Reading the fold
At consultationThe fold is checked at rest and while smiling, along with how firm the cheek is above it, to judge whether the package suits the fold or whether sagging is the bigger factor.
Marking and numbing
The line of the fold and the entry points are marked on the skin, and local anesthesia is given so the next steps cause pressure more than pain.
HILO WAVE under the groove
Two cc of HILO WAVE in total is placed beneath the fold to support the hollow part of the line, spread across both sides of the face.
Four threads along the line
30–40 minutes in totalFour absorbable threads are passed under the skin along the folds to add support, and the entry points are cleaned with no stitches needed.
Aftercare briefing
Before you leave you receive the aftercare rules: gentle face washing, no hard downward rubbing, prescribed medicine morning and evening, and four weeks of limited mouth opening.
Options for smile lines on the ENTER Plastic Surgery menu
| Point of comparison | Nasolabial package | HA filler | Collagen stimulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is used | HILO WAVE 2 cc and 4 threads | Hyaluronic acid gel | Sculptra, Juvelook Volume or Radiesse |
| Session time | 30–40 minutes | 15–30 minutes | 20–30 minutes |
| Numbing | Local anesthesia | Numbing cream | Numbing cream |
| Earliest flight home | 2–3 days after | Same day or next day | Same day or next day |
| Clinic guidance on duration | 6–12 months | 6–18 months, by area and product | About 1–2 years (Sculptra, Juvelook) |
| Sessions | 1, touch-up after 6–12 months | Top-up every 6–12 months | 2–3 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart |
Figures are the clinic's own guidance for each menu item; individual results vary and the face keeps aging.
Your doctor
Chief Director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“Natural, yet clearly visible change.”Eyelid and facelift surgery at ENTER is planned and performed by Dr. Jang himself.
- NowChief Director, ENTER Plastic Surgery
- TrainingPlastic surgery, Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- FormerChief Director, Jang Plastic Surgery
- FormerDirector, Secret Plastic Surgery
- MemberKSPRS · KSAPS · ISAPS · ESOPRS · ASPS
At a glance
Nasolabial package: treatment facts
| Procedure time | 30–40 minutes |
|---|---|
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia |
| Downtime | Fold fills in over 1–2 weeks; limit wide mouth opening for 4 weeks |
| Recommended sessions | 1 session, with a touch-up after 6–12 months |
| How long results last | About 6–12 months |
| Return to exercise | Generally, per published guidance, light exercise resumes the day after a thread treatment, and strenuous exercise the day after filler |
| Earliest flight home | 2–3 days after the session |
Prices
Nasolabial fold treatment price in Seoul
The nasolabial package appears on the price list as one set: the 2 cc of HILO WAVE and the four threads are charged together instead of per thread. Every figure on this page is a pre-tax amount, with 10% VAT added when you pay. HILO WAVE is also priced per 1 cc on its own, and Sculptra (Galderma) is listed per 1 cc for anyone weighing the collagen-stimulator route.
Local anesthesia and the prescribed medicine mentioned in the aftercare are not itemized in the set, so ask the clinic to list them in your written quote before you book.
Prices exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Recovery
Aftercare timeline for nasolabial fold treatment
You can wash your face the same day, gently. Avoid rubbing the face hard in a downward direction, and start the prescribed medicine, taken twice a day, morning and evening.
The fold fills in gradually over this period. Tenderness or small marks at the entry points can appear; call the clinic at once about anything unusual, such as spreading redness or skin turning pale or dusky.
Keep avoiding wide mouth opening until four weeks have passed: big yawns, large bites and long dental procedures stretch the fold while the threads settle.
The clinic's guidance puts the effect at six to twelve months. A touch-up is planned in this window if you want to keep the fold softer.
Safety
Risks of nasolabial fold treatment
Injectables and threads carry fewer risks than surgery, but they are not free of them. Pain that keeps rising, skin that turns white, gray or blotchy near the injection area, or any change in vision needs an immediate call to the clinic.
- Bruising, swelling and tenderness at the entry points and along the fold.
- Dimpling, puckering or a thread that can be felt or seen under the skin while it settles.
- Thread extrusion or infection, which needs prompt review.
- Uneven folds between the two sides, or lumps where the injectable has collected.
- Vascular occlusion, a rare but serious event in which injected product blocks a blood vessel near the nose and mouth.
A systematic review of thread lifts on the face and neck found that most thread complications resolved on their own and severe ones responded to treatment, while noting that long-term safety and effect still need more study (Pham, 2021). For injectables, an international consensus group sets out how to lower the risk of complications and how to manage them when they occur (Signorini, 2016). A large cohort comparison found vascular occlusion to be very uncommon with both needles and cannulas, and less frequent with microcannulas (Alam, 2021).
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Safety Profile of Thread Lifts on the Face and Neck: An Evidence-Based Systematic ReviewDermatologic Surgery · 2021 · Pham C et al. · doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000003189
Systematic review of thread lifts on the face and neck: most complications resolved on their own and severe cases responded to treatment; long-term effect and safety need further study.
- Correction of Nasolabial Folds Using Polydioxanone Cog Threads Combined With Botulinum Toxin Type A: A Prospective Comparative Clinical StudyCureus · 2026 · Shinde S et al. · doi:10.7759/cureus.101158
Prospective comparison in nasolabial folds: PDO cog threads with botulinum toxin improved fold depth and satisfaction more than threads alone at 3 and 6 months, with similar mild side effects; a small, low-evidence study.
- Global Aesthetics Consensus: Avoidance and Management of Complications from Hyaluronic Acid Fillers—Evidence- and Opinion-Based Review and Consensus RecommendationsPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery · 2016 · Signorini M et al. · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000002184
International consensus on avoiding and managing complications of hyaluronic acid fillers: adverse events are uncommon, but prevention and a treatment plan are still needed.
- Rates of Vascular Occlusion Associated With Using Needles vs Cannulas for Filler InjectionJAMA Dermatology · 2021 · Alam M et al. · doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.5102
Multicenter cohort: vascular occlusion after filler injection was very rare with both needles and cannulas, and microcannulas were associated with fewer occlusions.
FAQ
Nasolabial fold treatment FAQ
How soon do smile lines look softer after the nasolabial package?
The clinic's guidance is that the fold fills in gradually over about one to two weeks, so the first days are not the final picture. Small entry points and mild puffiness along the cheek can show during that period. Judge the result once those two weeks have passed.
How many days should I stay in Seoul after nasolabial fold treatment?
Allow two to three days after the session before you fly, which is the clinic's guidance for this package. The threads are absorbable, so there is nothing to take out and no stitch visit to fit into the trip. Book the treatment early in your stay if you can.
Which doctor carries out nasolabial fold treatment?
Dr. Choi Yul, a family medicine specialist, focuses on Botox, injections and pigment treatment at ENTER Plastic Surgery, and Dr. Jang Jin-woo is a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon. Ask which of the two doctors will treat you when you book, so the name is in your confirmation.
Does the nasolabial package price include VAT?
No. The package is listed before Korea's 10% VAT, which is added when you pay. The session uses local anesthesia, so the separate IV sedation charge that applies to surgery is not part of this treatment. Prescribed medication is mentioned in the aftercare, so ask for it as a line in your quote.
Can I treat nasolabial folds without filler?
Not with this package, since it includes 2 cc of HILO WAVE injectable alongside the threads. Collagen stimulators such as Sculptra or Juvelook Volume (VAIM) are a different route on the menu: they prompt your own collagen over four to six weeks and take two to three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart.
Does nasolabial fold treatment hurt?
You can expect pressure and brief stinging at the entry points while the injectable and threads go in, eased by local anesthesia (anaesthesia in UK spelling). Tenderness when you chew or smile can follow for a few days. Tell the clinic about any pain that keeps increasing instead of easing.
Why should I avoid opening my mouth wide after the treatment?
The clinic asks you to avoid wide mouth opening for four weeks. The fold moves every time the mouth stretches, and big yawns, large bites or long dental appointments pull on threads that are still settling under the skin. Smaller bites and a hand under the chin when yawning help.
What result is realistic for deep smile lines?
A softer, shallower fold that still moves with your expression is the aim. A crease that is part of your natural smile does not vanish completely, and sagging cheeks keep pulling on the fold as the face ages. The clinic's guidance puts the effect at about six to twelve months.
Is the nasolabial package a new menu at the clinic?
Yes. ENTER Plastic Surgery introduced the package in September 2026, so its track record at the clinic is short. Published research on threads for nasolabial folds is also limited and mostly short term, which is one reason the page lists the studies it draws on in the references section.
How do I book nasolabial fold treatment from overseas?
Send the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. English-speaking staff are available at the clinic. Mentioning your arrival and departure dates helps fit the two to three days before your flight into the plan.
Is a deposit needed to hold a nasolabial treatment slot?
Deposit and cancellation terms are agreed for each booking and are not published on this page. Ask for them in writing before you transfer any money, and check how a change of date would affect the days you have set aside before flying home.
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Great experience! Dr. is very sweet and kind. He listened to what I wanted to fix and correct. He explained everything very well. Wasn’t pushy and didn’t try to sell anything extra. This isn’t a clinic that comes out on instagram, which I…
Jennifer LyuA month agoI came to Enter Plastic Surgery on a friend’s recommendation for under-eye fat repositioning. I was pretty nervous going in, but the doctor took the time to explain what would work for my under-eyes, what the procedure involved, and what…
Michael2 months agoThe staff are incredibly friendly, and the consultation was very thorough. I was very worried since it was my first procedure, but the director explained the aftercare in detail, so I felt completely confident trusting them!!
ROOHEUI SHIN (RHS)2 months ago · Translated by Google