HIKO is a name for a nose thread lift technique that began in Korea. Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic on Orchard Road explains what is done, what it can and cannot change, and what to ask before you book.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓A HIKO nose thread lift is a branded nose thread lift technique from Korea, commonly explained as “high” plus “ko”, the Korean word for nose. Absorbable PDO threads are placed along the bridge and vertically into the tip to add height, definition and tip support. The threads absorb over months, so the effect is temporary and softens over time.
HIKO is the name given to a nose thread lift technique developed in Korea. The name is usually explained as a combination of “high” and “ko”, the Korean word for nose. It is a way of placing threads rather than a different kind of thread, and the threads used are polydioxanone (PDO), the same absorbable material used in many face thread lifts and in surgical sutures.
What distinguishes the approach is where the threads go. Threads are laid lengthwise along the bridge (the dorsum) to sharpen and slightly raise the line, and others are placed vertically through the columella, the strip of tissue between the nostrils, towards the tip. The vertical threads act a little like a temporary support post, lifting and projecting the tip.
Many clinics now use similar placements under other names. When you compare offers, it helps to ask what threads are used, how many, where they go and who places them, rather than relying on the name.
After numbing, a fine hollow needle or cannula carrying the thread is introduced through a small entry point, usually at the tip. It is passed along the planned track, and when it is withdrawn the thread stays behind. Barbed threads have tiny projections that grip the surrounding tissue so the thread holds its position and supports the soft tissue around it.
The change is mechanical at first. Along the bridge, the threads give a straighter, more defined line; in the tip, they act as a strut that resists the downward pull of the tissue and lifts the tip a little. Over the next six to eight months the PDO is absorbed by the body. A thin layer of collagen forms along each track during that time, which is why some of the effect remains for a period after the thread itself has gone.
Studies of PDO threads in the nose, often combined with filler, describe threads as particularly useful for tip support, an area where filler alone tends to spread or flatten. The number of threads matters: too few give little change, and too many raise the risk of visible threads and extrusion without improving the shape.
“I care less about the name of the technique than about how many threads your skin can carry, and where they should sit.”
It tends to suit adults with a low to moderate bridge and a soft, under-projected tip who want a more defined profile, and who understand that the effect is temporary. Skin of medium thickness is usually easiest: very thin skin shows threads more readily, and very thick skin hides the definition the threads create.
It is less suitable, or needs more caution, if you have had surgical rhinoplasty, especially with an implant; if the skin of the tip is tight, scarred or very thin; if you have active skin infection, acne on the nose or a tendency to keloid scars; or if your main wish is a narrower or shorter nose. It is not done during pregnancy.
If your bridge is very low, threads alone may not give the height you want, and a small amount of nose filler on the upper bridge may be needed. The comparison is set out in nose thread lift vs nose filler.
Swelling, tenderness and mild bruising are expected for several days, with the tip often feeling firm and stiff when smiling. These settle without treatment. The more important risks are specific to threads in a thin, mobile area.
Visible or palpable threads. A thread placed too close to the surface, or in thin skin, can be seen or felt. Extrusion. A thread end can work its way out, usually at the tip or inside the nostril; it is removed and the area heals. Infection. The nose carries bacteria on its surface and inside the nostrils, so sterile technique and aftercare matter; an infected thread is treated with antibiotics and often removed. Deviation. Uneven placement or uneven tension can tilt the bridge slightly. Tip redness or skin thinning over a thread under tension.
Unlike filler, threads carry very little risk of blocking a blood vessel, but the nose is still an area where depth and technique matter. The thread lift complications article explains how these problems are recognised and managed.
Day 0. The nose is numb for an hour or two, then tender and swollen. The tip may look a little fuller than it will end up. There is a small entry mark at the tip. Days 1–3. Swelling peaks. Sleep with the head raised, avoid touching or pressing the nose, avoid glasses resting on the bridge, saunas, alcohol and strenuous exercise, and do not blow your nose hard. Week 1. Swelling eases and the entry point heals; the tip may still feel firm. Weeks 2–4. The shape settles. Contact sport, facials on the nose and heavy glasses are avoided for a few weeks. Review. The shape is judged at about two weeks.
Increasing pain, redness, warmth, discharge, a thread end appearing or a change in skin colour should be reported straight away rather than waited out.
IN Eternity Clinic performs nose thread lifts with PDO threads. Whether you have seen the HIKO name or another, the plan starts with your nose: bridge height, tip support, skin thickness, symmetry and any history of surgery or injections. Dr Sin Yong explains how many threads he would use, where, and why, and whether threads, filler or a combination would serve you better.
If a non-surgical approach is not appropriate, for example because you want a narrower nose or have breathing concerns, he will say so. Details of the treatment are on the nose thread lift page, and the non-surgical rhinoplasty guide covers the wider options.
Whichever clinic you choose, a few questions are worth asking before a nose thread lift. Which threads are used, and are they registered for use in Singapore? How many will be placed, and where? Who performs the procedure, and who sees you if a thread can be felt or an entry point becomes red? What is the plan if the result is uneven at the two-week review? Clear answers to these tell you more than the name of the technique or a photograph of someone else’s nose.
HIKO is a name for a nose thread lift technique that began in Korea. It is usually explained as 'high' combined with 'ko', the Korean word for nose. It describes a way of placing absorbable PDO threads along the bridge and into the tip, rather than a different type of thread or a separate procedure.
The PDO threads are absorbed over about six to eight months. A collagen response forms along each thread track, so some of the effect remains for a while after that, but the result softens over time. Many people find the change lasts under a year and choose a top-up. Skin thickness and how much the nose moves affect this.
It is done under local anaesthetic after numbing cream. The anaesthetic injection stings briefly, and as the threads are placed most people feel pressure or tugging rather than sharp pain. Afterwards the tip is tender and stiff for several days, particularly when smiling. Simple painkillers and gentle cold compresses around the nose usually help.
Common effects are swelling, tenderness and mild bruising. Less common risks include a thread that can be seen or felt, a thread end working its way out at the tip or inside the nostril, infection, and slight deviation of the bridge. Most are managed by removing the thread. Serious vascular problems are much less likely than with nose filler.
No. It can sharpen the bridge line and lift the tip for a period, but it cannot narrow the nose, reduce the nostrils, remove a large hump, shorten a long nose or improve breathing. If those are your goals, a surgical rhinoplasty consultation is the appropriate route, and Dr Sin Yong will tell you that at assessment.
IN Eternity Clinic performs nose thread lifts with absorbable PDO threads placed along the bridge and, where suitable, into the tip. Rather than following a fixed branded protocol, Dr Sin Yong decides the number and position of threads for your nose at assessment, and explains whether threads, filler or both would suit you.
The cost depends on the number and type of threads, whether the bridge and tip are both treated, whether filler is combined, and how the plan is staged. A written quote is given after Dr Sin Yong has examined your nose and agreed a plan with you. The consultation fee is waived with any medical treatment.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.