😤 Let me state the conclusion first: What is the difference between a streamlined clinic and a bls?
“Who performed your thread lifting? Why is there such a noticeable asymmetry between your left and right faces?” This question was asked to me by a completely unfamiliar South Korean lady in a coffee shop two weeks after I had the procedure. I was stunned on the spot. I had spent 500,000 South Korean won on this treatment, and it was agreed at the time of booking that Director Lee would perform the surgery. However, it was actually a young doctor who carried out the procedure. The purpose of this story is not to complain, but to share my experience: later on, I went to the Dermatology department of BLS Clinic and had a three-stage lift procedure performed by Director Lee for 400,000 South Korean won. This time, the same doctor handled the entire procedure, and the results were truly different. If you are also considering South Korea-based lift treatments, please read this story before making a decision.
After that, I didn’t undergo any facial treatments for a full half year. Until a friend who works in Seoul told me, “You should go see Dr. Lee from Cheongdam-dong; he’s the kind of doctor who really does the whole procedure himself without hiring anyone else to help.” She wasn’t referring to any online advertisements; it was based on her own experience and that of her friends. After consulting with s-sourire, they confirmed Dr. Lee’s availability, so I decided to give it one last try and flew over to see him.
The results were truly completely different. From the moment the patient entered the clinic until they left, President Lee took care of every detail himself throughout the entire process. This is actually quite rare in South Korea’s medical aesthetics industry. In many clinics, the director is only responsible for the “key steps”; the preparatory work before and the follow-up tasks are handled by assistants. However, President Lee did everything himself – from administering the anesthetic to the very last injection. Once you experience this approach, you will immediately realize how significant the difference is.
🧬 What exactly is President Li’s “three-step lift procedure”?
During the in-person consultation, Director Li explained to me the concept of his “3-Step Facelift” approach. It isn’t some patented technique or secret treatment method, but rather a systematic procedure. He believes that relying on a single lifting technique alone yields limited results; only by addressing the upper, middle, and lower layers simultaneously can the best outcomes be achieved.
Paragraph 1: For deep lifting (SMAS fascial layer), SWOMAN PDO Cog T
hreads are used to perform deep suspension. These threads have barbs that, once inserted, can grasp the underlying tissues and pull them upwards. Director Lee particularly emphasizes that the angle and depth of needle insertion are crucial – too shallow and the lift will not be effective; too deep and there are risks involved. Before each injection, he carefully determines the anatomical location by hand before making the precise incision. Once this step is completed, you will immediately feel as if your face has been “lifted up”.
In the second step, after performing deep lifting
in the middle layer (the subcutaneous fat layer), some areas may become sunken or uneven. Director Li will use Filler to perform precise injections to restore the lost volume. He uses Elravie Deep, which has high viscoelasticity and is less likely to shift in place. During the injection process, he will ask you to sit up or stand up, so that the results can be observed in different positions to ensure that the outcome looks natural and seamless.
Third step: Surface repair (dermis + epidermis). Finally, use the
Meso Botox kit to perform a comprehensive treatment on the entire face. The purpose of this step is to Pore tightening, control oil production, and improve skin quality. Director Li mentioned that many people only opt for lifting treatments without focusing on skin quality management; as a result, their faces may appear lifted, but the skin condition remains poor, giving them a “taut and rough-looking face.” After completing these three steps, the skin achieves a triple effect: tension, fullness, and smoothness.
The entire process takes approximately 1 hour and costs 400,000 Korean won (equivalent to around 9,600 New Taiwan dollars or 2,120 RMB). Compared with the other place where I had to pay 500,000 won for just one step of the procedure, the cost-performance ratio here is much better.
👨⚕️ Just how important is it to “never change hands throughout the entire process”? That’s my real experience.
Many people might think that “it doesn’t really matter who does it,” but once you experience it yourself, you will realize the difference.
Firstly, there is a complete lack of communication. When I had thread lifting done at another clinic before, the director who conducted the initial consultation said, “We will draw two lines at the angle of your jaw.” However, it was actually another doctor who performed the procedure. During the operation, I realized that he didn’t seem to understand the details discussed during the consultation, and the insertion points of the needles were different from what I had been told. I wanted to stop the procedure, but since the doctor had already started, I had no choice but to let it continue. Director Lee, on the other hand, would never encounter such problems – he was both the one who conducted the consultation and the one who performed the treatment, so he knew exactly why each step needed to be done in that particular way.
Secondly, the consistency of the procedure. Facial lifting is a highly precise procedure, as everyone’s skeletal structure, muscle patterns, and fat distribution are unique. A doctor who has examined your face in person and studied its structure will be able to perform the procedure with the greatest accuracy. If another doctor takes over midway, they may not be familiar with your facial features, which could easily lead to errors in the placement of the injections. Director Lee personally performs the entire procedure, from the first injection to the last, ensuring that he is fully aware of the exact location and function of each injection.
Thirdly, the responsibilities after the procedure are clearly defined. If any issues arise afterwards, it is the person who performed the procedure who will be responsible for addressing them, rather than assistants or “on-duty doctors.” After the procedure, Director Li personally checks the symmetry, texture, and appearance to ensure there are no problems before allowing you to leave. Moreover, he adds you on WeChat (through s-sourire) so that you can communicate with him promptly if you have any concerns after the surgery.
🚫 Not highly recommended – on this point, I must give Director Li a full score.
To be honest, the problem of excessive recommendations in South Korea’s cosmetic surgery industry is quite serious. In many clinics, the consultation process goes like this: you mention that you want to have procedure A done, and the clinic director replies, “Procedure A isn’t enough; you also need procedures B and C.” Then they quote a price that is twice as high as your budget. If you say it’s too expensive, they start offering discounts, but these discounts often apply to procedures that are actually not necessary for you.
Director Li is definitely not the kind of person to suggest such things. During the consultation, I mentioned that I wanted to undergo thread lifting combined with Filler injections. After looking at my face, he said, “Thread lifting is possible, but you already have enough Filler in your face. Adding more now wouldn’t produce significant results; I suggest considering it again in six months.” He directly discouraged me from proceeding with the treatment I had planned. Instead, he advised me to use my budget on the Inno Small Brown Bottle treatment to address my enlarged Pores – something I hadn’t originally considered, but he thought it would be more beneficial for me.
The final treatment plan was: PDO thread lifting + Inno Small Brown Bottle + a small amount of Filler injection, for a total cost of 400,000 South Korean won. This was actually less than my initial budget of 600,000 won. I was quite surprised at that time, because based on my previous experience with medical aesthetics treatments in South Korea, the recommendations usually involved doing more procedures rather than fewer. It was the first time I encountered a doctor who suggested doing fewer treatments instead.
The follow-up after the procedure was also very thorough. The day after leaving the clinic, the department head checked with me via S-Sourire to confirm how I was recovering and whether there were any issues such as unusual swelling, pain, or redness. On the third day, Director Li personally reviewed the photos I had sent and said that my recovery was progressing normally and that there was nothing to worry about. Throughout the entire process, I didn’t receive any calls or messages offering additional treatments; it was truly comfortable.
💳 Reference Quote for the Project Led by Director Li of BLS Clinic
| Project Name | Reference price (Korean won) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Three-step Lifting Treatment (Thread Lift + Filling + Brown Bottle Injections) | Starting from ₩400,000 | Director Li performed the entire procedure himself. |
| PDO COG thread lifting (for the face) | Starting from ⩡500,000 | Approximately 10 to 12 lines |
| Filler injection (local/intravenous administration) | Starting from ¥150,000 | Elravie Deep-Tech Version |
| Inno Brown Bottle (Meso Botox / Mesobotox) | Starting from ¥180,000 | Full face treatment |
| V-line injections (facial slimming injections) | Starting from ¥120,000 | Genuine botulinum toxin products |
| Collagen stimulators (Sculptra / 스클프트라) | Starting from ₩450,000 | Long-term anti-aging effects |
💡 Exchange rate reference for May 2026: 1 Korean won ≈ 0.024 ANEW New Taiwan dollars / 0.0053 RMB. The prices provided are for reference only; the actual prices shall be subject to the rates quoted by the clinic on the day of service.
❓ Common Issues with the Three-Stage Lifting Technique at BLS Clinic
Q: Is the three-stage lifting procedure painful?
A: Local anesthetic is applied 30 minutes before the procedure. There may be a slight swelling sensation when the needles are inserted, but it’s not painful enough to be unbearable. The pain associated with Filler injections is even milder. The Inno Small Brown Bottle uses very fine needles, so the procedure is almost pain-free. Overall, the discomfort is within an acceptable range – much more comfortable than the HIFU treatments I had done before.
Q: Which is better, the three-stage lifting procedure or the HIFU? A: T
heir functions are different. The HIFU provides a single deep-layer lifting effect, while the three-stage procedure combines “deep-layer lifting”, “volume restoration” and “skin quality improvement” into one. If you only have mild sagging, the HIFU may be sufficient. However, if you have sagging, wrinkles and skin quality issues, the comprehensive effects of the three-stage procedure are better. It is recommended that you consult Dr. Li in person for personalized advice.
Q: How long is the recovery period? A
: The areas treated with thread lifting may experience swelling and mild bruising for 3 to 5 days. After the Inno Brown Bottle treatment, there may be a slight redness on the same day, but it will disappear by the next day. It is recommended to allow at least 4 to 5 days for recovery and to avoid scheduling too many activities in close succession.
Q: Is Director Li definitely available? Could it be that another doctor will perform the pr
ocedure instead? A: When making an appointment, it will be confirmed that Director Li will personally perform the treatment. Appointments made through s-sourire will specifically indicate “diagnosed and treated by Director Li”. If another doctor is present at the clinic, you can simply refuse their service. The management at BLS is quite strict, so such situations are unlikely to occur.
📋 How to make an appointment: I have tried both methods and found them to be very convenient.
Route A: Direct connection via WeChat. Add CDU s-sourire directly.
Advantages: 1-on-1 pre-operative assessment, real-
time verification of Dr. Li’s schedule, access to internal discounts, and provision of Chinese translation services during the process.
Path B: BeautsGO – Beauty for All (mini-program)
1. Search on WeChat
for the “BeautsGO” mini-program.
2. Enter “BLS” to make a reservat
ion directly.
Advantages: Transparent price comparison, platform-e
xclusive discounts, and a dedicated green channel for certified services.
📝 Disclaimer
The content of this article is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. The results of cosmetic procedures vary from person to person, and the prices and treatment details mentioned in this article may change at any time. Please refer to the current rates provided by the clinic on the day of your consultation. Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, it is essential to have a thorough discussion with your doctor and understand the potential risks involved.
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