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Eye Threading (under-eye shopping lift): effects and downtime explained
“How effective is an under-eye Shopping Lift? Is the downtime noticeable?”
“I'm bothered by sagging and wrinkles around my eyes, but I don't want a procedure that involves cutting.”
“What is an Eye Thread?”
Do you have questions like these about the under-eye Shopping Lift (Shopping Threads)?
Hello, I am a physician at Smart Skin Clinic, a cosmetic dermatology clinic.
The eye area shows signs of aging early, so it is a common source of concern. From an expert's perspective, we explain what effects the Shopping Lift offers and how much post-procedure downtime symptoms may affect you.
*From the table of contents below, you can jump to the section you want to read.
Group Chief Director, Smart Skin Clinic Group
Ishii Kota
Career
Graduated from Juntendo University School of Medicine
Worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital and affiliated facilities
Worked at a major aesthetic clinic in Tokyo
Affiliations / Qualifications
Board-certified specialist, Japan Surgical Society
Board-certified specialist, Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine
What is the under-eye Shopping Lift?
The Shopping Lift (Shopping Threads) is one of the sagging treatments. The under-eye Shopping Lift, also called an “Eye Thread,” is performed to help improve eye-area concerns such as hollows and sagging under the eyes, dark circles, fine lines, and crepey wrinkles.
Short, barbless threads finer than a strand of hair are inserted under the eyes.
The stimulation from inserting the threads, together with the stimulation as they dissolve within the skin, activates fibroblasts and increases the production of collagen and elastin.
Recommended for
- Bothered by puffiness, hollows, or sagging under the eyes, or by dark circles
- Bothered by fine lines and crepey wrinkles around the eyes
- Want to bring firmness to the eye area
- Can't take much downtime
- Hesitant about a scalpel-based procedure
- Want a natural-looking result
- Want to take preventive care of the eye area
Effects of the under-eye Shopping Lift
- Improvement of dark circles and fine lines through a natural lifting effect
- Prevention of dark circles under the eyes
- Improved firmness in the eye area through a tightening effect
- More expressive, brighter eyes
- A more youthful-looking eye area
The thread material is designed to offer tightening and fat-reducing effects
Many people are curious about what kind of thread is placed under the eyes.
The thread material used in the Shopping Lift is mainly polydioxanone (PDO). It is a highly safe medical material also used in surgery, and as it dissolves and is absorbed within the skin over about 8 months, it offers the following effects:
[Effects of polydioxanone]
- Tightening effect
- Natural lifting effect
- Fat-reducing effect
Tightening and natural lifting effects
The threads inserted beneath the skin stimulate fibroblasts and promote the production of collagen and elastin.
As collagen increases, firmness returns and the skin tightens. By inserting the threads in a mesh pattern to increase collagen, loose muscle can be supported, which is expected to help improve dark circles caused by under-eye sagging and hollows. The effect of boosting collagen and elastin continues for a while even after the threads dissolve.
As the skin tightens, a natural lifting effect can be expected. Blood flow is stimulated at the same time, which may also help improve bluish dark circles.
Fat-reducing effect
Polydioxanone is also expected to have a fat-reducing effect.
The cause of under-eye sagging and dark circles is orbital fat. By reducing the volume of orbital fat, sagging and dark circles may also be reduced.
The effects of polydioxanone (PDO) have been reported in various studies.
More collagen production was observed with multiple PDO threads than with a single PLA thread, indicating that increasing the number of threads leads to greater collagen synthesis.
Jung Jin Shin, Tae Jun Park, Bo Young Kim, Chang Min Kim, Dong Hye Suh, Sang Jun Lee, Hye-Rim Moon, Hwa Jung Ryu. Comparative effects of various absorbable threads in a rat model. Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology. 2019;21(3);158-162. doi: 10.1080/14764172.2018.1493511.
Four white Yucatan pygmy pigs, whose skin most closely resembles the structure of human skin, were selected. 4-0 PDO threads were inserted into the subcutaneous fat. Tissue samples were taken at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48. H&E staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and anti-smooth-muscle-actin immunohistochemical staining were used for histological analysis.
(Excerpt) PDO sutures induce specific changes in the surrounding tissue, resulting in new collagen formation, a fibrous consolidation effect, fat reduction, tissue contraction, and an improved vascular environment.
Jung Hyun Yoon, Sang Seop Kim, Seung Min Oh, Bong Cheol Kim, Wonsug Jung. Tissue changes over time after polydioxanone thread insertion: An animal study with pigs. Journal of cosmetic dermatology. 2019 Jun;18(3);885-891. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12718.
How many threads does an under-eye Shopping Lift (Eye Thread) need?
From 20 threads for both eyes
The number of threads needed for an Eye Thread varies from person to person, but generally starts at around 20.
We can suggest the number of threads based on your eye-area concerns and your wishes.
For more on the number of threads needed for a Shopping Lift, please see this page as well.
Pain during the under-eye Shopping Lift procedure
Almost none
*With anesthesia
The thread used in the procedure is finer than a strand of hair, and the needle is extremely fine. Because the skin around the eyes is thin, it is prone to pain, but it is not unbearable. In addition, a topical anesthetic is applied beforehand to numb the sensation.
Some clinics use local anesthesia, but topical anesthesia is sufficient. Using more anesthesia than necessary places an added burden on both your body and your wallet, so Smart Skin Clinic does not recommend it.
Downtime, side effects, and risks of the under-eye Shopping Lift
Here we explain the downtime and risks of the under-eye Shopping Lift.
Downtime period and symptoms of the under-eye Shopping Lift
[Period]
- A few days
[Symptoms]
- Redness / warmth: a few hours
- Swelling, pain, discomfort, or tightness: a few days
- Bruising: about 10 days to 2 weeks
- Scarring: barely noticeable
How things progress and how to spend your time after an under-eye Shopping Lift
Downtime symptoms ease gradually.
To avoid undermining the results, please follow the daily-life precautions.
| On the day | Swelling, stinging pain, and a tight, pulling sensation Makeup, showering, and bathing are OK on areas other than the treated area Refrain from alcohol and from activities that warm the body; relieve symptoms such as swelling and pain by cooling Avoid warming activities such as long baths, saunas, and strenuous exercise, as well as facial massage, for about one week |
| The next day | Makeup OK |
| About 3 days later | Swelling and redness settle down Bruising begins to appear |
| About 1 week later | If there is bruising, warm the area to ease it |
| Other | Bruising settles down in about 2 weeks |
Self-care after an under-eye Shopping Lift
- Don't touch the area more than necessary
- Don't rub
- Moisturize thoroughly
- Protect thoroughly against UV rays
Handle the treated area gently and carefully to promote wound healing, prevent infection, and help the threads settle.
Please refrain from massaging the eye area until the threads have settled.
How does bruising appear, and how can it be prevented?
- Bruising changes color—bluish-purple, red, green, then yellow—and gradually fades
- It can be controlled to some extent by the type of needle and by applying pressure to stop bleeding
Because capillaries are concentrated under the eyes, this area is prone to bruising. It becomes lighter and less noticeable day by day, eventually fading over about 10 days to 2 weeks.
As preventive measures on the clinic's side, we insert the threads using ultra-fine needles or blunt needles with rounded tips to reduce the risk of injuring the subcutaneous tissue and blood vessels, and we apply pressure after the procedure to limit the spread of bruising.
Measures to prevent bruising that we ask patients to help with
- Cool the area for about a week after the procedure
- Warm the area after about a week has passed
- Cover with makeup
For about a week after the procedure, the area is red or bluish-purple, and warming it or increasing blood flow makes bruising more likely. Cooling is advisable during this period. Cooling constricts the blood vessels and helps reduce bruising.
Conversely, from about a week onward, the area may turn green or yellow and may feel tender when pressed. Warm the treated area to stimulate circulation and help clear excess waste.
Bruising can usually be covered with a mask or concealer. Even at the longer end, expect it to last about 3 weeks. Bruising mostly appears around the needle insertion sites—under the eyes and the upper cheeks—but it may also spread to the upper eyelids.
Because symptoms vary from person to person, it is safest to avoid the procedure for several weeks before an important event.
Risks of the under-eye Shopping Lift
- Infection
- Allergy
The Shopping Lift is a relatively safe procedure.
The threads used in the Shopping Lift are absorbable. Because they dissolve and are absorbed in about six months, they do not remain in the body long-term, which helps reduce the risk of infection.
If swelling, pain, or a burning sensation intensifies, it may indicate an infection, so please contact the clinic. Treatment with antibiotics will be provided.
When the effects of an under-eye Shopping Lift appear, how long they last, and how often to have maintenance
[When the effects appear]
- The effects appear gradually from about one week after the procedure, peaking at about 3–4 months
[Duration of effect]
- Approx. 1 to 1.5 years
[Maintenance frequency]
- A few times a year
The difference between the Shopping Lift and lower-eyelid fat removal (transconjunctival fat removal)
“Lower-eyelid fat removal” is a well-known treatment for under-eye sagging and dark circles. Here we compare how it differs from the Eye Thread.
What is lower-eyelid fat removal (transconjunctival fat removal)?
This is a treatment that removes the orbital fat responsible for under-eye sagging and dark circles.
When the scalpel is inserted through the back of the lower eyelid (the mucosa), no visible scar is left. If there is also excess skin, it would wrinkle, so the skin must be removed.
Shopping Lift vs. lower-eyelid fat removal (transconjunctival fat removal)
| Shopping Lift | Lower-eyelid fat removal | |
| Insert threads to tighten the skin supporting the orbital fat | Method | Remove excess orbital fat that causes sagging |
| Improvement of mild dark circles and sagging; prevention of new age-related symptoms | Indications | Improvement of severe dark circles and sagging |
| Maintenance required a few times a year | Long-Lasting Results | Semi-permanent |
| A few days | Downtime | Symptoms settle in about 1–2 weeks; full results take about 3 to 6 months |
| No scalpel, no scarring, and little to no downtime | Benefits | Scars are inconspicuous |
| Gentle effect | Drawbacks | Involves a scalpel in an unseen area, with some downtime |
| Topical anesthesia | Anesthesia | Local anesthesia |
A Shopping Lift is suitable for mild symptoms, and lower-eyelid fat removal for severe ones.
Because new sagging and dark circles can appear with age even after either treatment, the Shopping Lift can also be used to help prevent sagging after lower-eyelid fat removal.
Smart Skin Clinic Pricing
| 10 vials | 49,800 yen |
| 20 threads | 69,800 yen |
| 30 vials | 89,800 yen |
The flow of the under-eye Shopping Lift procedure
The procedure takes about 30 minutes.
It takes about 20 minutes for the topical anesthetic to take effect, though for the eye area alone it can be as little as 10 minutes.
You can easily book from your smartphone.
A smart, effortless check-in: just give your name and our clinic IT system completes reception right away.
During counseling, please feel free to share any concerns. Rest assured, there is no pushy sales.
After marking, we apply a numbing cream and perform the procedure while checking in with you throughout.
We explain in detail how to care for the treated area and what to keep in mind in daily life. From a prevention and maintenance standpoint, we also suggest suitable home care, such as oral medications and skincare products that can support improvement of your concerns.
Advantages and disadvantages of the under-eye Shopping Lift (Eye Thread)
The under-eye Shopping Lift has both advantages and disadvantages.
The disadvantages can be reduced to some extent by confirming that the treatment is suitable for you, having treatment regularly, and following proper aftercare.
Advantages of the under-eye Shopping Lift (Eye Thread)
- Improves under-eye sagging and fine lines, and boosts firmness and elasticity
- Sagging prevention
- Makeup can be applied the next day
- Little downtime
Disadvantages of the Shopping Lift (Eye Thread)
- The effect is not permanent
- Hard to achieve a noticeable effect on significant sagging or dark circles
- Prone to bruising
For more on the disadvantages of the Shopping Lift, please also see the following.
Points for avoiding a disappointing under-eye Shopping Lift
- Choosing a clinic
- Get your health and skin condition in good shape beforehand
Clinics differ in skill level, areas of specialty, fee structures, and philosophy. Choose a clinic with solid technical skills, a proven track record of cases, and good reviews.
In addition, depending on your physical condition, wound healing and effectiveness—as well as how downtime symptoms such as bruising appear—can vary. To get the most from the treatment, make sure you are in good physical condition.
FAQ
- Are Shopping Threads effective for under-eye sagging?
-
Collagen and elastin production is stimulated around the thread inserted into the eye area, and as fat is reduced, an effect on sagging can be expected.
- Will a Shopping Lift make dark circles under the eyes lighter?
-
Under-eye dark circles come in different types—bluish, brownish, and dark (shadow) circles—each with different causes and remedies. The under-eye Shopping Lift is not effective for brownish dark circles caused by pigmentation.
- For under-eye sagging, which do you recommend—a Shopping Lift or lower-eyelid fat removal?
-
It depends on your symptoms. The Shopping Lift has a tightening effect but is not indicated for severe sagging. Since judging suitability is difficult without a specialist, please discuss it during a free consultation.
- How many Eye Threads do I need?
-
It depends on your symptoms, but we generally recommend starting with about 20 (10 per side).
- Is the Eye Thread treatment painful?
-
Sensitivity to pain varies from person to person, but there is very little. With cooling and topical anesthesia to ease it, it is quite tolerable.
- How long do the effects of under-eye Shopping Threads last?
-
It varies from person to person, but the effect peaks 3–4 months after the procedure and lasts about one to one and a half years. To maintain the effect, maintenance a few times a year is recommended.
- Can bruising occur with an under-eye Shopping Lift procedure?
-
The under-eye Shopping Lift is relatively prone to bruising.
- Is there anything I should be careful about after the under-eye Shopping Thread procedure?
-
The under-eye area is more prone to bruising than other areas. After the procedure, avoid massages, saunas, and long baths that stimulate circulation, as these can intensify bruising and other downtime symptoms.
For an under-eye Shopping Lift, come to Smart Skin Clinic
Have your questions about the under-eye Shopping Lift been answered?
Smart Skin Clinic strives to offer highly effective agents at smart prices. Our fee structure is transparent, with no additional charges and no pushy sales.
We have an extensive track record of cases and are grateful to receive many positive reviews.
If you have any concerns about the under-eye Shopping Lift, please feel free to ask during a free consultation.
Reference
Physician Who Supervised This Page
Smart Skin Clinic, Chief Medical Director / Physician
Kota Ishii
We oversee treatment policies across the entire group, tailored to the skin condition of each individual patient. The content on this page has been reviewed and approved in line with our clinic's treatment policies.
Interview with Director Kota Ishii
Kota Ishii, our Chief Medical Director, shares our clinic's approach to patient care.
Clinic List
Jimbocho Clinic
〒101-0054
3-16-1 Kanda Nishiki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, EX Kanda Nishiki-cho Building 8F (general reception) / 7F
Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00 / Sat & Sun 10:00–19:00
Yokohama Clinic
〒221-0835
TS Plaza Building 2F, 2-23-2 Tsuruya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Hours: 10:00–19:00
About the physician supervision of this site
This site is operated under the supervision of a Smart Skin Clinic supervising physician.
This page was produced in accordance with the Medical Advertising Guidelines Medical Advertising Guidelines revised and enforced in June 2018, under which we produce and provide this information.
- Scope of supervision: treatment descriptions, risks and side effects, price display
- Last supervision date: June 26, 2025