Thread Lift
Treatment

As we age, the face undergoes some anatomical changes. Instead of a heart filled shape, the face assumes more of a square or triangle. Specifically, in the midface, there is loss of volume as the facial fatty tissue deflates. These midfacial fat pads also descend as they are pulled down by gravity. This descent accentuates the melolabial folds of the face. Volumizing the face with filler or with surgery will lift the cheeks and reestablish the more youthful face. Until recently, surgery and filler were the only options available. Not everyone is interested in surgery or willing to undergo surgery. The thread lift Is an excellent option in these patients and serves as an “in between” procedure to bridge the gap between fillers and surgery.

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What is a Thread Lift Procedure?
The thread lift is a minimally invasive in office procedure where temporary sutures are used to produce a subtle lift in the midface. Unlike a facelift, where skin is incised and a large incision is made, a tiny entry site is made and the suture thread is advanced under the skin to suspend, lift and tighten the cheeks and jowls. The procedure is quick and takes about 30-45 minutes in clinic. Although the threads are dissolvable sutures and tend to dissolve by about 6 months, they have the added benefit of triggering collagen production in the face. Collagen keeps our skin looking healthy and fresh and supports our skin and extends the results of the thread beyond 1 year, long after the sutures have absorbed.
 

What Signs of Aging Can a Thread Lift Improve?

 

A thread lift can help address:

• Drooping eyelids

• Sagging cheeks

• Jowls

• Marionette lines

• Looseness of the neck skin

• Lines in the neck area (necklace lines)

• Wrinkled décolletage (upper chest)

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In addition to the face and neck, a thread lift can also be used on other parts of the body, including the knees, breasts, backs of the arms and buttocks. Threads also can be used to treat acne scars, stretch marks and surgical scars.

Thread Lift Candidates

 

People in their 30s to mid-50s with mild skin sagging are the ideal candidates for a thread lift. Older people with more skin sagging will have better results with a surgical facelift. If surgery is not an option for medical reasons such as such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes, a thread lift can still yield visible improvements.

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What to Expect During and After a Thread Lift

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A thread lift is performed under local anesthesia and typically takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how many threads are inserted. You can drive yourself home afterward.

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The treated areas may be slightly red, swollen and sore immediately after the procedure, but prescription pain medication isn’t usually needed. During recovery, you should avoid rubbing your face, even when you wash it or apply skin care products. You may also be advised to sleep on your back.

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How Long Does a Thread Lift Last?
The results of a thread lift can last one to three years, at which point the procedure can be repeated.