What is a thread lift;

A Thread Lift, also referred as “lunchtime lift” is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure which lifts and structures sagging face tissues. The method is safe and innovative since it uses absorbable materials that are already used in medecine in order to manufacture sutures or injectable fillers. Its results last for around two years and differ from simple PDO threads because the modern thread lift procedure uses threads made of polylactide acid that can be attached to stratigically chosen areas in the subcutaneous tissue. The procedure is performed on parts of the face where there is laxity, such as the area under the chin, the face’s oval, the area under the eyes, the forehead and the cheeks and in some cases it can also be used to lft the breasts.

Who’s a good candidate?

A Thread Lift treatment is ideal for both men and women between the ages of 40 and 65 years old. It is a minimally invasive therapy so it is a good choice for men and women with mild ageing signs who prefer a discrete and natural effect or for patients who do not wish to try more invasive procedures. It is also a good treatmend for patients that do not want, for any reason, to go under general anesthetic since a thread lift can be performed with local anesthetic.

Facts I need to know

A Thread Lift treatment is performed in the office under local anesthetic and usually lasts 30′ to 45′. During the thread lift procedure the doctor with the help of a very fine needle will insert absorbable and biodegradable threads to the tissues under the skin in order to lift and tighten them. The threads that are placed into the skin are made of polylactide acid that also triggers the natural production of collagen and elastin. The stimulation of collagen and elastin production offers a natural improvement of the skins elasticity. The Thread Lift technique with polylactide acid guarantees results that last for about 2 years. After this time the filaments are naturally dissolved into the body and the thread lift’s effects start fading. However the skin’s elasticity and rejuvenation last for much longer.

Recovery Time

After a thread lift treatment patients return home and initially notice some mild bruising, swelling, redness and pain on the areas treated. They can immediately return to their normal routine and work but they should avoid putting any pression or rub their face for a few weeks following the treatment. Results are immediately visible and they further improve as the swelling and bruising subside. Even though the results are not permanent the treatment can be repeated to make them last for longer and it is a perfect choice for those seeking a natural effect.

Doctor’s Remarks

Thread treatments have recently had a lot of fans and a lot of disappointed patients. The procedure has been defamed mainly because of the quality of the filaments used, the poor number of filaments placed and the exaggerated expectations of some patients. In my office I use high quality filaments, FDA approved and internationally recognized and during each treatment we keep the filaments barcodes in the patients file. The filaments are usually made of polylactide adic which is biodegradable (after 2 years) and which reconstructs and rejuvenates the skin while it lasts. At the same time these filaments have small knots on them that are anchored deep on the skin and manage to lift it. Patients should not expect skin to be elevated more than 2 cm on the faces’ contour. If they want a larger lift they should try other methods such a non invasive Face Tite or an invasive face lift. However when filaments are chosen correctly then the results are very satisfying, totally natural and minimally painful. The procedure is quiet painless because we use local anesthetic on the skin and filaments are injected very deep in the skin where there are no pain sensory receptors and therefore recovery is easy and short. Nowadays we have at our disposal many evolved techniques that fight laxity, whether it concerns the skin (Morpheus), or the deeper tissues (Face Tite, Body Tite) that are not invasive, can be performed in the office and are not painful.