The rise of noninvasive procedures has shifted the aesthetic culture. Patients now are asking for less invasive, less painful, less expensive procedures with short recovery times. Thread-lifts are one of the most popular and last for up to six months. 

Conceptually, the thread-lift is the suspension of falling facial soft tissue via a thread subcutaneously inserted in the skin. It is an easy, fast, in-office procedure in which a barbed suture thread is inserted via a cannula into the skin through a needle puncture. The thread is essentially “hooked” to the skin and, with a minimal amount of tightening, the skin is lifted and the suture is cut at the insertion point. The sutures dissolve and, over time, produce scar tissue, forming a scaffold, lifting the skin.

The thread-lifts initially came onto the market in the late 1990s but were difficult to use and the technology was not as good as what we have now. The newest technology threads – NovaThreads and the Silhouette Instalift – have recently received Food and Drug Administration clearance and grown in popularity because of their “lunchtime” appeal and their ease of use. 

Until recently, the only way to address problems caused by facial skin laxities—such as jowls and drooping cheeks—was facelift surgery. After all, while skin resurfacing treatments can help to restore some degree of firmness, once loose skin is present, only a scalpel can truly remove it. However, while the approach of relying on injectable compounds and skin resurfacing until facelift surgery becomes necessary works for many patients, not everyone is willing or able to have surgery. If you're in this group, you'll be happy to know that a new type of procedure has been developed to fill in the gap between noninvasive facial rejuvenation and facelift surgery: The "thread lift."

Primarily marketed for the neck, jowls, and lower face, these threads – available in various sizes, lengths, and diameters – can be used almost anywhere. The sutures dissolve over time and do not need any anchoring, making it a very simple in-office procedure.

Side effects include mild procedural pain, swelling, bruising, and rarely, suture granuloma formation.   If not done properly, buckling of the skin can occur and superficially placed sutures can be visible. It’s important to work with a provider who can provide a sterile technique, has experience with PDO Thread Lifts, and an experienced approach to facial anatomy.

Similar to fillers that provide a “liquid face-lift,” the downtime is minimal. Bruising is rare on the face, but more common on the forehead. Soreness, particularly in or near the hairline or jawline, is common and can last up to 2 weeks. Patients should refrain from heavy exercise and opening their mouth wide with chewing for 5-7 days (such as eating a large apple). Minor dimpling on the skin can occur and usually resolves on its own.

Thread lifts are low risk, thanks to how noninvasive they are. There is virtually no risk of significant scarring, severe bruising, bleeding or other complications after having a thread lift. In rare cases, patients may experience irritation, infection or their sutures becoming visible under their skin. If this occurs, however, the sutures can be removed and the patient's face will return to its prior state.

The ideal thread lift candidate is usually in his or her late thirties to early sixties. Thread lifts have more subtle results compared to facelifts, therefore, the procedure is not indicated for severe laxity and volume loss. The tissue is not released from its underlying attachments, and skin contraction and gravitational pull limit its extent of improvement and its longevity.  The ideal candidate is one who is looking for gradual improvement, minimal downtime and mild lifting.

When used in combination with Kybella to decrease the size of the jowl, dermal filler to restore volume loss, neuromodulators to soften fine lines and PDO sutures to lift lax tissue, the results can be impressive.  Over time and with repeated treatments, these modalities promote your own natural healing processes to build scaffolding and collagen for a longer-lasting, natural-looking you.

If you have questions or are interested in a PDO Thread Lift, Dr. Julie Seaman and Krissy Melvin PA-c have openings in the Fall and a free consultation is easy to get set up. 

Sources:

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

MD Edge

NY Post

Allure Magazine