As you age, skin changes begin to appear. Your skin loses its strength and elasticity over time. This leads to sagging and wrinkles. The cartilage also becomes weaker and does not hold the skin around it.
One option that can make your face look younger is a thread lift. It is a minimally invasive procedure where the doctor places fibers under the skin to pull them back. It is less expensive than plastic surgery with much less recovery time.
Your doctor can use it in combination with other techniques such as Botox to reduce signs of aging.
What is a thread lift?
Thread lift is a type of procedure in which temporary stitches are used to create a subtle but visible “tightening” of the skin. Instead of surgically removing the patient’s sagging facial skin, the plastic surgeon simply suspends it by sewing parts of it. This has the effect of pulling the skin back a bit and thus lifting and tightening the face.
In addition to being ideal for skin tightening, threads fight aging in another way: by triggering the body’s “healing response” and causing the body to direct large influxes of collagen to the treated areas. This is important because of the vital role collagen plays in fighting aging.
Collagen helps support “growth factors” that greatly influence the condition of our skin. In addition to its use in wound healing, it also helps keep our skin strong, healthy, and supple. As we age, our bodies gradually produce less and less collagen, resulting 80% reduction in skin thickness. This is a big factor in the formation of excess skin and wrinkles. As the skin becomes weaker, it is no longer able to adequately support the tissues beneath it, which means gravity is pulling it down and stretching it. Injecting facial skin with collagen when signs of skin laxity are still mild can help reduce sagging.
How does thread lifting work?
Thread lift works in two ways.
The first is fairly straightforward. By inserting thin, dissolvable sutures under your skin, then your doctor is able to pull the skin tightly around your forehead or neck.
Once the thread is inserted, your body’s healing response is triggered. Your body detects suture material and stimulates collagen production in the affected area. Collagen can fill the gaps in sagging skin and restore the elasticity and youth of your skin.
Facelift with threads
The thread-lifting procedure may differ slightly depending on the area you are targeting. The basic technique is usually the same.
You will be asked to lie down in the room where your operation is performed. Alcohol, as well as a local anesthetic, will be applied to your skin as it prepares for surgery.
A thin needle will be used to insert the threads under your skin. Thread insertion can take about 30 to 45 minutes.
Your doctor will use a cannula or needle to guide the threads into place. He will decide how many threads you need based on the size of the treatment area on your face.
Your doctor will remove the cannula once the sutures are in place. You may have some irritation but you won’t have any scars.
Within a few minutes of having the needles taken out, your procedure will be complete and you’ll be free to go home or go back to work.
Targeted areas for a facelift with threads
• Jaws and jawline
• Eyebrow line
• Under eye area
• Forehead
• Cheeks
Are there risks or side effects?
A thread lift is a low-risk procedure with minimal recovery time, but there are side effects and the possibility of complications.
After the sutures are pulled, the following may occur:
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Mild pain at the injection site
• There is a 15 to 20 percent chance of complications. The potential complications are minor and can be easily treated.
Can you keep the results of the threads longer?
aking care of your skin and doing everything possible to keep it healthy will go a long way in making your results last longer.
• Drink plenty of water every day
• Apply a high-quality sunscreen daily
• Avoid smoking
• Use trusted skin care products
• Eat a healthy diet
• Take vitamins and supplements that will support overall skin health
What are the advantages of having a facelift with threads instead of a facelifting surgery?
For many patients, the biggest advantage of getting a thread lift instead of facelift surgery is the reduced recovery time associated with a thread lift.
When a patient undergoes a facelift surgery, she must be heavily sedated; As such, the patient must have someone accompany her home from the hospital.
Most facelift patients also require assistance from a doctor for at least three days after their surgery. Facelift patients usually need 1-2 weeks off work as well in order to recover.
