Face Lift by Threads

What Is a Thread Lift?

A thread lift is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that lifts and tightens your skin with the use of medical-grade thread (also known as a suture). The thread is used to elevate your skin and hold it in place, giving you a smoother, tighter and more youthful appearance.

How Does a Thread Lift Work?

A thread lift helps improve skin appearance in two separate ways. First, as described above, it temporarily lifts the skin by holding it in place with a suture. The result is an immediate, yet subtle transformation of the face.

Secondly, a thread lift helps trigger the skin’s natural healing response by stimulating collagen and elastin, two proteins that play a major role in skin health. While production of these proteins decreases as we age, a thread lift can help restore levels lost through the natural aging process.

What Are the Benefits of a Thread Lift?

A thread lift is essentially a facelift without the scalpel. It can help you look and feel like a more youthful version of yourself, but without the downtime and extensive recovery process of a surgical procedure. In fact, some people call it the ‘lunchtime lift’ because it can be done on your lunch hour.

Here are some of the most prominent benefits of a thread lift:

• Tightens the skin, making it appear younger
• Increase levels of collagen and elastin in the skin
• Can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines
• Improves skin laxity, especially around the jowls and cheeks
• Less invasive alternative to a traditional facelift
• No downtime required and immediate results
• Not permanent, which means treatment can be adjusted as you age

The Thread Lift Treatment

The thread lift procedure takes anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour from start to finish, significantly less than the two to six hours it takes for facelift surgery. The exact treatment duration will depend on how many threads are inserted and where they are placed.

Preparation

Everyone’s skin is unique, which means preparation for a thread lift will vary by person. Your provider will go over a set of instructions for you to follow before and after the procedure to ensure a smooth treatment.

We usually recommend avoiding taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements for at least 24 hours leading up to the procedure. You will also be asked to avoid smoking, drinking and taking certain medications, if possible.

Procedure

Treatment almost always begins with local anesthesia, which means you’ll be awake during the procedure but will not feel pain. Once the numbing cream takes effect, we start by marking the treatment area to ensure precise and symmetrical results.

We then use a fine needle or cannula to insert the threads underneath the skin before pulling them back into place. Once we achieve the desired look, we trim any excess thread and secure the ends within the skin. By the time it heals, the sutures will be invisible to the naked eye.

Recovery

At the end of treatment, we apply a soothing ointment to promote the skin’s natural healing response. We also give you detailed aftercare instructions to follow, which may or may not include:

• Applying ice packs or cold compresses to reduce swelling and discomfort
• Avoiding excessive facial movements for a few days
• Making sure your head is elevated while you sleep
• Avoiding strenuous activities for at least 48 hours
• Not using makeup for several days
• Keeping the treatment area dry and clean for at least a few days

All in all, the recovery process generally takes three to five days. During this time, it’s normal to experience minor swelling and bruising in the affected area. Most people will be able to return to work as soon as they are comfortable with their appearance, but notify your practitioner if you experience an allergic reaction, bleeding, an infection or lumpiness.

Results

Most patients will experience an immediate improvement in skin laxity, meaning your skin will look and feel tighter by the time you leave our office. Your results will continue to improve over the course of a few weeks as your skin produces more collagen and elastin.

The sutures generally dissolve after six months, but the effects of the thread lift (and the increase in collagen) can last anywhere from 12 to 18 months. We recommend returning after 12 months to maintain your results long-term.