THE THREAD LIFT
Several years ago, Gwyneth Paltrow made the news for speaking openly about her non-surgical “Thread Lift.” Surgeons across the country deemed the treatment questionable, but now, years later, and with new technological advances behind it, the Thread Lift is a very popular and successful minimally invasive procedure for those patients looking to tighten up loose, creepy skin anywhere in the body!
The Thread Lift is an alternative procedure to a surgical facelift for lifting sagging skin around the face, neck and jawline. The Thread Lift is also used in different areas in the body as well, including arms, knees and buttocks. Thread Lifts used to involve surgery and became associated with undesirable side effects such as infections and thread breakage. However, the Thread Lift procedure has radically changed. Today, the Thread Lift performed specifically at our private practice does not require anesthesia and has a fast recovery time after the procedure.
PDO Thread – Face Lift
Longevity: 18-24 Months
PreTreatment: No NSAIDS, Avoid ginko biloba, alcohol, tumeric, fish oil, cinnamon, cayenne pepper
Treatment Time: 60-90 Mins.
Recovery Time: 1-7 Days
Estimated Price: $1500 per Area
Where: IH~Aesthetics 208-799-3333
Other treatments that can be paired with a thread lift are:
PDO (polydioxanone) threads are a synthetic, absorbable, biocompatible suture and is skillfully administered to lift and tighten the skin. PDO sutures are surgical sutures that are used to perform cardiac surgery. All sutures are FDA-approved and PDO sutures are one of the safest materials that can be used in the body. Your skin will fully absorb the threads within 4 to 6 months without leaving any scar tissue. In addition to skin rejuvenation this procedure delivers, the threads also helps to stimulate collagen growth, firming the skin and providing further long-lasting result for the treatment area. A Thread Lift treatment can be done alone, as well as a great enhancement to fillers and Botox or Dysport treatments.
While the sutures are underneath the skin, however, your skin gently reacts to the skin creating a “selective inflammatory response” to produce collagen to create a longer-lasting result: This principle is behind a lot of aesthetic procedures (such as fractionated lasers, skin tightening treatments and microneedling). Our skin is excellent at repairing itself, and by inserting the PDO Novathreads underneath the skin to lift the loose skin, the skin will heal itself by creating new collagen naturally!
A Thread Lift with Novathreads is a non-surgical, minimally invasive facelift and/or body contouring procedure that uses special suture threads to “lift up” sagging skin on the neck and face, buttocks, arms and other areas. The procedure is less time-consuming than a traditional facelift and there is virtually little recovery or downtime. If you are looking for a treatment that will provide a more refreshed, relaxed, natural and youthful appearance, then a Thread Lift may be just right for you.
- Facial volume is redistributed, restoring a youthful appearance.
- Corrects mid and lower face drooping.
- Smooths prematurely aging skin.
- Minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment.
- No general anesthesia required.
- Short recovery and minimal downtime.
- Less swelling, bruising, and discomfort than a traditional facelift.
- Will stimulate collagen production for a lifted effect.
- Immediate results, with additional lifting effects achieved over time.
Before your Treatment
We recommend you come in for a consultation to ensure your safety and make sure a thread lift is right for you! During this private one-on-one time we will review your medical history and discuss your concerns and all treatment options. The thread lift procedure, expectations and aftercare will also be discussed. the consultation is important as it will help us to ensure whatever treatment you choose provides you with the results you are looking for.
During Treatment
Prior to the procedure, the areas of treatment will be thoroughly cleansed and prepped and a topical numbing agent and ice will be applied to the treatment site for your comfort. During the treatment, a preloaded needle is inserted into the skin. Your provider then leaves the thread beneath the skin and removes the needle. Your skin gently reacts to the threads and begins repairing itself around the suture. The amount of threads needed for your Thread Lift treatment will depend on various factors that will be discussed during your consultation. Over the next 4-6 months, your skin absorbs the threads and they won’t leave behind scar tissue.
Following Treatment
Like with many non-surgical procedures, the final results and lasting outcome are dependent on the quality of the skin, the degree of aging, lifestyle of the patient and the number of threads used. Results may be present after the procedure, but you will continue to see gradual improvements over a period of several months as new collagen grows between the threads and gives further lift and tightening to the skin.
Roughly 4-6 months after the procedure, the PDO threads will disappear through simple process called hydrolysis (they absorb). The threads gradually dissolve and the resulting lift and skin tightening from PDO Novathreads remains for another 6 to 12 month. At Style Aesthetics, you can expect to always receive the best care and treatments Portland has to offer. Your treatment will be administered by Kasey Landrus RN who will provide only the most satisfying results. You will not be disappointed!
A Thread Lift with PDO NovaThreads is a way to get immediate results with long-term benefits. The PDO thread will be absorbed by your body, but that doesn’t mean your skin won’t react to it. During the 4 to 6 months needed to fully absorb the PDO suture, your skin is also repairing itself around it.
That repair process is called “controlled healing”. In medical terms “selective inflammatory response” is the principle behind a lot of aesthetic procedures (such as fractional laser, chemical peels, and microneedling). Our skin is very good at repairing itself, and by inserting Novathreads we make it heal itself by creating new collagen, naturally! The lifted facial contours will remain for about 3-6 months more due to the cellular rejuvenation effects. Your skin cells are stimulated to produce new collagen. On average, most patients will see results for this type of skin rejuvenation for several years.
Depending on the areas treated, the procedure time depends on several factors and size and area of treatment but can take anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes. There is very minimal downtime and no general anesthesia needed. The specialized needles allow small areas to be tackled effectively. As there are no incisions, stitches are not required and scarring is unlikely.
After treatment, some patients may experience swelling, bruising, pain to the treatment site that may subside within a few days to a week.
At Style Aesthetics, we’ve successfully used NovaThreads to address sagging in the following areas including the upper and lower cheeks, forehead (brow lift), jawline, neck, lips, smoker’s lines, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, arms, thighs, abdomen, buttocks, and Décolleté.
Pricing varies between $599-$3,999. A thorough discussion of pricing will be done during your private consultation. We accept cash, credit cards, and offer healthcare financing through Green Sky Financing and CareCredit.
Located in the Lewiston Orchards on the corner of Thain & Burrell we take the whole patient into account. Our clinic represents the utmost in expertise, privacy, and comfort. If you have additional questions about the Thread Lift procedure and wish to learn more about our other treatments, contact us today at 208-799-3333 to schedule a consultation for the best aesthetic treatments Lewiston has to offer. We would be happy to work with you to achieve a more radiant and youthful appearance and help your confidence shine through!
Our goal is to provide you with a comfortable, relaxed and personalized experience so you feel 100% confident and excited about your treatment choices. At the end of your private consultation we will walk you through each phase of the treatment and provide a customized plan that closely matches you aesthetic goals.
Kevin Tehrani, MD | New York, NY
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Until recently, the only way to address problems caused by facial skin laxity – 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 absolutely 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
What is a thread lift?
A thread lift is a type of procedure wherein temporary sutures are used to produce a subtle but visible “lift” in the skin. Instead of removing the patient’s loose facial skin surgically, the cosmetic surgeon simply suspends it by stitching up portions of it. This has the effect of pulling the skin back slightly and therefore lifting and tightening the face. In addition to being ideal for lifting the skin, threads combat aging in another way: by provoking the body’s “healing response” and causing the body to direct large surges of collagen to treated areas. This is important because of the vital role collagen plays in the aging process.
Collagen helps support “growth factors” that greatly influences the condition of our skin. In addition to being used for wound healing, collagen helps to keep our skin strong, voluminous and supple. As we get older, our bodies gradually produce less and less collagen, which leads to an 80% reduction in skin thickness by about age 70. This loss of volume and strength is a large factor in the creation of excess skin and wrinkles. As the skin grows weaker, it’s no longer able to support the tissues beneath it adequately, meaning that gravity pulls it downwards and stretches it. Infusing the skin of the face with fresh collagen when the signs of skin laxity are still mild can help to both reduce looseness (by thickening and hydrating the skin) and prevent it from getting worse (by strengthening the skin).
In other words, this process provides ongoing and progressive rejuvenation for the facial tissues. Patients who have a thread lift for the purpose of stimulating collagen will notice a gradual improvement in their skin’s tone and firmness. While their threads are in place, the body’s healing response will be constantly activated because the body will want to “heal” the sutured areas and expel the sutures. The body is biologically programmed to react this way when it senses any foreign object present within the dermis. Fortunately, because the threads placed under the skin during a thread lift are so small, the patient will not feel any of this happening. Most people cannot feel their sutures at all once the skin has healed around them.
What are the advantages of having a thread lift instead of a facelift?
For many patients, the biggest advantage of having a thread lift rather than a facelift is the greatly reduced recovery time associated with thread lifts. When a patient has facelift surgery, he or she must be heavily sedated; as such, the patient must arrange for someone to drive him or her home from the hospital. Most facelift patients also require around the clock assistance from a caretaker for at least three days after they have surgery. Furthermore, if the patient still has children at home, childcare aid may also be needed. Facelift patients usually need to take one to two weeks off of work, too, in order to heal.
Recovery from a thread lift, on the other hand, is comparatively easy. Thread lifts can be performed under local, rather than general anesthesia, meaning that thread lift patients can drive themselves home and look after themselves immediately after having their procedure. While some patients will experience a little bit of soreness, redness and swelling after having a thread lift and therefore wish to take the rest of the day off, most can return to work immediately. Strong pain medication is seldom needed after having a thread lift, making it easier for patients to return to their normal routine. This procedure is therefore ideal for people who have children at home or those who have busy, demanding careers.
While thread lift recovery is not particularly intensive, patients will still have to take a few minor precautions while healing. It’s important to make sure that you don’t rub your face vigorously while cleansing it or applying moisturizer for at least a week after having threads placed. You should also try to prop your head up slightly so that you don’t roll over directly onto your face while sleeping.
Thread lifts are low risk, thanks to how noninvasive they are. There is virtually no risk of 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 simply be removed and the patient’s face will return to its prior state.
Finally, because thread lifts are much easier to perform than facelift surgery, they are much more affordable.
Advantageous though thread lifts are, it’s important for patients to maintain realistic expectations for this procedure. While thread lifts certainly produce visible changes, they will generally only lift the face by a few millimeters; as such, they create a more subtle and natural looking end result than facelift surgery. Thread lifts are therefore best suited to patients who are dealing with mild to moderate, rather than severe, signs of skin laxity.
The ideal thread lift candidate is usually in his or her late thirties to early fifties, whereas most patients over the age of about 55 will benefit more profoundly from facelift surgery. Thread lifts can, however, provide a facelift alternative for older patients who are unable to have surgery for medical reasons. Because thread lifts can be performed under local anesthesia, many people who have age-related conditions that make them ineligible for surgery (like high blood pressure, type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease) can safely have this treatment. If you have any outstanding health conditions, make sure to talk to your doctor about whether or not a thread lift might be right for you.
It’s important to understand that while no lifting technique can produce permanent results, facelift surgery will usually produce longer lasting results than a thread lift. The results of facelift surgery can last up to a decade, whereas a thread lift will generally last from one to three years. However, because the thread lift procedure is so low-risk, patients who like the results of their thread lift can usually opt to have a fresh set of temporary sutures placed once their old sutures are absorbed by the body.
Understanding thread lift procedures
NovaThreads
NovaThreads have been approved by the FDA for the purpose of lifting facial tissue. However, while these procedures rely on a similar mechanism of action to produce excellent results.
NovaThreads
NovaThreads are sutures that are made from a biocompatible material called PDO, which has been specially designed for safe re-absorption by the body. NovaThreads remain in place for about four to six months, after which point they slowly dissolve. Patients can, however, expect to keep seeing the results of their NovaThreads lift for a year or more after their treatment. This long-lasting effect arises from the lingering improvement in skin condition that results from collagen infusion.
NovaThreads come in several different varieties: Barbed sutures, which are ideal for gathering skin (and therefore producing more lifting action) and straight or curved smooth sutures. Smooth sutures produce less of a lift, but they are excellent for collagen stimulation. Patients often have smooth sutures placed in strategic locations around their face (such as the corner of the mouth or along the brows) in order to target common problem areas where the signs of aging become particularly apparent. Barbed sutures, on the other hand, are placed near the hairline in order to gently pull back the skin and lift the cheeks and jowls.
Having NovaThreads placed is relatively quick and easy for the patient. First, local anesthesia will be used to numb the areas that are going to be treated, then a small instrument (a thin cannula or needle) will be used to insert the threads below the skin. This entire process usually takes just 30 to 45 minutes, and the patient is free to return to work afterward.
Getting the most out of your thread lift
Because thread lifts are so low-risk and boast such a short recovery time, it’s possible to combine them with other nonsurgical procedures in order to create more comprehensive, noticeable results. Once your skin has healed around the threads inserted during an “InstaLift,” we recommend pairing your thread lift with a treatment like ultherapy.
Ultherapy uses gentle pulses of ultrasound energy to heat the connective tissues beneath the skin, thereby stimulating collagen production. Ultherapy, which is often referred to as being a “nonsurgical facelift,” is safe enough to be applied to virtually any area of the face and neck. By combining this procedure with a thread lift, you can maximize the overall amount of skin firming you receive and create more even lifting by treating the neck as well as the face.
While thread lifts can tighten the skin effectively, they aren’t designed to address blemishes on the skin’s surface. As such, banishing the superficial signs of aging—like age spots, areas of uneven pigmentation and fine lines—will require a technique known as “skin resurfacing.” During skin resurfacing, the top layer of the dermis is removed, stripping away the aforementioned blemishes. A new, more youthful-looking layer of skin then grows in its place.
By combining a number of different nonsurgical anti-aging treatments, patients can achieve a profoundly positive change in their appearance – without enduring the extended recovery time associated with surgery.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.