WRINKLE REDUCTION/ THREAD LIFTS
As we age, our skin loses its youthful appearance, and signs of aging become more and more obvious. Fine facial lines and sagging skin are just two aging indicators, but they are important areas to address because these early signs of aging indicate a breakdown of the skin’s tissues.
What is a Thread Lift?
A thread lift procedure is a shorter procedure type that focuses on targeting the signs of aging on the lower face and involves the subcutaneous placement of PDO threads which are pulled to achieve the desired skin lift effect. Although it can address eyebrow sagging and cheek sagging, thread lift often focuses its attention on midface, jowl, and neck-lifting.
What is the Goal of a Thread Lift?
The goal of a thread lift is to reposition skin tissues, thus restoring youthful proportions and appearances to the face, neck, and body. This lifting and tightening are done by a surgeon who inserts a needle into the skin, threading it bi-directionally through the soft tissues of the face, or neck to grasp, lift and suspend the facial area. Surgeons use a “cross-hatch” or “basket weave” pattern to achieve the desired lifting effect in the targeted areas. The minimally invasive procedure provides immediate results, but its greater purpose is to encourage new collagen production to stimulate long term results and restore a youthful appearance in the treated areas.
Technical Description of a Thread Lift
Before a thread lift begins, patients will receive local anesthesia in the area where the thread-lifting will be performed—the midface, jowl, or neck. A surgeon then inserts a pre-threaded needle into the subdermal level of the facial tissues, which simply means that the needle will go underneath the visible layer of skin. The needle is inserted in a curved direction into the area to be lifted. Directly above this first needle, a second needle will be inserted approximately 1-1.5cm above the existing needle.
The purpose of each needle is to insert bi-directional threads into the targeted areas. These threads are made of polypropylene and are often referred to as PDO threads. The procedure itself is often called a PDO thread lift. The most widely-known PDO threads are Novathreads, but your surgeon may prefer to use another type. PDO threads are equipped with small barbs along the surface that act as cogs (small gears or mechanisms) to grasp, lift and suspend the facial area undergoing treatment. As the needle is slowly withdrawn, it creates a suture lift causing the tissue to “gather” over the thread until the desired effect is achieved and the long ends of the thread can be cut off.
New collagen and fibrous tissue forms around the PDO sutures and continues to hold up and tighten the skin tissue. This growth happens to help naturally heal the treated areas, but because there are threads in place, new growth will take place around the threads in the repositioned areas. This achieves the longer-term results a thread lift offers.
There is no need to worry that threads are left underneath the skin. They facilitate the new growth and dissolve completely on their own, without leaving residual material, in about 6 months through a natural process called hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is painless and simply refers to a chemical breakdown caused by a reaction with water. After the threads have dissolved, the new collagen and fibrous tissues will have already formed in the treated areas and will continue to show a lifted effect, restoring youthfulness to the area.
Before Treatment Care for a Thread Lift
Although it is always best to meet with your plastic surgeon to determine the best plan of action for your specific skin type, professionals agree that thread lift candidates should avoid all alcohol and discontinue smoking for at least a week before the procedure as these things will dehydrate the skin and interfere with the anesthetic. All aspirin-based products should be avoided as well as cause unnecessary bleeding leading to unwanted complications and side effects. Blood-thinning products include Ibuprofen, Neurofen, and Naproxen/Naprogesic.
After Treatment Care for a Thread Lift
Some thread lift patients might feel nausea associated with the after-effects of the anesthesia or the procedure itself and can sip small amounts of clear liquids until it passes. It is also helpful, especially if your skin tends to swell or bruise, to ice the area for 30 minutes 4-5 times a day for the first 5 days.
Otherwise, limit facial motion for 24 hours, avoid facial creams or makeup for 48 hours, do not drink with a straw, keep the head elevated (including bending lower than heart-level) at a 45-degree angle for 5-7 days, eat soft foods or drink liquids for 7-10 days, avoid chewing gum for 2 weeks, avoid heavy exertion for 2-3 weeks and avoid pulling down on face or massaging it for 3 weeks.
Pros & Cons of a Thread Lift
Pros – Short procedure – Quick recovery time – Minimally invasive
Cons – Not as effective as other methods – Does not address excess skin – A lower success rate
Recovery from a Thread Lift
A thread lift requires very little recovery time because of its non-invasive nature, but it is still helpful to have a basic idea of when you can expect to return to normal living. The following list provides an idea, but you should always follow your surgeon’s instructions if they differ in any way from what is listed here.