Thread Lifting: The Non-Surgical Face Lift

Many patients want a treatment that noticeably addresses skin wrinkles and laxity, particularly around the jawline and jowls, without the commitment, expense or risks associated with plastic surgery. Figuring out how to fix for sagging jowls without surgery can be tricky. Treatments such as Botox and fillers can effectively smooth wrinkles and help with volume loss but are not particularly helpful for sagging skin. Patients are sometimes left to feel like they must go under the knife to improve skin laxity. Thanks to new advancement in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, there is a minimally invasive alternative: Thread Lifts. The thread lift procedure produces results that patients are very happy with.

What is a thread lift?

A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the placement of threads composed of an absorbable material that lifts the skin while also stimulating the body’s own collagen production. The threads immediately lift and tighten the skin, while at the same time offer long-term benefits of collagen regeneration. At Schweiger Dermatology Group we use several different threading treatments, including NovaThreads and Silhouette InstaLift.

NovaThreads Vs. Silhouette InstaLift: What are the differences?

NovaThreads are sutures that are made from a special medical grade thread called Polydioxanone (PDO), that has been specially designed for safe re-absorption by the body. NovaThreads remain in place for about four to six months, at which point they slowly dissolve. Patients can expect continued results of their NovaThreads lift for at least one year or longer following their treatment. NovaThreads are available in a few different forms: a) barbed; b) straight; and c) curved sutures. Barbed sutures are ideal for gathering skin and producing more lifting action. Smooth sutures will produce less of a lifted look, but they are ideal for collagen regeneration. Smooth sutures are placed in strategic areas around the face, for example the corner of the mouth or around the eyebrows, to target locations where the sagging skin and the signs of aging are visibly apparent. Barbed sutures can also be used the along the hairline to gently pull back and lift the cheeks and jowls.

The Silhouette InstaLift uses absorbable and safe temporary sutures to noticeably lift the skin. The Silhouette InstaLift suture-based approach is typically suited for a mature patient that already has visibly sagging skin, as it focuses on lifting as much skin as is necessary to give patients a more youthful appearance. While these threads also stimulate collagen production, they do not stimulate the same collagen development as NovaThreads. Instead of being barbed or smooth, the threads used during Silhouette InstaLift contain sutures with tiny “cones” that are excellent at grabbing and lifting tissue. Patients can expect to see the impact of a Silhouette InstaLift for at least one to two years.

Which areas on the face and body can a thread lift treat?

The most common treatment areas for the thread lift are the eyebrows, cheeks (midface), jawline, jowls, and neck. A thread lift can be done on many other areas of the body to lift loose skin, such as upper arms, abdomen, thighs and above the knees. Most patients find that threads are especially effective around the neck and jawline. This is because the lower third of the face can be difficult to treat effectively with injectables, such as Botox or fillers.

What to expect after a thread lift treatment?

Patients can expect to see visible firming and lifting right after their thread lift procedure, while full results continue to improve over the following three weeks or so. As the body starts to naturally produce collagen, the tightened, lifted outcome also continues to improve over the next few months.

Thread Lift Before and After Photos

 

About Schweiger Dermatology Group

Schweiger Dermatology Group was founded to help make excellent dermatology care accessible throughout the Northeast. In 2010, Dr. Eric Schweiger started the practice with a single location in Midtown Manhattan. When he saw the need for high-quality dermatology care that did not require weeks or months of waiting to see a qualified provider, his vision of a multi-location practice was born.

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