Contour Thread Lift: What You Need to Know

Written byGenevieve MonsmaUpdated on July 20, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byGenevieve MonsmaUpdated on July 20, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

A contour thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that aims to lift and tighten lax skin. It has been used to address sagging in the brow, mid- and lower face, jawline, and neck. To resuspend the skin, a doctor inserts permanent clear threads with tiny barbs into the facial tissue through small incisions. When the barbs are appropriately positioned, the doctor pulls the thread taut and the barbs latch onto the subcutaneous tissue, hoisting the skin. Advantages of a contour thread lift over a traditional facelift include less recovery time and lower cost.

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The contour thread lift received FDA approval in 2005—but in the wake of countless complaints, ranging from infection to asymmetry to lackluster results, the FDA canceled its approval in 2007.

Most RealSelf members deemed their contour thread lift “Not Worth It,” citing a variety of issues, from visibility of threads to discomfort to disappointing outcomes. One had this to say: “At 60, I wanted to look younger. I chose contour thread lift because it was in-office, with no downtime…. After the procedure [though], the skin on my face felt like it was stretched over a basketball. My face was very swollen and black and blue down the neck. One year later, I had slight tightening in my cheeks. Two years later, there was no change.”

Doctors on RealSelf have voiced complaints as well. Dr. Otto Joseph Placik, a plastic surgeon in Chicago, had this to say in a RealSelf Q&A: “Contour thread lifts generated much enthusiasm and were thus used on individuals who were likely better candidates for traditional surgery. But disappointing results occurred as a consequence of unrealistic expectations, [including] pain, visibility, palpability, [and] infection. Given the relatively high cost of the threads, [contour thread lifts’] popularity began to wane, and surgeons ceased to recommend it.”

Because of this, while they were popular 10 to 15 years ago, contour thread lifts are rarely done today. Modern thread lifts (aka absorbable suture suspension systems), such as the Silhouette InstaLift and NovaThreads, use dissolvable sutures that are less apt to trap bacteria and cause infection. Both NovaThreads and Silhouette are FDA-approved for lifting facial skin.

Pros

  • It’s a quick procedure, with minimal downtime.
  • The procedure is more affordable and less invasive than a surgical facelift.

Cons

  • Compared to a surgical facelift, which lifts underlying muscle and removes excess skin, results of the contour thread lift (or any thread lift) are subtle and short-lived. 
  • If you have thin skin, the threads may be visible under the skin’s surface. 
  • Permanent threads, like those used in a contour thread lift, may break, trap bacteria, protrude through the skin, and cause bunching and dimpling and can be difficult to remove.

Price varies, typically due to the location of the doctor and whether the contour thread lift is done in conjunction with any other procedures.

Interested in a contour thread lift?

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The contour thread lift photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Updated July 20, 2023

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