Los Angeles Thread Lift doctors

	Brent Moelleken, MD Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon 120 S Spalding Dr Suite 110, Beverly Hills		2 answers
	Richard W. Fleming, MD Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon 416 N Bedford Dr Suite 200, Beverly Hills		1 answer
	Francis R. Palmer, III, MD Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon 8500 Wilshire Blvd Ste 900, Beverly Hills		1 answer
	Aaron Stone, MD Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon 120 South Spalding suite 330, Beverly Hills		1 answer
	Daniel J. Casper, MD Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon Suite 407 10 Congress Street, Pasadena

Recent Answers

What is the Difference Between a Thread Lift and a Suture Suspension During a SMAS Facelift? What is the Difference Between a Thread Lift and a Suture Suspension During a SMAS facelift procedure? Is there another (or longer lasting) way to secure the SMAS in the neck and face? Is this something a patient should be concerned about when deciding on a facial plastic surgeon?

A: Thread Lift vs SMAS Facelift

With a thread lift sutures are placed under the skin to lift the skin and underlying muscle. It is easier for the surgeon and patient, but the results are not as good and the duration of the improvement is significantly less. In a SMAS lift the deeper layers of the face are actually mobilized, repositioned, and excess sagging tissue is removed if necessary.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

A: What is the Difference Between a Thread Lift and a Suture Suspension During a SMAS Facelift?

I have performed Face Lifts for well over 20 years and IMHO, a SMAS Face Lift should not use a suture suspension technique which is the method of lifting the SMAS. For a Face Lift to be effective, IMO it must have the following characteristics:

There must be some type of incision that contours around the front of the ear allowing removal of excess skin.
The SMAS must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and sewn back together in its elevated position.
The midface (cheeks) must be properly shaped by removing excess fat and'or creating the proper aesthetic cheek shape.

A typical SMAS Face Lift should meet the first 2 criterea however, if they use a suture or thread to lift and fold the SMAS on itself it does not dissect, lift and trim the SMAS but merely suspend it. The thread or suture will eventually wear through the SMAS and it will sag back down.

Thread Lifts don't meet any of the above criterea as there's no incision with which to remove excess skin, nor is the SMAS dissected, elevated etc. As such, IMO, thread lifts are a very poor 3rd or 4th option to any Face Lift technique meeting the three criterea listed above. IMHO, you'd be far better off having a minimal incision Face Lift that does all three of the above.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fillers Vs Thread Lift I'm in my 30's. I would like the nasolabial folds and mouth corners lifted as they are drooping.. (FYI, I've lost 20 pounds in 2 months). Do you think fillers can fix my problem? or I need a thread lift?

A: fillers vs. lift surgery

The photo you posted shows fairly deep nasolabial folds, early marionette lines down from the corners of the mouth and early jowling. The best option for the nasolabial folds is a filler. You need to decide which filler after consulting with the doctor you choose to do the procedure. The jowling is a bit too early in the process to warrant a major operation in my opinion though some surgeons would want to do it. You could try some of the non-invasive skin tightening procedures. I would recommend against doing a threadlift which is the placement of barbed sutures to lift the facial soft tissues. These initially looked good but then the barbs would split along the length of the suture and the suture would break on the upper part. The lower ends would then migrate under the skin like a snake and then pop through the skin in areas far from where they were initially placed. That is why the FDA took those threads off the market.

Some surgeons would recommend placing a filler in the concave area of the jowl. I personally do not think that gives patients a more youthful natural look so I do not do that.

My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship.

Aaron Stone, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon