What is a "One-stitch Lift"? Doctor Answers, Tips
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What is a "One-stitch Lift"?

I have heard of a "one-stitch" lift. Is there really such a thing? Apparently a doctor does a stitch, that lifts the skin a bit, up along the hairline. Is this a good procedure?

38 Doctor Answers | Asked by martyo in Yakima, Wa
+6

"One stitch lift" is a marketing name for a thread lift...

"One stitch lift" is a marketing name for a thread lift procedure for the midface area. Since threadlift has recently received a lot of negative publicity, some surgeons use other marketing names to attract patients. Threadlift procedure has not been able to gather full support of the plastic surgery society for its shortcomings. You may look at RealSelf reviews to see what other patients think of threadlift. I personally neither perform nor believe in threadlift procedures. more
+5

One stitch, no results

The conclusion most patients reach at one year after having one stitch lifts or threadlifts is that the results are disappointing. They did not receive a facelift result with a single stitch as they had hoped. When tissues are pulled with a hook with no undermining, the usual threadlift or one stitch technique, they cut through the tissue like butter. Fortunately, the marionette appearance from the subcutaneous tissues being pulled in a few specific areas softens as the sutures cut through... more
+5

Best to Avoid this Procedure

Hello, I agree with the advice given here. A "One Stitch Lift" is a procedure that uses a barbed suture that stays in place or a ribbon with little hooks on it that absorbs over time. The goal being to "hook" and elevate the sagging tissues through a small incision. Sounds good but... These types of procedures have fallen out of favor and would only be recommended in very, very subtle or unique circumstances. Some Surgeons do feel they can be beneficially used for... more

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+4

Translation: Gimmick

Can a "one stitch lift" achieve similar results to a Facelift: no. Will you be charged a relatively large sum for a relatively inadequate result? yes. Over the last few years, I have seen a number of unhappy patients who have had thread lifts. Their comments are as follows: lots of money spent no result obtained. Definitely something to be avoided. We would all like to be able to offer a very short procedure which offers the same result as a Facelift with no downtime. The... more
+4

If it sounds too good to be true...

There are some procedures like the Threadlift that propose to lift the face without surgery. These were very popular 3 or 4 years ago and many people had them performed. Simply stated, they didn't work and the companies that promoted them have either dissolved or turned their attention elsewhere. Any procedure that is going to produce a real result must undermine the skin and elevate and tighten the deeper tissues of the face. There are many ways to do this but please realize that most... more
+3

One stitch facelifts do not work

I have done facelifts on several people who had the so called one stitch facelift by local dermatologists. In each instance there were single sutured placed behind the ear. Its naive and foolish to think that a single suture behind the ear can hold up the weight of the neck, jowls and jawline. I blame the doctors for selling a procedure that does not even have a chance at working but you know what they say, "A fool and their money are easily separated."
+2

Better options than a One Stitich Lift

The One-Stitch Lift appears to be a branded version of a thread lift. Thread lifts are facelift procedures that use a barbed suture or ribbon to lift the facial skin. The "thread" may be permanent or may absorb over time depending on the type. These have fallen out of favor in the plastic surgery community primarily because there is little long lasting benefit. I recommend investigating other modified facelift procedures such as the Lite Lift, LifeStyle Lift, S Lift or... more
+2

One-Stitch: the Name Says All you Need to Know

Suture or thread lifts are pretty much abandoned. The success of your Facelift shouldn't have to hang by just one stitch!
+2

One Stitch Lift aka Waste of Money Lift

If your degree of facial drooping could somehow be smoothed well with but a single stitch you really should not be having a Facelift operation. Whenever you hear ANY catchy name describe a Facelift, cover your ears, clench your pocketbook tighter and walk faster by. You are being ripped off. Such procedures are sleazy marketing schemes to separate you from your money by promising the moon by delivering at best average and commonly poor results in exchange. Don't do it. Dr. P. Aldea more
+2

No such thing as one stitch lift

No such thing, but they did try to promote the quill contour threads like this. Many wannabe doctors/dentists started using the threads since they weren't familiar with the surgeries and it just didn't work out. It was a mess because they were very expensive after a few, they did nothing but leave a permanent suture in your soft tissues and dissappointed many that finally made the step out into the world of cosmetic medicine. There are however, many non surgical options to look good.... more
+2

If its too good to be true, it probably is

When I think of the one stitch lift, I think of something that might be a quick fix to something that might need more than that. Using one stitch to lift the face is like trying to build a house with one pillar for the foundation. The face and what it looks like cannot be naturally changed with one stitch. If you were to use one stitch, it would likely make the face appear significantly abnormal. I have done over 1200 facelifts and I know that using just one stitch would not allow the... more
+2

Never heard of this, but it is most likely a marketing...

Never heard of this, but it is most likely a marketing tool by some company that wants to promote "facelifting procedure." One stitch probably will last one minute!
+1

What is a one suture facelift.

There are all sorts of marketed and hyped versions of "so called" specialty Facelifts. This may be a version of these as Facelifts must, in my opinion of performing Facelifts for over 25 years, have the following characteristics to be effective: Incisions around the front, of the ear, to allow removal of excess facial skin. Dissect, lift, trim and re-suture (not simply lift with a single looping suture) the underlying Smas Layer. Shape the cheeks my... more
+1

A One-Stitch Lift is a Marketing Term for a Facelift

The one stitch lift is a variant of the thread lift. This procedure uses sutures with barbs that hold the soft tissue in a suspended position. Unfortunately, with time, the barbs lose their traction and the patient develops recurrent facial skin sag. For this reason, the procedure has been widely criticized. The procedure has significant expense and is associated with minimal improvement. It’s not unusual for these types of procedures to be given names that have marketing value.... more
+1

One-stitch Facelift -- Too Good To Be True

Thank you for the question. The "one-stitch facelift" is a derivative of other minimally-invasive (and minimally effective) techniques based on the threadlift model. The theory behind these procedures is that placing a semi-rigid thread at certain key points can suspend tissues. However, without adequate release of the underlying connective tissue and ligaments, this is doomed to failure. Best to seek out a consultation from a facial surgery expert to discuss other options. more
+1

What is a "One-stitch Lift"?

The “One-stitch Lift” is one of several names for a minimally invasive type of facial procedure. This type of procedure has been popularized in the past but has not shown to really be in favor with board certified Plastic Surgeons because of the minimal effect that comes with this type of procedure. If a patient wants a facelift then they should get a full facelift which includes a necklift in order to alleviate the problems of sagging skin and most will need fat grafts to... more
+1

One stitch facelift is a gimmick

Facelifts reposition tissues in a more youthful location. In order to achieve a natural result the tissues are repositioned in more than one vector. That said, one-stitch can never be adequate.
+1

One stitch lift

A one stitch facelift is a marketing term for a thread lift. Thread lift has received a lot of poor reviews recently so those who perform the threadlift procedure have opted for other names. The poor press is well deserved as the thread lift is not the optimal option for most patients.
+1

One stitch lift

One stitch lift doesn't sound like a Threadlift to me but rather like the Lifestyle Lift which has been heavily marketed in infomercials. This is a short scar procedure under local anesthesia which takes about an hour. It is not a true facelift with undermining of the tissues and would not have a lasting improvement. A single stitch does not have the capacity to hold up the face and results are short-lived. This is not a procedure which I would endorse or perform on patients as, within... more
+1

Lifts need stitches

The basic concept of a facelift is to reposition sagging tissues back where they belong and remove excess skin. Excess skin is cut away with an incision. The incision must be closed. Stitches are used to close incisions. Unless the "lift" is a single suture thread lift, which is largely out of favor these days due to numerous concerns, and the patient has no extra skin to remove, a single-stitch facelift is a physical impossibility. Sounds like a nice miracle cure, though,... more
+1

Marketing terms and a facelift

It used to be that advertising in plastic surgery, or medicine in general, was not the norm. Now of days, there are so many "cosmetic" surgeons who have approached these procedures without formal plastic surgery training, that they tend to use marketing, advertising and catchy names to try to promote business. The length of time that a procedure takes is dependent on a frank and honest discussion with your plastic surgeon about your goals and expectations. Don't get fooled... more
+1

How one stitch can fix a face

Dear Facelift patient from Washington, One stitch facelift is another branding gimmick. Facial structure is complex and requires skilled surgeon to treat it. A 3D structure can’t be fixed by one suture. Thread lifts are falling out favor due to lack of their longevity. If it too good to be true, probably it is not !!!!!!  
+1

One stitch face lift- baloney

Think about this....Your pants are stretched out, baggy and sagging.....You can tailor them but you have only one stitch. Same thing with the face... One stitch stratigically placed will lift something but will look like a suspension strap and not lift other areas that may be in need of lifting. Cute sounding quick, cheap cure alls are a great disservice to plastic surgery and patients who deserve better
+1

One Stich Facelift

I do not know specifically what the authors mean under one stitch facelift. I suggest you visiting my page and reading a quick review of available types facelift rejuvenation surgery. I presume, the one stitch facelift falls into one of those categories or somewhere in between. It sounds very tempting, however, the less you do, the less improvement you see, and the shorter the effect is going to be. Sincerely, Boris Volshteyn M.D., M.S.
+1

One stitch facelift not recommended

If you really need a facelift then elevation and suspension of the underlying tissues of the face are necessary to receive a nice, lasting result.  One stitch is not going to be able to do that, no matter how big or well placed it is. 
+1

One stitch - you get what you pay for!

The more we see, the more we learn. I have learned that in order to get the best results in facial rejuvenation, that sagging stretched out tissue must be returned to its proper place. Lifted and shortened. Tightened and resuspended. A single stitch can create a temporary lifting affect, however, the sagging tissue is still sagging and stretched out. As such, it will return to that position in a short time.
+1

No such thing as a "One Stitch Lift"....Another Gimmick

A truly qualified and experienced surgeon would never recommend a "one stitch face-lift" or any other overly simplified description of a face lift.  A face lift must be done with care and time.  The more stitches are often associated with better and longer lasting results.  
+1

A "One Stich Lift" is a cheap solution

Honnestly, this is a very bad procedure for you. Its cheap and will probobly do more harm than help. If you are worried about cost, consult with your doctor because there are other ways.  
+1

You get what you pay for in a face lift

A one stitch face lift is a gimmick. Watch out for gimmicks in Plastic surgery , your face deserves more. The complexity of aging is so great that one stitch will not cut it. Good Luck
+1

Did not withstand the test of time

The mechanism of facial aging is so complex it is hard to beleive that one stich could reverse that mechanism. What you heard is a barbed suture technique that was used at a certain time to gather the facial tissues. It is clear that this technique did not withstand the test of time.
+1

Not all facelifts are created equal

When seeking facelift surgery your ultimate goal will be the results! Be careful of many marketing terms and names that are given to procedures in order to market the surgery to the masses. When seeking facelift surgery you should see plenty of before and after photographs. Importantly, ask the doctor how far out from surgery the after photos are taken. Any type of lift will look great at 2 weeks because the swelling will make the face look younger. Photographs should be at least 6 months... more
+1

A One Stitch Lift will not work

A One Stitch Lift is simply a marketing ploy to get patients to agree to what they see as a minimally invasive procedure. There have been many attempts in the past 50 years in plastic surgery to use stitches instead of surgery to lift the face, including thread lifts in the past 5 years. These results are slight, and often last 6 to 9 months. It is likely that this procedure involves more surgery than it describes, and if it does it is likely to last longer and give better results. more
+1

"one stitch facelift" is one that doesn't work

I'm not sure I know precisely what a "one stitch" facelift is, but if it is anything close to what it implies, it can't possibly work. Sounds simple but it's just a gimmick. Facelifts that are properly executed give excellent and predictable results with minimal downtime and little negative side effects. The realself.com website is a good indicator of this. Compare any of the shortcut facelifts with conventional facelift relative to satisfaction rates. Very interesting. more
+1

Fat injections better than one stitch lift

A one stitch lift is a waste of money. There are other alternatives to make you look younger with minimal surgery. Fat injections underneath the eyes is one such alternative. Fat is abundant in stem cells and the stem cells will rejuvenate your skin. see video
+1

Likely Marketing

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. While this may seem like a reasonable solution, it is unlikely to produce lasting results. The procedure is not one that is widely writen about in the medical literature and thus is likely a marketing tool.
+1

A waste of money

In the interest of time but certainly not money marketers have come up with the proverbial "quick fix" to facial aging. In these kind of surgeries a single suture is passed from the temporal area, around the cheek and back up to the temporal area, all under the skin. The stitch is tied and thus tightened. This displaces tissues superiorly and posteriorly. Of course the skin will be displaced as well. If you're lucky they'll remove it but if not it will stayed bunched up. Since... more
+1

"One Stitch Lift" / "Instant lift" / "Fast lift"

They all sound similar, and I would group them as sales gimmicks. You never get something for nothing, and the extension is that for a minimal procedure, you get a minimal result. Sorry, but that is my opinion. I do not like sales tactics whereby major results are promised from minimal procedures. Either they are sugar-coating a real procedure by giving it a catchy name, or you really are going to get "nothing".
+1

"One-stitch" face lift

If I were to ask you to take one finger and push up on your face to make yourself look younger, do you think you could do it? As you can see from the other surgeon's comments, we generally achieve our best results by performing a layered approach and addressing the multiple layers of the face that are effected by aging. I like to give analogies to explain what may be obvious to us as surgeons but not to a non-surgeon. Consider the a messy appearing or unkempt bed. Is the appearance due to a... more
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