Bradley Drury, MD

AviClear is a laser treatment that targets oil glands in your skin to help reduce acne. When the laser is used, it can damage those oil glands so they don’t produce as much oil, which is good because too much oil can cause acne.

Now, you’re asking why the effect might only last two years if the laser damages those oil glands. It’s a great question! The laser can reduce the activity of the oil glands, but it doesn’t necessarily destroy them forever. So after some time, it’s possible that the oil glands slowly recover and start producing oil again; although it may not be as much as before.

The two-year mark is often mentioned because the studies on AviClear did not follow people for longer than that. It might last longer for some, while other glands might recover sooner.

Thread lifts can be a potential option for improving sagging skin, including jowls and crow's feet, but given your history of autoimmune issues, it's important to approach this cautiously. While thread lifts are minimally invasive, an autoimmune condition like yours, particularly involving the thyroid and autonomic nervous system, might increase the risk of complications such as delayed healing, inflammation, or infection. The immune system’s altered function can sometimes react unpredictably to foreign materials like threads.

Before this procedure, I recommend you consult with a specialist familiar with your specific autoimmune condition. They may suggest doing a patch test or starting with small, low-risk areas to gauge your body’s reaction. While a thread lift might give you a temporary sense of how much lift you'd want, it's not an exact "dress rehearsal" for a facelift because the mechanisms and longevity differ.

Targeting the buccinator muscle for this isn't advisable. It plays an important role in keeping the oral mucosa against the teeth for chewing. If relaxed, it might result in a saggy cheek. Plus, the nearby risorius muscle, which helps pull the corner of the mouth outwards during a smile, might be impacted too.

Those are great questions to be asking. Beginning with my own assessment, I would start with jaw line filler and see if that gets the result that you want. Your chin is covered with facial hair, so that is difficult to assess. If you’re pleased with the provider’s results, then move onto the cheek filler. These things can be reversed and dissolved. Later in life when you want to look younger, you will be glad to have the extra fat. On a side note, surgeons are surgeons because they love to operate. So if a surgeon says you don’t need an operation, I wouldn’t continue looking for one that will do it. You will one if you look around enough.