Lip Threading: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
What to expect
How long results last
Threading vs. filler
Fast facts
Lip threading, or a lip thread lift, is a nonsurgical lip augmentation procedure (not to be confused with the facial hair removal technique known by the same name). Absorbable threads—short, fine surgical sutures—are inserted along the edges of the lips to enhance their shape by perking up the Cupid’s bow, defining the vermillion border, and stimulating the production of new collagen.
By putting a modicum of tension on the lips, upper lip threading can also minimize the appearance of fine lines above the top lip.
Dissolvable threads are typically composed of either poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA)—the same synthetic substance in the collagen-stimulating filler Sculptra—or polydioxanone, another type of biocompatible polymer (used in the NovaThreads lip lift).Â
These materials have long been used in dissolvable stitches, and they’re considered very safe.
Pros
- Lip threading can temporarily define the border of the mouth (think: semipermanent lip liner) for a more youthful look.
- It’s considered a quick, easy, low-downtime procedure.
- The results of lip threading are natural, subtle, and predictable.Â
- It's a safe procedure that's been FDA-approved. When done correctly, threads are placed superficially, above critical blood vessels, so there’s little risk of occlusion (always a concern with lip fillers).
Cons
- Complications and side effects are rare, but they can include infection, allergic reactions, internal scarring, lumps, and asymmetry.
- Post-procedure swelling and bruising can last for up to two weeks.
- Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, threads are not reversible, so they can’t be easily removed if you don’t like your results; you'd just have to wait four to six months for the threads to dissolve.Â
- It doesn’t add much volume.
- Lip threading can’t even out lip asymmetries.
Your provider will usually begin by offering a topical numbing cream and/or lidocaine injections (a dental nerve block) inside the mouth, to take the sting out of the procedure.Â
The exact technique used depends on the type of threads in play. Most threads come preloaded in hypodermic needles, which serve as a delivery vehicle and leave behind the biostimulatory thread once they’re removed.Â
Your provider may also make a tiny hole or entry point at the corners of the mouth, through which they can insert a hollow, stainless steel cannula to guide the threads into place along the lip line.Â
Upper lip threading typically involves the placement of two threads, one running from each corner of the mouth to the Cupid’s bow. Another two threads are used along the rim of the bottom lip, and some providers also lay threads
, for additional scaffolding and support.Related: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Fuller Lips—From Plumping Glosses to Silicone Implants
Thanks to the use of either the topical anesthetic or a lidocaine injection, your procedure should be relatively painless. You may still have some slight discomfort, but it shouldn’t be unbearable. Once the medications kick in (figure 10–15 minutes), they’ll place the threads.
If you're concerned about pain, talk to your doctor about any additional methods of pain relief before your appointment.
Related: 5 Signs of a Stellar Lip Lift, According to Facial Plastic Surgeons
Lip threading is not plastic surgery, and it's a permanent solution like lip implants or a lip lift.Â
The sutures dissolve within four to six months, but the collagen (and sometimes scar tissue) that forms around the threads can lift and thicken the area for a year or more.
There have been countless stories written over the past few years calling lip threads the new lip filler and even predicting that threads may replace lip injections, but the two cosmetic procedures are really very different—in intention and outcome.Â
The aim of a lip threading procedure is mainly to define your lips’ shape by elevating the edges while adding a very subtle volume boost, courtesy of modest collagen growth over time. (The Cupid’s bow tends to flatten with age, and threads can help restore those youthful peaks.) The result is a very natural look.Â
Hyaluronic acid fillers (like Restylane or JuvĂ©derm), on the other hand, lend fullness, hydration, and projection to the lips, creating a far plumper pout. They can also define lip shape and build the height of the top and bottom lip a bit, when expertly injected.Â
Threads can only be placed along the lip border, so they accent the edges of the mouth. Fillers, meanwhile, emphasize the full lips.Â
While dermal fillers deliver an immediate plumping effect, the true payoff with lip threading comes months after the procedure, once collagen production ramps up around the threads. (You will notice a slight elevation right after threads are placed, however).
The two cosmetic treatments complement one another nicely, and they can actually be done during the same appointment or staged one after the other. Both can cause some degree of swelling and bruising, so it makes sense to stack the treatments.
Related: How to Make Your Lip Filler Results Last As Long as Possible
RealSelf Tip: If you want longer-lasting results, consider a lip lift, which removes a small strip of skin under your nose in order to make your upper lip look fuller and more defined.
Updated June 13, 2023