Will threads damage the tissue to the point of a facelift not being an option?

A thread lift won't have any effect on you getting a real mini face/neck lift when you need it. They just don't do much to begin with and they generally last only 3 months and can pucker your skin a lot. The older style of threads which are anchored down by suturing to the muscle or fascia work but the little PDO etc... threads which you pop into the skin and pinch the skin are worthless and cause too much distortion.

I was one of the first to adopt threads when they originally came out in the early 1990s. I even appeared on network television performing a facial threadlift. At that time, the only threads available were permanent (non-dissolving) threads and the promise was that the results would be long-lasting to permanent. Threadlifting was and still is an invasive procedure that is relatively expensive and engenders a significant post-procedure period of downtime. Unfortunately, the promise of the permanent threads was not realized and the results did not seem to last much longer than those more quickly and cheaply obtained with fillers. So, I quickly ceased performing threadlifts and have never resumed--especially since newer and more robust HA fillers came on the scene that offered results lasting up to 1.5 years or more--the same durations as the permanent threads proved to be. Frankly, it is inconceivable that today's dissolving threads can promise to last longer than the aforementioned permanent threads. Besides, there has been an unacceptably high chance for adverse reactions with threads, such as infection, spitting out of the threads, skin dimpling and puckering, etc--often necessitating an additional procedure to remove them. And, finally, even if threads were ever to prove to give long-lasting results and didn't have the adverse reactions that they in fact do, the need for later cosmetic work would still not be avoided simply because shrinkage of the underlying fat pads, bone, muscle, etc. with the passage of time; gravitational effects; along with changes in the overlying skin from sun and chronologic aging will very likely make further cosmetic interventions necessary down the road. So, exercise a healthy dose of buyer beware when considering threadlifts. For early interventions now, consider fillers, whose regular, periodic use early on (prejuvenation) is currently believed to be able to forestall the need for later expensive, aggressive, and invasive surgical facelifts, necklifts, etc. Hope this helps.

Threads will not affect the option of doing a facelift later on down the road. In our practice, we have removed many of the old permanent threads in the face that were simply doing nothing and we're not holding any tissue together.

Thank you for your' question. A thread lift does not prevent you from having a facelift even if permanent threads are used . Permanent threads tend to cause some minor issues over time and the effect of thread lifting is fairly short term (especially if absorbable threads are used) but provided they are expertly placed by someone who fully understands the anatomy of where they are putting them they are usually not too much of a problem for the surgeon performing a subsequent facelift. I have frequently encountered threads in deeper tissues than the original doctor would have intended when I have performed a subsequent facelift. On a few occasions the thread and small sleeve of surrounding scar was adherent to branches of the facial nerve and great care was required to dissect it free and avoid a facial palsy. I feel sure the doctor who inserted the thread would not have intended to place it so deep but it goes to show that whatever technique is employed for facial rejuvenation the experience and judgement of the operator is paramount.