Thread lifting has a long history with both very beautiful results and happy patients mixed with poor results and dissatisfaction. Most of the latter stems from the use of permanent sutures and poor technique.Most modern thread lifting utilizes absorbable sutures, which have many major benefits. These threads not only lift and support, but provide volume as they go away, creating a lift and fill effect. The risk of dimpling, an issue with the old thread lifts, is zero here as these are not providing a permanent pull. These modern thread lifts are best thought of like a filler. They will do their job for a year or two and then will need to be touched up, but the results in the meantime are beautiful.Choosing your physician wisely here is key, as knowledge of normal facelift anatomy, tissue movement and technique is a highly valuable skill when placing these absorbable lifting threads.To ensure you are receiving the highest level of care, seek out a modernly trained, new-school dermatologic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who is board certified and fellowship trained in one of these "core four" cosmetic specialties. Membership in organizations like the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery help to identify a highly trained surgeon.Cameron Chesnut#realself500 Physician
A thread lift or lifestyle lift is a procedure touted for fast recovery and cheaper alternative to a facelift. If it sounds to good to be true it usually is. The operation involves placing a barbed suture under the skin and using is to pull up and back the face or neck. Eventually the sutures break, get infected or cause distortion and can be difficult to fix. Surprisingly it is not that cheap either. I do not perform these types of lifts as I have seen patients with complications but never seen a patient happy with the results.
The threadlift is a controversial procedure. Many people feel as though they don't last. The problem is that the majority of surgeons that tried them did not know how to place them properly and therefore did not achieve good results. They are useful only for the cheek area, and the result, when placed properly can last several years. I also perform the traditional subperiosteal midface lift as well, and in the long run, there is not a big difference between the two procedures. They result in an enhancement of the cheek while lifting the droopy midface. A big difference is the three weeks of swelling that accompanies the midface lift as opposed to one week with the threadlift under local anesthesia. A good facial plastic surgeon will discuss all the options with you during consultation.
