Deep plane facelift - will 1 year old PCL threads interfere?

Question

Hi. I have about a year ago used pCL threads. Will that interfere with my upcoming facelift, which will be at the beginning of next month?

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

PCL threads placed a year ago usually do not prevent a deep plane facelift, but they can make the operation less straightforward. Threads may leave small areas of scar tissue or tethering, and your surgeon may encounter residual material or thicker tissue planes during dissection.

The key is to tell your facelift surgeon exactly what type of threads were used, where they were placed, and when. If there is no ongoing inflammation, infection, tenderness, or unusual firmness, many surgeons would still proceed, sometimes with minor adjustments to the plan. I would avoid any additional threads before surgery and let the operating surgeon decide whether timing next month is appropriate after examining the areas where the threads were inserted.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, thread-lifts do complicate facelift surgery; I have seen numerous cases which more resemble complicated facelift revisions after thread-lifts.  In other words, the procedure will likely have more areas of multi-planar scar tissue and scar tissue present in areas which would normally present with normal, untouched anatomy.  As long as you have discussed with your Surgeon and he/she has adequate experience in facelift surgery, this shouldn't have too much effect on your eventual outcome.

Nk Park, MD · Answer

HelloI'm Dr. Park from Noonopi Plastic Surgery, Korea.
PCL threads are biodegradable, but they take up to two years to fully dissolve, so they can potentially interfere with a future facelift.That said, an experienced surgeon can often remove the threads during the facelift procedure.However, if a large number of threads were previously inserted, it may not be possible to remove every single one, and this can sometimes contribute to less-than-ideal results.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

PCL threads will not interfere as long as your surgeon is aware of it. If you find them during dissection they can be cut out. Sometimes they can completely pulled out, if not they can be trimmed.
Regards
Dr. Janjua

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Absorbable PCL threads can interfere with facelift surgery, but generally, they do not.
They can be more of an issue if they were placed recently.
The threads typically lose their strength pretty quickly, but there may be product left in the body for several years after the procedure.
not a big fan of thread lift procedures.
I suggest you talk to your surgeon about your medical history and any concerns you may have.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Deep plane facelift - will 1 year old PCL threads interfere?

Answers (5)

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