Can I Get the Same Results of Silhouette Threads with a Liquid Facelift ( with Fillers )?

Thank you for your question.  The Silhouette Lift consists of small entry points made in your skin by a needle.  There is no scalpel used.  No incision scars.  This is all good news if someday you might need or want a formal facelift/necklift.  You can also receive another Silhouette Lift a couple years after the first if you are still not ready/not a candidate for a facelift  The material is the same that we use with Sculptra injectable.  Often Sculptra patients will come back every few years for a touch up.  Volume can also work well with other modalities, (Juvederm, Volluma, etc.).  The choice between modalities depends on how much these issues bother you, how aggressive you want to be, and your anatomy.   Again, one should do a proper history and physical exam to see if you are a candidate.  Best to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Otolaryngologist, (ENT).  They will be able to let you know what might work best in your case, (Silhouette Lift vs. Fillers vs. Surgery), as they do all of the above.  Please call with any questions.
Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

The Silhouette Instalift is an absorbable thread with  micro-cones that is woven beneath the skin of the lower face and cheek to lift mildly lax skin of the cheeks and jaw.  The threads and cones are absorbed over 6 months, as they stimulate your native collagen.  Hence, there is a skin lift, and volume replacement that is maintained for up to 2 years. The upper cheek mound and area below the lids are often flat or sunken from loss of bone, muscle and fat volume. These areas are restored to a youthful appearance utilizing facial fillers such as Radiesse and Voluma. They, too, are absorbed and stimulate you own collagen.  Often, a combination of the Silhouette Instalift and Volume replacement with Radiesse or Voluma is necessary to optimize results.  However, in those who only require volume sculpting of the upper cheeks or orbital hollow, the fillers are an excellent first choice. 

As a facial plastic surgeon who's passion is facial rejuvenation, I perform a wide variety of facelift procedures depending on the needs, goals, and aging pattern of each individual patient.  In my opinion and experience, The Silhouette Lift is a nonsurgical/minimally invasive tool which can be used to help patients achieve their goals by truly tightening, and lifting drooping volume and skin in the face without incisions. THIS IS NOT THE SAME THREAD LIFT THAT LOST FDA APPROVAL YEARS AGO.

I view the Instalift as a procedure for patients with mild to moderate looseness of the mid and lower face, without a significant amount of loose skin, who do not have the time to recover from a facelift (about 1 week), are okay with results that can last about 18-36 months, are not open to having incisions, and find that the cost (about $3500-$6000 - which is in the same range as ulthera and thermitight) is worth the benefits. The results are subtle, but visible to both my patients and me. Patients have been happy. The procedure involves injecting dissolvable sutures with "sculptra" cones under the skin to lift the cheeks and lower face. It can be combined with fillers and botox to create an overall rejuvenated appearance. There are no incisions. Bruising and swelling is minimal if any.  Patients drive themselves home. It takes about 30 minutes to perform with minimal discomfort. Very often the recovery time is similar to that of a filler (24-48 hours if any at all).  



In the right patients, I have found that the results are worth the time, effort and resources. The procedure is a minimally invasive way of tightening the skin of the face. 



If the aging pattern is mainly volume related, filler will likely be the best solution. If there is sagging tissue, the the Silhouette lift should be able to help. To find out which procedure is appropriate for you, I suggest seeing a physician who regularly performs a variety of nonsurgical facial procedures in order to truly get an unbiased recommendation.

Thank you for your question.  The Silhouette Instalift is a minimally invasive solution that delivers a great option to patients for whom a facelift surgery is not their preferred approach. There have been several different suture lifts in the past that may have been pulled off the market because due to complications.  The Instalift differs in that the material is resorbable and the suture material actually stimulates collagen as well.  One of the main materials used in the Instalift is the main active ingredient in Sculptra which is commonly used by advanced injectors for facial rejuvenation for collagen stimulation.  In addition, Instalift uses bi-directional cones to reposition the subdermal tissue and facial skin to a more lifted and youthful position.  Over time the implanted sutures and cones also stimulate your own collagen for natural and long lasting results. Although the Silhouette Instalift is used to help soften the signs of aging, it can also be used to shape the face in younger patients.  It works by recruiting tissue towards the midpoint of where the sutures are placed.  So if you are wanting to provide more projection and definition in the cheek, they can be used to shift some of your cheek volume to a more desirable position.  I do often use the Silhouette Instalift procedure in conjunction with fillers, and often find I am using fewer syringes to address the patient's aesthetic goals. 

Thank you for your question.Thread lifts do not last long term.  Fillers can provide temporary volume added to the face and can be used to correct asymmetry.

To be sure, see two or more experienced, licensed
and certified providers for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good
candidate and that it is safe for you to have the procedure.

I hope this helps.

Suspension lifts such as Threadlifts, Contour lifts, Featherlift, Silhouette lift, are fairly ineffective and very short lasting.  Not the best value for the money spent.  Fillers will provide you a longer lasting improvement for the same cost

if volume loss is your main issue then liquid facelift will actually be a better option...you likely do not need lifting but volumizing which is what the liquid facelift does!
 

Improving the volume loss of your face (the flatness you describe) would likely be a very high yield procedure to improve your appearance.

Thread lifting has fallen out of favor due to problems with poor, temporary results and other complications. At your age, I wouldn't recommend a more formal lifting procedure. I suspect that you will find that improving your volume loss will provide a bit of a lift to your skin thanks to the better tissue projection.

A liquid facelift involves the use of fillers such as restylane, juvederm or radiesse. Another option would be facial fat grafting which involves the use of your own fat that is processed and then carefully injected into your face.

Liquid face lift, a largely over-used term, can absolutely help with symmetry of the face in a young person.  Changing facial "shape" with threads wouldn't make sense, even if the thread lifts weren't so problematic.  And they are.  I can't count how many times I have had to remove those threads.  Stick to temporary measures for now, as you are so young.

Thread lifts have been shown to be ineffective, with results that just don't last.  Cross that off your list.  Some sort of filler - whether it is juvederm, restylane, sculptra or a fat transfer would be a much better idea.

 

All the best,