What is the most recent update and observation on thread lifting procedures?

Thread lifts have had a long history. They started in South American and were known as Golden Threads. Next came along the Aptos threads out of Russia and then finally the Contour threads and the Silhouette Sutures. We are very fortunate to have threads today (in the US) that are really quite effective. The new ones are the Silhouette Instalift and the Nova threads. The Instalift sutures are made of PolyLlactic acid. These are resorbable sutures that go away by about 18 months. The good thing about these threads is that they cause a foreign body reaction which causes the formation of a natural collagen band which suspends the tissue even after the threads resorb. The other advantage is that they are bidirectional. That means instead of just pulling back they lift the cheek or the brow to the center so in addition to a lift you get a bit or revolumization. The procure is much like having a filler placed and is considered minimally invasive. The procedure takes about an hour because of the photos and marking, but each thread takes only minutes to place. The Nova threads are made of PDO and last 3 to 6 months but these two cause a collagen reaction. There are many types of Nova threads, some are used just for volume. All of the current threads resorb with time and that is what makes them much better than the old ones. The results we are getting today utilizing both of the available sutures is really quite impressive. The correct patient selection is important, but threads have come a long way over the years.

Hi Sandra,

Threadlift is the best non surgical facelifting procedure now. However the learning curve is steep and it takes a high level of technical expertise. That may be why you saw the negative reviews . 
Many Asian doctors (especially South East Asian) have great reviews with threadlifting. 
The cracking sound is likely the loosening of part of a thread that was stuck to the skin layer , and it shouldn't be cause of alarm unless you notice thread extrusion (the end of the thread trying to poke out of the skin).