Will Removing Threads 4 Years Post Thread Lift Cause Jowl to Sag?

After several months the threads which repositioned the jowls and deeper structures have done their job. Scar tissue has secured these structures in their new position and are not needed any more.

It is difficult to know for sure but usually thread lift longevity is not more than 2 years. The reason why is the tissue that the threads suspend weakens or the threads pull through. Removing these threads at this point will USUALLY not cause significant changes in the way you look.
You should have a clear discussion with your plastic surgeon and be prepared that, while unikely, there may be changes after the threads are removed.

Hello!
What type of threads do you have currently? Typically, threads dissolve on their own from 12-36 months post-procedure. It would be helpful to know what material of thread was used.
With Love & Gratitude,Jordan Jacobs, RN, CANSOwner/CEOAesthetic Injector

Dear Irsa,
I would go with what your doctor says.
I am sure if you require facelift, your doctor would have advised it. 
Post threadlift, it is the new collagen produced that helps to firm and tighten your skin. That is something that stays with you, with or without the threads.
I hope this helps!

I am not a plastic surgeon but as a cosmetic dermatologist knowledgable in facial anatomy and skin biology, I am not surprised that your physician wants to remove the threads that would interfere with your planned surgical procedure.  Remember that a surgical neck lift will reorient that skin -- your prior threads which were hidden, could easily become visible.  In addition, as foreign bodies in the new surgical site you could be a set up for a new inflammatory reaction or infection.Discuss your concerns with your physician.  Confirm the reasons for the planned removal. Ask if he is removing all of your threads or just the ones in the lower face and neck.  Either he or his staff should be able to answer your questions.I hope this answers your question. Best wishes.

There should be no reason to remove threads unless they are causing problems such as they are visible, they are causing symptoms such as pain, they are protruding outside of the skin. After several months the lifting action of the treads is replaced by the lifting action of the fibrosis and collagen build-up that the threads stimulate. So after this time the removal of the treads should not cause the jowls to drop. It's best if you consult with the doctor who is performing your next lift. Best, Andre Berger, MD

Considering a thread lift doesn't typically last four years, it should not have a significant impact now that you are having the threads removed and neck lift performed.


Your plastic surgeon may actually be doing you a favor considering the FDA has taken its seal of approval off of facial thread lifts. The reason being is because there were more risks of adverse affects. Patients usually experienced more discomfort than positive results in any case.


In addition, I would recommend writing down and then discussing any questions you may have with your surgeon. He should be able to answer them and set your mind at ease. “Dr. D”

If you have any doubts about what your surgeon is telling you then you need to get a second opinion. If he/she feels the threads can and should be removed then that is your best guide. Having done a few of these procedures over the years, I can tell you the reason they are no longer available is that the lift only lasted a few months at best. Therefore, if should make little difference if they are removed four years later. With that said, I would not have a surgery simply to remove them if they aren't bothering you. If they are deeply embedded that could be more harmful than beneficial because of the trauma to the tissues getting them out.
Generally speaking what most people call a neck lift is really what we think of as a face lift. While there are a few less common operations out there that just treat the neck, the loose skin under the chin almost always accompanies jowling and should be they addressed together. Simple removal of loose neck skin is possible but even the best scar will be immediately apparent. Instead, the scar is hidden by the ear and loose neck and facial skin is shifted to around the ear where it can be removed with a more cosmetically acceptable scar. This would be a standard face lift. Combining it with eyelid and brow rejuvenation and you have what most people refer to as a full face lift.

It is unlikely for anything to change if the threads are removed 4 years after the original procedure. I would agree with the other physicians though about the necessity for their removal. In most cases, the threads are only removed due to persistent pain or extrusion of the threads through the skin.

Sounds like you are one of the lucky few that had a good experience with the threadlift. A recent study showed that the threads and the lift lasted no more than 3-4 months in most comers. I disagree that the scar tissue has had an effect. In my experience the only way to have an enduring lift is to lift and tighten the SMAS. Go ahead and let your docotr remove the threads!