What is a Featherlift?

Just a couple of years ago, "thread" lifting or "suture" lifting was a media darling. And now? Contour threads ("Thread lift") have been removed from the market and APTOS threads (the "Featherlift") are gone, too.
Unfortunately, these procedures were unimpressive in their results and flawed even in theory.
The idea was that barbed sutures--like porcupine quills--could be inserted under the skin, engage the tissue and then either lift it or bunch it together. Sounds great, right? So what was the problem?
The problem is that living tissue expands to accommodate tension, meaning that if you pull on skin it will grow and stretch out to eliminate that pull...and it does so pretty quickly. Doctors know this, which is why it was perplexing that any doctor ever offered it. In fact, we make use of this property with devices known as "tissue expanders," which we use for reconstructive procedures.
So why, you might ask, does a real surgical facelift last? Aren't we just pulling tissue? Not at all. The difference is that in a real surgical facelift, we are actually dissecting and then repositioning tissue planes. It's a little bit like peeling up a sticker and then re-adhering it in a new location. Unfortunately, that requires real surgery and its associated downtime, but a natural and lasting appearance is the result.

Thank you for your question. A featherlift referred to a variation on the thread lift. This type of technique is best suited to patients with mild aging changes. Moderate to severe aging changes would more likely benefit from a more traditional facelift. I would recommend consultation with a facial plastic surgeon to discuss what option is best for you."This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."

The feather lift is done with stitches under the skin to try to lift the skin.  Some refer to this as the thread lift.  Most surgeons have abandoned this procedure because it doesn't work.

The featherlift is a variant of the thread lift. This procedure uses sutures with barbs that hold the soft tissue in a suspended position. Unfortunately, with time, the barbs lose their traction and the patient develops recurrent facial skin sag. For this reason, the procedure has been widely criticized. The procedure has significant expense and is associated with minimal improvement.

It’s not unusual for these types of procedures to be given names that have marketing value. Descriptive terms like; smart, lunch hour and laser are added to standard terms like facelift to make them sound as if they represent new technology. In reality, this leads to significant confusion amongst patients.

This is one of many ideas that had a lot of publicity and great hype but  the results (or lack thereof) just did not support the expectation of patients and surgeons alike. Essentially "thread" lifting or " barbed suture" lifting is the concept. They are placed through small "stab incisions" and threaded through and tied under tension. Of course as would be expected the tiny barbs "cheese wired" through the soft tissue and the results fade in a matter of several weeks to several months. I personally have removed more than I have placed, from dissatisfied patients with suture migration and almost immediately abandoned this technique.  Contour threads ("Thread lift") have been removed from the market and APTOS threads which are the barbed sutures used for the "Featherlift") are also history. Save your money and consider a real procedure with longevity from a board certified plastic surgeon.

As a surgeon with over 20 years experience, I have seen a lot of these “newest and greatest” procedures come and go. I can only name a couple that have truly stood the test of time. A few keep coming back every few years with a new twist and a new brand name, but the same basic results. Put all the “blah-blah-blah lift” varieties in this category, along with cellulite reducing creams and non surgical bust enhancers.

Here's my advice on XYZ lifts:


Mini surgeries tend to give mini results. Adjust expectations accordingly.

Let others be the guinea pigs. Most new technologies need to have their kinks worked out. Better to avoid the “OOPS!” phase in the development of new technology.

“Results may vary” - new procedures take some time to “find their place.” In the meantime, a lot of people will be spending a lot of money getting xyz lifts on various other parts of the face that may not work that great.

It’s the tennis player, not the racket. A lot of times a procedure is marketed as an alternative for something that can be reliably done by an experienced surgeon using time tested techniques. The risk of the new procedure is that you may be wasting your money, or worse yet, risking a complication.


In your consultation with your surgeon, focus on describing exactly what you want to change, as opposed to the name of the technique. Let the surgeon explain the various techniques available to achieve the best results.

A Featherlift procedure utilizes barbed permanent suture threads that are placed under the skin in an attempt to elevate the facial soft tissues to a more youthful position. Unfortunately, this procedure has really fallen out of favor amongst facial plastic surgeons. Firstly, the patients that were considered good candidates for this procedure were few and far between. You couldn't be too thin nor could you be too heavy to have the procedure. Secondly, the results from a Featherlift did not last very long at all. Lastly, there were many concerns about the threads coming out through the skin sometime after the operation, which could lead to unsightly scarring in some cases. Spend your time and money looking into more established, reliable methods of facial rejuvenation.

Featherlift is one of many minimally invasive procedures that were designed to refresh the face without surgery.  Unfortunately it just doesn't work.  The patient might notice some temporary improvement in the appearance of the face, but the results do not work as the suture eats through the tissue, and the sagging face re-emerges.

A well-executed facelift gives predictable and long lasting results with little risk. There are variations, but the properly executed operation is thorough and addresses all aesthetic problems. Post-op pain should be minimal and patients should be up and about the next day. Period.
Lesser procedures might be enticing, but most of the time the patients are disappointed. They are no less risky and the convalescence is the same. Don't buy snake oil.

Featherlift is a great case example of why patients should do their research before embarking on a procedure because it is new or trendy. Truthfully, it was one of the most worthless procedures ever introduced to the American public (barbed sutures placed under the skin). It lies in the graveyard of failed trendy cosmetic procedures, a place with plenty of open spots for future gimmicks.

These procedures are rarely performed anymore. They tended to be popular about 5 years when several of these operations were performed using a variety of sutures with barbs or other techniques to snag and lift the skin with relatively minimal surgery.
Several different technologies were concurrently promoted such as Contour threads or Aptos threads, etc. Companies or surgeons developed marketing terms to desribe operations performed with these devices.
For the most part these have been abandoned by most plastic surgeons. In many instances these permanent sutures failed to achieve their intended goals, became visible, painful, or acomplished undesireable results.
The tide has turned towards mini-face lifts for now, but new technologies are always being developed.