A thread lift: what it is and who it suits

How does a thread lift with dissolvable threads work, when does it come up for discussion and where is the boundary with a facelift? Explained by the doctors of ACLINIC.

Over the years, the skin of the face loses firmness. The jawline becomes less sharp and the cheeks sag somewhat. In case of limited sagging, a thread lift may come up for discussion, a treatment without surgery in which dissolvable threads are inserted under the skin. In this article you can read how that works, who it may suit and where the boundary lies.

What a thread lift does

During a thread lift, the doctor inserts thin threads under the skin. Those threads are made of polydioxanone, PDO for short. That is a substance that the body tolerates well and that breaks down gradually. The same material has long been used for dissolvable sutures in surgery.

The threads have two effects. Immediately after insertion they give the tissue some support and lift it slightly. After that, they prompt the skin to produce new collagen. That collagen gives the skin firmness, even after the threads themselves have broken down.

Who it may suit

A thread lift mainly comes up for discussion in case of:

early sagging of the cheeks or the jawline
skin that is still sufficiently elastic
subcutaneous tissue that is still firm

In case of pronounced sagging or a clear excess of skin in the neck, a thread lift achieves too little. Your doctor will then rather discuss a neck lift or facelift with you. During a facelift, the deeper layers of the face are repositioned and excess skin is removed. That is an operation with a different recovery and permanent scars, but also with a different reach.

Sometimes a thread lift is combined with liposuction of the neck and the jawline, to make the angle between neck and jaw tighter. Whether that is useful depends on your situation.

How the treatment proceeds

The course of a thread lift

1

The analysis

The doctor examines your face, the firmness of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue, and discusses which zones are eligible.
2

The anaesthetic

A numbing ointment is applied. Where necessary, a local anaesthetic follows, as at the dentist.
3

The insertion

Through a fine cannula, the doctor inserts the threads under the skin. The treatment takes about thirty minutes.
4

After the treatment

When you resume your usual activities is something you discuss with the doctor. Massages and other facial treatments wait about ten days.

The doctor uses a cannula, a thin tube with a rounded tip in which the thread is housed. That rounded tip pushes blood vessels and tissue aside instead of damaging them.

After the treatment

Immediately after the treatment there is some swelling, and sometimes a tight or pulling sensation. Small bruises may appear at the sites where the threads were inserted. How quickly that fades differs from person to person.

A few agreements for the first weeks:

preferably sleep on your back during the first nights
avoid large movements of the face, such as laughing very broadly or chewing hard
wait about ten days before massages and other facial treatments
wait with intensive sports until the doctor allows it

How long the effect lasts

The threads are broken down by the body over the course of months. The collagen they have stimulated remains longer. How long the effect lasts depends on the quality of the skin and differs greatly from person to person. With skin that ages more quickly, for example due to smoking or a lot of sun, it is shorter.

A thread lift does not stop ageing. The face continues to change, and the sagging gradually returns as well.

Risks to be aware of

Swelling, bruises and sensitive skin are part of the normal course. Less often, a thread is palpable or visible under the skin, or a small irregularity or dimple appears. That usually fades on its own, and otherwise your doctor can correct it. Rarely, an infection occurs. A thread lift therefore belongs in the hands of a doctor with experience in this technique.

Thread lift and fillers

A thread lift provides support and a lifting effect. Fillers replenish lost volume, for example in the cheeks, the lips or in the tear trough. These are different treatments with different effects, which are sometimes discussed together.

Before the treatment

At the consultation, mention which medication and supplements you take. Blood thinners, some anti-inflammatory drugs and supplements such as fish oil or ginkgo possibly increase the chance of bruising. Never stop your medication on your own initiative, but discuss this with the doctor. Also, do not plan a thread lift just before an important event, so that swelling and bruises have time to fade.

If you have previously had fillers or another treatment on the face, mention that as well. It helps the doctor to determine where and how the threads are best inserted.

Questions you can ask

Is my skin still firm enough for a thread lift? How many threads are likely to be needed? When is a facelift more useful in my situation? What do I do if I feel a thread? When may I exercise again?

Making an appointment

Whether this treatment suits your situation can only be assessed by a doctor after an examination. Would you like to know more about your situation? Make an appointment for a consultation.

Call us: 050 97 79 30

Gruuthuselaan 7, 8020 Oostkamp

Make an appointment

This information is general in nature and does not replace a personal consultation.