What is a thread lift?
Thread lift is a cosmetic procedure that offers a minimally invasive alternative to facelift surgery.
Thread lifts claim to tighten your skin by inserting medical-grade thread material into your face and then “pulling” your skin up by tightening the thread.
Also called a barbed suture lift, it aims to lift and sculpt the shape of your face or breasts. Thread lifts use temporary, medical-grade suture material to “stitch-up” your skin so that it’s drawn taut.
Thread lifts have been around since the 1990s, but innovations in the material used for thread lifts have led to an increase in popularity in recent years.
The typical candidate for a thread lift is in their late 30s to early 50s. A person who is generally in good health and is just starting to notice the signs of aging may benefit the most from the subtle impact of a thread lift.
How much does a thread lift cost?
The costs of a thread lift will vary widely depending on how many areas you are going to target with your treatment and the number of threads need to be used.
Your forehead, jowls, under-eye area, and eyebrow are all parts of your face that can be considered for a thread lift. You can choose to target just one area or several at once, increasing the cost. A thread lift used to draw up and tighten the breasts may be more costly.
Thread lifts don’t require general anesthesia, so you save money on the cost of sedation. You also don’t have to consider taking recovery time off from work. Recovery is minimal — it can even be done on your lunch break.
Our doctors may recommend that you get additional therapies or cosmetic procedures such as Botox, Fillers or Non-Invasive treatments to boost the effects of your thread lift.
How does a thread lift work?
The thread lift procedure works in two ways.
The first is fairly straightforward. By threading thin, dissolvable sutures underneath your skin, your doctor is able to pull your skin tight around your forehead, neck, or torso.
Invisible, painless “barbs” grab on to your skin and make sure that the thread grips your underlying tissue and muscles as the thread is pulled tight.
Once a barbed thread is inserted, your body’s healing response is triggered. Even though you’re not injured by the threads under your skin, your body detects a suture material and stimulates collagen production in the affected area. Collagen can fill gaps in sagging skin and restore a more youthful elasticity to your face.
A 2017 PubMed Publised a study of 100 people who’d undergone a thread lift suggested that the primary effect of a thread lift procedure is skin appearing tighter and more structured. After a year, this effect begins to decrease as the sutures dissolve. However, there was a secondary “rejuvenation” effect that stayed in place and was noticeable 3 years or more after the procedure.
Targeted areas for a thread lift
Many people choose a thread lift for facial areas that “sag” or look less tight over time. These areas include:
- jowls and jawline
- brow line
- under-eye area
- forehead
- cheeks
Thread lifts are also used to lift and tighten breasts, especially after pregnancy and weight loss.
Are there any risks or side effects?
A thread lift is considered a low-risk procedure with minimal recovery time, but there are side effects and a risk of complications.
After a thread lift, it’s not uncommon to experience the following:
- bruising
- swelling
- bleeding
- slight pain at the site of the thread injection
There’s a 15 to 20 percent chance of complications, including dimpling. Possible complications are minor and can easily be corrected.
What to expect after a thread lift
Recovery after a successful thread lift is quite minimal. While there may be some visible swelling and bruising, you can go back to work right away if you’d like.
Results should be apparent right after the threads are put into place, but you may notice more in the days and weeks right after they are inserted, as swelling and bruising starts to subside.
Results from a thread lift aren’t meant to be permanent. Successful effects typically last from 1 to 3 years.