By now you’ve probably heard about thread lifting, the popular cosmetic treatment that uses dissolvable threads to lift loose, sagging skin and smooth over minor wrinkles. Because it offers some of the same benefits as a facelift without the hassle of surgery, this minimally invasive treatment is sometimes referred to as a nonsurgical facelift. Patients who have undergone thread lifting at Nourished MedSpa and Wellness Center in Sherman, TX love their results. But is this unique treatment for you?
What Is a Thread Lift?
During a thread lifting treatment tiny threads made of polydioxanone, a substance commonly used in surgical sutures, are inserted just under the skin with a hypodermic needle. The threads, which dissolve on their own in four to six months, gently and immediately lift and support the skin from the inside.
The presence of the threads also prompts the skin to start generating more collagen, which further firms the face. After a thread lifting treatment, your skin will appear smoother and more youthful, and parts of the face that have begun to sag will develop additional contour and definition.
8 Things You Should Expect From a Nonsurgical Facelift
1. It’s Not Your Mother’s Thread lift
Thread lifts first became available in the late 1990s, and those early threads could be problematic at times. Threads in that era were designed to stay permanently in place, and as a result they tended to attract bacteria, causing infections, redness, swelling, and discomfort for patients. Those first threads also didn’t deliver great results cosmetically. Because they could only be pulled in one direction, patients who underwent the treatment sometimes had faces that looked too tight and strung up. In addition, the threads could be difficult for physicians to work with, because they needed to attach to the scalp or brow.
But like a lot of cosmetic treatments, thread lifts have evolved over time and are now safe and highly effective. Today’s dissolvable threads go away on their own, so trapped bacteria, infections, and other complications are not a problem. Today’s threads can also be injected in a grid-like pattern that offers tightening from two different directions, giving patients a more natural lift. If you heard about thread lifts years ago and worried about the side effects associated with them then, it may finally be time for you to give this rejuvenating treatment a try.
2. This Isn’t a One-Size-Fits-All Treatment
Every patient has slightly different cosmetic concerns, and although thread lifts are a safe and standard treatment, they can be customized to meet each individual’s needs. Some patients want a lot of lifting. Others also have facial folds and wrinkles that they’d like smoothed over. The particular areas of the face that need addressing also vary. Fortunately, there are now different sizes and styles of threads available that can be used to accomplish various aesthetic goals. We can also inject the threads in different ways and in different quantities to achieve different results.
Straight, smooth threads, for example, can be injected in a mesh pattern and serve as a type of scaffolding under the skin for collagen to develop and grow on. Cog-style threads, which have small barbs attached to them, can be used to hook into sagging skin and lift it. And screw-type threads are a nice option for patients who want to focus on building volume in certain parts of the face.
3. This Injectable Treatment Is Easier Than You Think
Most patients are amazed at how quick and easy this treatment is, especially when compared to surgical options. The first step will be for you to schedule a consultation, where we’ll review your medical history, talk with you about your cosmetic concerns, and determine if a nonsurgical facelift is the best treatment for you. The treatment itself will be performed on an outpatient basis in our medical offices and usually takes no more than 45 minutes. We’ll begin by cleansing and numbing the treatment area. We also may make a few light marks on your skin that can serve as guides as we perform the injections.
It’s possible you’ll feel a prick from the thread injections, but that sensation will only last for a few seconds. Patients say that the pinch that is sometimes associated with thread lifting is comparable with other cosmetic injections, such as botulinum injections or dermal fillers. After your appointment, you’ll be able to resume your regular schedule: even exercising if you wish. We recommend that patients not manipulate or massage the injection site or overstretch it during the 14 days following treatment, but that’s the only limitation you’ll face.
4. Subtle, Gradual Results Mean You Won’t Look Overdone
Thread lifts are ideal for patients who don’t want to look plastic or like they’ve had work done. Unlike a surgical facelift, which lifts up the facial muscles and may involve the manipulation or removal of extra tissue, a thread lift simply lifts your skin, giving you subtle and natural-looking results. The results of a thread lift also appear gradually. You’ll notice some immediate firming right after your treatment, but it can take as long as 6 months for the body to go through the process of generating new collagen.
This treatment won’t offer you a fast fix in advance of a big party, a holiday, or a special event. What it does offer are natural results that appear gradually. Friends and colleagues may notice that you look more rested or refreshed, but they won’t be able to tell that you had a treatment performed. Thread lifts often last for up to 2 years, and you can return for another treatment once your results have faded. Because of the gradual and natural effects it offers, this treatment can be a great component of a long-term anti-aging regimen.
5. It’s Not Just a Wrinkle Fighter
Mention aging skin and most people think of wrinkles. Wrinkles are a significant cosmetic concern for many patients as they age, and a thread lift can help smooth over those frustrating lines and creases on the face and neck. But this versatile treatment also helps in so many other ways. A thread lift can lift up crepey, sagging skin and restore volume and contour in parts of the face that have started to loose fat. These treatments offer many of the same benefits, although in a less drastic way, than a surgical facelift offers.
And that’s not all. This nonsurgical facelift can also work wonders on other parts of the body. Sagging skin on the thighs, arms, and abdomen can all be targeted with thread lift treatments.
6. Thread Lifts Offer Benefits That Some Other Treatments Don’t
The field of cosmetic dermatology has evolved over the last decade to include more non-invasive and minimally-invasive anti-aging treatments. That means patients who don’t want to go under the knife have a lot more options than before. But thread lifts offer some advantages over other treatments, including dermal fillers and botulinum toxin injections.
Many patients consider having dermal fillers, which often involve the injection of hyaluronic acid gels that plump up the face. But compared to dermal fillers, thread lifts offer longer-lasting results as well as a more comprehensive lifting of the entire face. Dermal fillers are best used to volumize very specific parts of the face. Dermal fillers can, however, be effectively combined with a thread lift treatment, although we may opt not to perform both on the same day.
Botulinum toxin injections like Botox and Xeomin are also popular anti-aging treatments, but those injections focus primarily on attacking specific wrinkles that are the result of repetitive facial movements. While botulinum toxin injections are effective at fighting specific wrinkles, they don’t address the issue of volume loss on the face. And compared to botulinum toxin injections, thread lifts offer a longer-lasting and more comprehensive treatment of the face. Botulinum toxin injections, though, are another treatment that combines effectively with a thread lift treatment, although not necessarily on the same day.
7. A Widely Accessible Treatment
One of the great things about thread lifts is that they are a suitable option for a wide range of patients, in part because of the non-surgical nature of the treatment. Patients who often see the best results are those who are anywhere between their mid forties and their mid sixties and who are experiencing the early signs of sagging and wrinkling. Patients who wait until they are older or until they have more severe sagging may reach a point where a thread lift isn’t enough to give them the results they’re looking for.
Excellent candidates for this type of treatment are generally non-smokers who are in good health overall. Patients who have diabetes, an autoimmune disease, or who are pregnant are generally not eligible for this treatment. It also helps if the skin in the treatment area is healthy and not inflamed with cold sores or acne. If your skin is irritated, we may ask that you postpone your treatment. Ideal candidates are also realistic about this treatment and its outcome, and understand that the results are more subtle than surgery.
8. Easy After Care
Dermal fillers and other cosmetic injections and treatments often require patients to return for a series of visits or schedule maintenance injections a couple of times a year. But a nonsurgical facelift is a low maintenance option. Your results will probably last over a year, so you won’t have to worry about regular or multiple appointments, although you can eventually schedule follow-up treatment when your results begin to fade.
Regular cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing will continue to be important. And using a high-quality moisturizer filled with antioxidants is also a good way of supporting your skin’s collagen levels. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding smoking, processed foods, and excessive sun exposure are good steps to take to keep your skin healthy and vibrant.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re interested in finding out if this treatment is for you, we can schedule a consultation for you with Dr. Jason Carter. Dr. Carter is double board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in both Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine. He is also board certified in Aesthetic Medicine through the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine and is board certified in both Aesthetic Medicine and Physician-Assisted Weight Loss and Anti-Aging through the American Academy of Procedural Medicine.
Are you ready to fight back against signs of aging and achieve a more youthful, attractive appearance? Would your rather not undergo a surgical facelift or another invasive procedure? We can help. Our practice offers the very latest cosmetic treatments, and we’re committed to helping our patients look their very best. Call Nourished MedSpa and Wellness Center in Sherman, TX today and ask about a nonsurgical facelift.
