Thread lifts have been available since the 1980’s as a minimally-invasive alternative for lifting your fatty tissue and skin at earlier stages of facial aging. Thread lift procedures will usually not provide sufficient elevation and tightening of tissues for patients with full heavier faces or with more advanced laxity to their muscle layers, fatty tissue, and skin. Thus, results from thread lifts are variable because of the complexity of the aging process that differ by ethnicity, chronological and genetic aging, and fluctuations in facial fat volume. At best, improvements can be observed for 1-2 years when combined with other anti-aging procedures such as neuromodulators, fillers, fat augmentation, and skin tightening (Ultherapy®) treatments.
Threads are constructed with either temporary (PDO) or permanent (nylon or Gore-Tex) medical-grade suture material that may contain fixation points, such as barbs, cogs, knots or patches. The number and direction of sutures target just one area or several areas of the brow, face and neck. Thread lifting is usually performed under local anesthesia such that patients experience a nearly instant lift, minimal surgical time and recovery, and low incidence of complications.
Past threading provided only short-lived effects. Current thread technology has enabled innovative techniques to reshape the face, addressing individual needs. As an innovator in threading techniques since 1995, Dr. Sasaki will provide you with evidence-based information whether you are a candidate for threading or surgery, provide important post-operative regimens to lower your risk of complications, and discuss additional procedures for longer-lasting results.
