The
thread lift is a cosmetic procedure during which the cosmetic surgeon inserts
thin threads into a patient's skin through tiny incisions. The threads are barbed, feathered or knotted
helping the threads anchored into the skin tissue after insertion. The threads are attached to the skin tissue
so that when the threads are pulled back, the face appears lifted and area
smoothened almost immediately. Only
local anesthesia is applied and the patient usually remains fully awake during
the procedure. Usually, the threads are
small enough to remain hidden in the skin itself while any scarring that might
have occurred will be virtually invisible.
The thread facelift procedure will only help with moderate facial
sagging. The procedure usually takes less than 2 hours with a cost less than
most of the other cosmetic surgeries.
So, how effective is the thread facelift? In an article published on Arch Facial Plast Surg. in 2009, a group
of researchers followed 33 patients who underwent a thread-lift procedure alone
or in combination with other facial rejuvenation procedures to the brow, midface, jowl, and neck. Ten
patients underwent thread-lifts only, and 23 had thread-lifts with other
procedures. Ten additional patients having had non-thread-lift rejuvenation
procedures, including lipotransfer, chemical peels, and rhytidectomies, were
randomly designated as controls. These patients were followed up for 21 months
on average. Although aesthetic improvement was noted in all groups at 1 month,
measurable results persisted to the end of the study for all but the group that
underwent the thread-lift procedure only. Aesthetic improvement scores of the
non-thread-lift control group were better than the group that underwent
thread-lift only. Similarly, when the thread-lift was combined with other
procedures, scores were better than when thread-lift was used alone. The study concluded that the thread-lift
provides only limited short-term improvement that may be largely attributed to
post-procedural edema and inflammation. The study results demonstrated the poor
long-term sustainability of the thread-lift procedure.
Is
there significant risk associated with thread lift surgery? A study published on Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) followed 37 patients who underwent the thread
lift procedure over a 24-month period.
It was observed that 89% of the patients (89%) obtained results that
were considered satisfactory. Regarding the complications from the surgery, 6%
of the patients had slight post-operation asymmetry that was easily corrected.
Additional complications experienced by patients included small ecchymosis
(62%), mild erythema (40%), small hemorrhage (25%), mild transitory esthesia
(6%) and mild post-operation tumefaction (40%). Histopathological and
ecographic analyses were performed on the treated skin of selected patients,
suggesting that the lifting effect is fortified by the cutaneous reaction that
appears along the length of the thread.
Here
is the concluding from my reading: thread lift is a cosmetic procedure with minor
complications while providing temporary lifting effect with poor long-term
effectiveness.
So, would I do it? Based on the information I have now, probably not.
References:
Abraham RF1, DeFatta RJ, Williams EF 3rd, Thread-lift for facial rejuvenation: assessment of long-term results, Arch Facial Plast
Surg. 2009 May-Jun;11(3):178-83. doi: 10.1001/archfacial.2009.10.
Savoia A1, Accardo C, Vannini F, Di Pasquale B, Baldi A., Outcomes in thread lift for facial
rejuvenation: a study performed with happy lift™ revitalizing, Dermatol Ther
(Heidelb). 2014 Jun;4(1):103-14. doi: 10.1007/s13555-014-0041-6.
Epub 2014 Jan 17.
Thanks for reading!
Connie
connie@cherRuby.com
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