Mention facelift and chances are, the thought of a surgeon’s scalpel, heavy bandages, and long recovery time comes to mind. But did you know the advancement of minimally-invasive treatment such as threadlift can give you an alternative if an invasive surgical facelift is not your cup of tea?
Credit: She's in the Glow
Using threads to lift the face, neck, and nose
Threadlift is a non-surgical face lifting technique that uses synthetic absorbable threads to contour and rejuvenate the face. There are two main types of threads – Silhouette Soft and polydioxanone (PDO) threads, which are commonly used in cardiovascular surgery.
Silhouette Soft is a thread made of Poly L-lactic Acid (PLLA), which has cones made of the same material attached to the thread for anchoring the thread to the skin.
PDO threads go by a variety of names, including Ultra V Lift, ART Lift, and DuoLift. Made by Korean companies, they use tiny hooks or barbs within the threads for anchoring. They are particularly suitable for nose threadlifts. These absorbable threads act as scaffolds to contour and lift the desired areas like the jawline, cheeks and mid-face, eye area, and neck. The threads are fully absorbable and they stimulate the skin over time to generate its own collagen for a long lasting, natural-looking lift.
Other than contouring the face for a more youthful look, threadlifts can be used to enhance the nose bridge, making the nose sharper and lifted.
During treatment, the thread is inserted about 5mm under the skin with a thin yet flexible cannula. The cannula gently pushes aside the skin to minimise discomfort and bruising. No incision of the skin is made. Once the threads are inserted, they can be tightened as desired. The ends of the suture are cut off; no stitches are necessary. When inserted in the right place by an experienced medical aesthetics doctor, the skin on the face is tightened, creating a slimmer, more sculpted ‘v-shape’ appearance.
PDO nose threadlift
During a PDO nose threadlift procedure, the threads lift and shape the nose for a natural, lifted appearance. The threads can also be used on the tip of the nose for a more pointed and heightened look. As with a facelift using threads, the nose threads are naturally absorbed by the body.
Liquid facelift with dermal fillers
Fine lines and wrinkles are not the only visible signs of aging. Our cheeks will start to sag due to bone resorption. This natural loss of bone mass leads to age-related midface volume loss, and the solution comes in the form of a liquid facelift.
Liquid facelift uses hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to volumise the cheek area again using hyaluronic acid fillers like the Juvederm range of fillers. Doctors may also inject the fillers into other areas like the marionette lines and forehead area to rejuvenate the face. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in our body. It is responsible for keeping the skin looking healthy and hydrated.
As we age, however, the level of hyaluronic acid in our body decreases, resulting in dull skin texture and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Other types of fillers like Sculptra and Radiesse stimulate our body’s own collagen to help plump up the skin.
Combining threadlift and liquid facelift results in a lifted and more contoured appearance that is natural looking. Additionally, it will leave skin looking more youthful and healthy. Both therapies may even be combined with Ultherapyand botulinum neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin for more dramatic results.
Happy lifting everyone!
