Introduction:
As the skin ages, the signs of aging become visible, such as sagging of skin, wrinkles, fine lines, wrinkles around the eye, etc. Everyone wants to have a youthful appearance. Earlier, plastic surgery was the only treatment for skin tightening which was called facelift surgery. But now, a nonsurgical treatment for skin tightening has emerged, which is known as thread lift. A thread lift is the best option for patients who do not want to undergo surgery and want a youthful and sculptured face.
What Is a Thread Lift?
Thread lift is a procedure in which a sagging face can be tightened up by inserting a thread under the skin and pulling it back. This is an alternate option for plastic surgery (called a facelift) to get sharp and well-defined looks.
This is a minimally invasive procedure which means the patient will get very small cuts and stitches on their skin as compared to the invasive procedure or a proper surgery like a facelift which requires big incisions (cut) and multiple stitches.
What Are the Target Areas of the Thread Lift?
The thread lift procedure is used for skin tightness and firmness in the following areas:
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Cheeks.
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Under eye.
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Jawline.
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Forehead.
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Browline.
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Neck.
Who Can Undergo Thread Lift?
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Both men and women.
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Individuals who want to reverse the signs of aging.
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Those who are scared of plastic surgery.
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Those who want an affordable treatment for skin tightening.
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Those who prefer less recovery time after the skin tightening procedure.
What Should Be Done Before Thread Lift?
The operating doctor might ask to follow certain things:
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Stop smoking.
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Conduct blood tests and medical evaluations.
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Stop taking Aspirin before the procedure, as it may promote bleeding.
How Does a Thread Lift Work?
Thread lift has two mechanisms of action:
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First, done mechanically by doctors, the thread is inserted under the skin and pulled back; this lifts up the sagging skin and gives the face a sculpted appearance.
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Secondly, during the procedure, injury is caused to the skin during the insertion of threads. This injury promotes the healing process of the body, which in turn promotes collagen production in that area. Collagen makes the skin youthful.
How Is Thread Lift Performed?
The procedure of thread lift is described below:
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Firstly, the doctor identifies the areas that are sagging and marks the thread pathway (where the thread will get inserted into the skin with a skin marker).
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Local anesthesia is applied to numb that area to make the procedure pain-free and the patient comfortable.
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Following the markings which were made on the skin in the first step of the procedure, the doctor will now insert a thread under the skin with the help of a cannula.
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The threads used in this procedure are polydioxanone (PDO) which are very fine threads. So this procedure is also referred to as PDO thread lift.
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The number of threads to be used in the thread lift varies from person to person, and the areas to be treated and decided by the doctor depending upon the case.
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After placing the threads, they are pulled, and the sagging skin also gets pulled along with the threads. The cannulas are then taken out. Finally, the threads are shortened and secured so that they are not visible.
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The patient is observed for a few minutes and shown a new look. After that, the patient is sent back.
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The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
What to Expect After Thread Lift?
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There might be some swelling, bruising, and skin irritation.
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There might be mild pain or tenderness.
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The swelling lasts up to four to five days after the procedure.
How Many Years Does a Thread Lift Last?
The patient will have the results immediately after the thread lift because of the pulling up of threads underneath the skin. However, the results will improve over time because of the stimulation of collagen production. The results are expected to stay for one to three years. The threads dissolve under the skin. The results can be enhanced in conjunction with the fillers and botox treatment.
The results of a facelift last for about ten years.
What Not to Do After Thread Lift?
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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests not to put moisturizers on the face after a thread lift for a few weeks.
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Avoid rubbing the face vigorously after the thread lifts.
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Do not go for heavy exercises after the thread lift for the first few days.
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Avoid sun exposure until the healing is completely done.
How to Sleep After Thread Lift?
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The sleeping position should be changed for the initial days after the thread lift.
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Do not sleep on the side; sleep with the head propped up. This is done to protect the stitches.
How Much Does a Thread Lift Cost?
The cost of the thread lift varies from city to city and person to person. It is less expensive than plastic surgery (facelift) for skin tightening. However, there is no specific cost for this procedure.
What Are the Side Effects of Thread Lift?
According to some studies, a thread lift may have some side effects. These are-
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Allergic reactions due to thread.
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Infections.
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Stiffness of face where patients find it hard to move their face.
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Bleeding.
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Stitches might be seen under the skin.
What Are the Advantages of Thread Lift?
Thread lift has several advantages over plastic surgery (facelift), which is done for the same goal.
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Recovery time is less.
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There is no need for general anesthesia for this procedure.
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Can return to work after the procedure.
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The risk of scarring is less.
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Comparatively low cost.
What Is Nova Thread Lift?
Nova thread lift is nothing but the thread lift procedure done by using nova threads. Nova threads are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved threads for this procedure. It is made up of PDO, which is biocompatible and safely dissolves under the skin after six months of thread lift.
Conclusion:
To conclude, thread lift is a safe, effective, minimally-invasive, and affordable treatment for sagging skin that immediately lifts the skin and gives a youthful appearance. Recovery from thread lift takes less time than other invasive procedures like a facelift. Therefore, thread lift is regarded as the best option for those with moderate sagging skin who do not wish to undergo a major surgical procedure.
