The Surprising Truth About Thread Lifts
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Why are thread lifts so popular?
Although thread lifts have been around for quite some time now, there has been arecentspike in this procedure's popularity.On the surface, thread lifts may seem like a better optionthantraditional surgical facelifts,but upon closer inspection, it isn’t always the case.Many people turn to thread lifts in an effort to turn back the clock without breaking the bank. In addition, this procedure offerslittle to no down time andisminimally invasive. The procedure consists ofinsertingabsorbable barbed sutures alongtheface andpulling them tolift the superficialmusclesandcreate a tighter, lifted look. After the procedure, the patient can driveand even go back to workwith minimal bruising and swelling.It seems like the perfect procedure, but what happens once the sutures are absorbed by the body and what will the results look later on down the line?
Are thread lifts worth in the long run?
There are very few follow-up studies on patients whohavehad thread lifts,andthe studies that have been conducted all come to a similar conclusion:While the immediate effects of thread liftsandtheircollagen boosting propertiesare rewarding, patientsdo notexperience long-term results. Many patientsin these studies neededto undergo corrective surgery or required additional non-invasive treatments like filler and/or Botoxafter their thread lift. Thread lifts areadvertised as providing3-7 years of results,butstudiesshow that onlya thirdof participantsretain70% ofthe original effects of the thread lift after 1-2 years.Moreover,thread lifts can't fix issues like excess skin or lack of volume and can't prevent wrinkle-causing movements like pursing your lips or raising your eyebrows, meaningmany patients arenotgood candidatesfor the procedure.Who Should Get a Thread Lift? The best candidatesfor thread liftshave strong bone structure, minimalsigns ofaging, and good skin quality.Patientswith thin skin,volume loss,or excessive skin would fare better with surgery or fillers and neurotoxins.At a certain point, all patients become bad candidates for thread lifts because the toll of facial aging overcomes any solution other than surgery.
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Alternatives to Thread Lifts
With technology constantly evolving, there is a realfuturepossibilityofsuccessful thread lifts with long-lasting results,but at the moment,thebestoptions aretheLiquid orSurgicalFacelift. Although asurgical facelift requiresgeneralanesthesiaanda longer recovery time, the end resultwill last much longerand bebettertailoredtoeachpatient's needs.A scalpel allows the surgeon to createfine details and makesubtle correctionswith much more precisionthansutures allow. Surgical facelifts are the gold-standard for achieving aesthetic beauty,especially in older patients,because oftheir uniqueability toremove excess skin which would otherwise remain on the facewitha thread lift. A surgeon has artistic freedomin theirapproach to beautifying a patientwith a surgical facelift,but a thread lift can only achieve variations of the same look. Thread liftsalsoencounter limitations that surgery doesnot,such asnotseeingblood vessels and fat padslyingunderneath the skin. The non-invasive proponent of a thread lift is appealing,but it also means the doctor has not seen which areasof the facehave experienced greater fat and volume loss.If surgery is too daunting, a Liquid Faceliftis an amazing option for patients to consider. A Liquid Faceliftuses neurotoxins,fillers,and/or Sculptrain several areas of the facetoachieve many of the same results of the surgical facelift and thread lifts. Neurotoxins like Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin are used to prevent wrinkle-causing facial movements. Fillers like Restylane and Radiesse give definition to any drooping or sagging areas of the face, like the cheeks and jawline, and lift the face. Collagen-stimulating fillers like Sculptra replace lost volume, correct skin elasticity, and provide the same boost in collagen production as the thread lift.Even the fillers that do not explicitly advertise collagengrowthproperties provide some degree of collagen stimulation; the body perceives every needle prickastrauma andinitiatesthenatural response to wounds, which is to produce collagen to repair it. The benefits of a Liquid Facelift are similar to those of a thread lift,includingimmediate resultsandlittle to no downtime,but the Liquid Facelift also allows your injector totarget specific areasof the face to give you the look you want. Not all patients want or need their entire face to be lifted and tightened; in fact,many patients want additional sculpting, definition,and volumeit comes tofacial rejuvenation. A thread lift is generally less able to provide these types of results. Before resorting to a thread lift, do your research and consider themoreeffectiveoptions: the SurgicalFaceliftandLiquid Facelift!
