A thread lift is a minimally invasive treatment used to help lift the skin and tighten it, regaining elasticity. It uses specialised surgical threads to lift any sagging skin. By pulling the skin back lightly, the appearance of the face is tighter and more lifted, which helps to create a more youthful look whilst helping to revitalise the skin.

This is a much less invasive procedure than a surgical lift, without the need to use a scalpel or general anaesthesia. Recovery time is almost immediate with much more moderate risks and side effects.

A thread lift treatment helps to combat signs of ageing by causing the body to project large surges of collagen to treated areas. Collagen is an important factor in the ageing process as it helps to keep our skin strong and supple. In fact, as we get older, our bodies begin to produce less collagen. This leads to an 80% reduction in skin thickness by about the age of 70. This loss contributes to factors like excess skin and wrinkles.

The results of a thread lift procedure are not permanent, and how long they last will depend on how thick your threads are.

This is something that will be discussed with your thread lifting practitioner. However, the results can typically last anywhere between one to three years. If you want to make the most of your procedure, then it is advised that you combine your aesthetic treatment with other anti-ageing products. You will typically gain advice on this from your practitioner.

Quick recovery-time

The most important difference between thread lifts and face lifts is that a thread lift is a non-surgical procedure. So, there is a reduced recovery time when compared to surgical treatments. The overall recovery of a thread lift is relatively quick and painless.

Immediate results and long lasting

Patients will naturally experience some side effects like a redness of the skin and swelling in the treated area. However, this is normal, and these symptoms should subside after a few days. The procedure is ideal for people who have a busy lifestyle as they can get back to doing what they love after the treatment almost instantly.

tight and youthful looking skin

Thread lifts contribute to collagen production which gives patients a more youthful and revitalised look. Thread lifts also act as an anti-wrinkle treatment,as the pull of thread on your skin helps to smooth out folds and creases.

When it comes to thread lifts, there are several different types. Each one can last for different lengths of time in the tissue, and some threads will vary in thickness in comparison to others. Thread lifting technology is quickly evolving. Whilst still the most common on the market, PDO has been surpassed by more flexible and longer lasting thread materials.

• PDO Thread Lift
• PLLA Thread Lift
• PLACL Thread Lift
• APTOS Thread Lift

It has been suggested that PLACL threads are some of the best materials available today. They are praised for their strength whilst still maintaining flexibility and durability. The effect of these threads will typically last anywhere between 12 to 18 months. It is a more advanced technology therefore only a handful of manufacturers have obtained the CE mark so far.

APTOS threads are praised for their lasting results. They are specifically designed to softly grip the surrounding tissues to help form a permanent support structure by lifting and contouring. APTOS threads have paved the way for thread treatments for years and have been modernized several times.

The developer of the APTOS thread method is one of the world’s leading plastic surgeons, Dr. M. Sulamanidze. Since 1996, the threads have been modernized several times, resulting in the development of a line of innovative products aimed at solving specific aesthetic problems, and the ability to combine threads of different types allows one to select the optimal solution even in difficult cases.

The last significant technological achievement was development of threads with incisions, the presence of which helps to fix the threads in the best way during introduction and, thus, to ensure the maximum effect of the procedure, and also prevent their displacement in the future, and therefore to exclude the possibility of side effects.

The method of thread rejuvenation is patented and is successfully used by aesthetic doctors in 50 countries around the world.

PDO (Polydioxanone) threads have been around for the longest time. They typically last between three to six months in the tissue before they start dissolving.

PLLA (poly-lactic L-acid) threads tend to be fragile, and they can break easily. However, when compared to PDO threads, PLLA threads can last up to two years in the tissue.