thread lift

Thread Lift – Synonyms & Principle

synonyms: thread lift, thread lifting, PDO thread lift, PDO lift

Companies and product examples: croma, Sillhouette-Lift, many Chinese and Korean suppliers, Happylift

principle: Tightening primarily the tissue beneath the skin's surface by inserting threads. Either in one direction or in the form of patterns such as loops, zigzags, etc.

is often combined with…

• Botox & Hyaluron
• blood plasma

efficiency

the effectiveness is definitely limited with greater excess skin. If the cheek tissue were to be tightened strongly without also tightening the resulting excess skin, transverse wrinkles would form. Therefore, even most companies, when they give serious advice, do not really recommend a thread lift if there is a certain amount of excess skin.

Of course, a thread lift is always an option. However, if there is more excess skin, either the patient's disappointment or the number of problems and complications increases.

Personally, I know of few good examples of a thread lift for significant excess skin - but many good examples after a modern and well-done facelift. In terms of naturalness, harmony and freshness. Threads can cause problems here, especially with facial expressions.

treatment duration

mostly only a few minutes

for more complex threads also up to 1 hour

repetition of the treatment

is possible

with limited durability of the threads and the effect usually also necessary

Application in which body region

basically almost everywhere on the body where it is about tightening:

common regions:

face/cheek/brow/neck/décolleté

upper arms/thighs/buttocks

Nose: e.g. to raise the tip

alternatives

• volume lift with hyaluronic acid, autologous fat, etc.
• blood plasma
• tightening with heat such as radio frequency or ultrasound (e.g. HIFU) or laser
• Needling medically about collagen formation and tightening of existing collagen
• surgery (Facelift, brow lift, neck lift, upper arm lift, thigh lift, etc.)

decision-making aids

Essentially, these are fundamental decisionsthat make up a thread lift.

Should I have a thread lift do it at all? – Sometimes it is the better decision not to do something.

I'm not a big fan of thread lifts. The problem is the concept itself - the more I try to tighten the tissue, the more I produce horizontal wrinkles on the surface of the skin. Of course, I also get a certain amount of collagen production from most threads. But there are good alternatives such as medical needling with/without radio frequency, ultrasound, hyaluronic acid (especially biostimulating). And in terms of possible three-dimensional and natural tightening, a facelift is, in my opinion, far superior - with the advantage that the excess skin that is produced is also removed around the ear and ideally fitted.

A thread lift is rarely at the top of my list of treatment options. It is more of an addition.

Excess skin:

Logically, it is not really improved - and there is a risk of horizontal wrinkles forming - once a certain tightening effect is achieved on very thin skin, horizontal wrinkles are almost inevitable. And then there is the facial expression, which sometimes makes the threads look conspicuous and unnatural when moving.

A thread lift cannot be used equally well for every patient. In this case, a precise clarification of the wishes and options is sensible and recommended.

which thread?

There are countless different threads and producers. Since the threads are very popular in Korea, a lot of them come from there. The threads can be straight, screw-shaped, have barbs or wedges integrated for more hold in the tissue. Therefore, no two thread lifts are the same. The costs also vary greatly. In total and over several treatments, thread lifts can be significantly more expensive than a surgical procedure. Depending on the shape of the face, skin thickness, volume of the face, tissue firmness, etc., it is important to create a concept that is individually tailored to the patient. Often in combination with other methods. Often only as a supplementary option, for example if volume and moisture have been exhausted with hyaluronic acid.

Durability?

Depending on the thread model, the durability of the thread and the associated effect also varies. This can be weeks, months or even years. And this can also vary from case to case. In any case, the durability is not comparable to that of a facelift, for example. The amount of skin removed during a facelift is gone. And you don't lose the extra effect. Apart from perhaps minimal residual collagen, there is not much effect left after a thread lift.

which regions?

For me, the most interesting areas are those where tissue yielding or lifting is required, where there is enough tissue to cushion the thread and where there are few good conservative alternatives – for example, brow region, midface, jawline, neck, etc. – but for me mostly as a second choice or addition (e.g. in the eyebrow area).

In the area around the side of the eye, where Botox is simply the classic treatment (possibly supplemented with hyaluronic acid towards the bottom), threads make very little to no sense.

What should you have heard/read before a thread lift?

A thread lift is not without risk. Especially when it comes to stronger threads, I explain the same as with a facelift. The disadvantage is definitely that I am limited in terms of the effect, because once the tissue is tightened to a certain extent without improving the excess skin, horizontal wrinkles or unnatural results are easily possible. Once the excess skin is above a certain level, I either have no really visible effect or an effect that looks unnatural.

The ideal patient for threads is around 35-40 with a certain skin thickness and initial sagging of the facial tissue, e.g. in the cheek area or the chin line.

Threads are usually not a permanent solution.

Prejudices

A thread lift makes a facelift unnecessary

facts

Threads and devices such as ultrasound or radio frequency have not replaced facelifts - and will not be able to do so any time soon. This is due to the good concept of a facelift. Tissue is tightened - and the resulting excess skin around the ear is removed and fitted perfectly.

possible side effects/complications

• bruises
• Asymmetry (always present on two sides to a certain extent)
• swelling
• infection
• Result does not meet expectations, (rapid) recurrence
• horizontal wrinkles or unnatural result
• (if usually temporary) nerve weakness, but theoretically also permanent facial nerve paralysis

details Information on possible complications can be found in the information documents

In summary, good preparation (information, explanation, preliminary examinations, analysis, etc.) and the surgeon’s experience are important factors for a successful thread lift

You should avoid…

• too high expectations
• thread lifts for excessive skin excess

anesthesia

Possible anesthesiashapes for a thread lift

• actually no anesthesia is necessary
• anesthetic cream
• possibly local anesthesia
• possibly also with twilight sleep

the treatment

precise wish and goal analysis

no blood-thinning medication, no ginger or citrus fruits for 10 days before treatment

the treatment

Rest for a few days:

• do not lift more than 5-6kg
• nothing jerky
• don't work headfirst

no dirt on the fresh wounds

Sun protection in the first weeks after treatment

our preferred technique/recommendation

• Threads rather as a complement to other methods, techniques
• Start with a few threads and work your way up to more

Cost

Guidelines:

360 PDO thread lift incl. 10 threads

approx. 2500 thread lift/Happylift including threads

from 3900 Micro-Lift/Hybrid facelift including threads (e.g. cheek or chin line)

400 optional overnight stay at the clinic with nurse/450 for overnight stay from Friday to Saturday – if necessary or useful – normally not necessary

optional costs for anesthesia (usually twilight sleep)

100 Costs for day admission to the clinic (if no overnight stay is planned) – if necessary and reasonable

reasonable budget

A final cost estimate is only possible and meaningful after a detailed on-site inspection and clarification of individual wishes.

downtime

In general, a few days of rest be taken into account – this means specifically:

• lifting no more than 5-6 kg
• no jerky movements
• do not perform any activities overhead

Important to know…

• Thread lift is not the same as facelift

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thread lift