Surgery » Thread Lifts

What are Barbed Threads?

The threads are made of permanent suture material with multiple tiny barbs, which are used to hook into the drooping skin of the brows or cheeks. Contour Threads are totally clear. This technique places the brow or cheeks back up to their original position. It is a minimally invasive procedure, done under mild twilight sedation and local anaesthetic, which takes less than an hour to perform and patients are able to go home straight after.

How are Thread Lifts different to surgery?

Surgeons are constantly looking for less invasive ways of obtaining a cosmetic benefit. Although surgery for brow lifts (endoscopic lifting) and similarly with cheek lifts have become less invasive, they are still significant procedures. The threads are passed through/with a fine needle requiring no incisions and have therefore a much more rapid recovery. Thread Lifts however, may not involve the very solid fixation of these tissues to a more elevated position. Thus, it is not expected that threads will give a result which is as long lasting as open surgery.

How long will a Thread Lift last?

It is reasonable to expect improvement for 2 - 5 years. Further threads can be placed later to reproduce the improvement.

Who is a good candidate for Thread Brow or Cheek lifts?

For an Thread Brow Lift, the patient should only wish mild to moderate elevation as threads do not usually create dramatic brow elevations. Threads are also better for elevating the outer brow more than the inner brow. Some people will still require upper blepharoplasty, that may be done at the same time or at an earlier/ later time. Cheek lifts are useful for reducing the nasolabial folds and recreating plumper cheeks. There may be some reduction in early jowls, but it is not a replacement for a facelift. In fact thread cheek elevation is a good combination with an S-Lift.

Who is not a good candidate for Thread Lifts?

Patients with unrealistic expectations, or for whom the possibility of having to repeat the procedure at some time in the future is unacceptable. Patients with large amounts of skin or very heavy skin to be elevated may be better suited to a S-Lift.

How long will I need off work?

This will depend on the amount of bruising and puckering of the skin, which may vary from very mild to very obvious and may then take from 7 to 21 days to fade. There will be a little swelling to deal with initially as well. This is more noticeable in the cheeks/jowl region than the brow.

The procedure & recovery

Dr Oates performs Contour Thread Lifting in our government licenced Academy Day Hospital (on site at Academy Facial Plastics). The procedure is done under a combination of local anaesthetic and sometimes light sedation. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to perform the procedure and you are able to go home after a recovery period of about one hour. You will need to organise for an adult to pick you up and preferably to stay with you overnight if you have sedation. You will have some swelling and bruising that will gradually settle down. Usually the skin under which the threads are passing are covered with 'skin coloured' tape for support for the first few days. The more the tissue is lifted (especially in the cheeks) the more obvious any puckering may be. Post-operative appointments are scheduled 2 and 7 days after the procedure and then over the next few months.

WebPages of Interest:

• www.contourthreads.com.au
• www.yestheyrefalse.net/feather_lift.htm
• www/yestheyrefalse.net/journal/Marianne_featherlift.htm (a patients record)