Should I have a facelift or non-surgical thread lift?
Which rejuvenation option to choose? Faced with visible signs of aging - a “floating” oval, nasolabial folds, wrinkles, jowls - we are often faced with a choice between a cosmetologist’s office or plastic surgery. Both methods of beauty and combating natural age-related changes have proven themselves in aesthetic medicine and are considered the most effective ways to “turn back time.” However, the indications for facelift and thread lifting still differ, and so do the results. Thus, these rejuvenation methods are not always mutually exclusive or leave room for choice. In this article we will look at when thread lifting can be done, and when it is no longer enough and it is better to give preference to SMAS.
Who is suitable for thread lifting?
A facelift with threads gives a good aesthetic effect after 35 years. A cosmetologist can recommend it to you if:
- pronounced age-related changes;
- sagging skin in the lower part of the face;
- wrinkles on the forehead and drooping eyebrows;
- deep nasolabial folds.
Special threads not only make the facial contour expressive, but also stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which gives the skin elasticity and freshness. In place of the threads, a natural supporting frame is created, which remains in effect even when the lifting material is completely removed from the body.
Result
The results of thread lifting can be noticed immediately after the procedure, but over time (on average a month) the effect only increases. Wherein:
- sagging skin is reduced or eliminated;
- the aging process slows down;
- tissue elasticity is restored;
- wrinkles and folds are smoothed out;
- the oval of the face is restored or simply becomes significantly better;
- provides a facelift.
Thanks to thread lifting with absorbable material, it is possible to maintain a pronounced result for about 1-1.5 years or even longer. Its duration depends on a number of reasons: the patient’s age and lifestyle, skin type and skin care, as well as many other significant factors. However, in any case, the possibilities of such a cosmetic procedure allow the patient to quickly solve a variety of aesthetic problems.
Thus, we can safely say that of the many modern techniques aimed at combating skin aging, thread lifting is one of the most reliable and proven ways to turn back the clock and preserve the youth of the face and body without unnecessary sacrifices.
How to choose threads for lifting
The BL clinic uses liquid and 3D mesothreads, as well as kogi - threads with notches that are inserted using a cannula rather than a needle, which is less traumatic and virtually eliminates the appearance of swelling and bruising after the procedure.
Liquid mesothreads are a special transparent gel based on hyaluronic acid and zinc salts. Unlike solid mesothreads, liquid ones do not injure the skin tissue, but nourish them and stimulate the production of collagen, as a result of which the skin becomes thicker and tightened.
3D face lift threads are made of polydioxanone. This substance is 100% compatible with skin tissue and does not cause rejection or immune response. 3D threads are introduced in the form of a mesh and remain for 6 months, forming a frame of natural collagen around itself, which will maintain the tightening effect. We use several types of mesothreads: linear or spiral, with notches, in the form of braids, as well as Cog threads for face lifting.
Thread lifting - before and after photos
Thread lifting is successfully carried out in the medical center, which is located in St. Petersburg SkinLazerMed, on the day of the procedure you are offered an absolutely free consultation with our cosmetologist. The price list is freely available to everyone.
Barbed threads and kogi threads for face lifting
Threads with notches for face lifting are one of the most effective types of mesothreads. The notches allow the material to be firmly fixed in the tissues and correct almost any defects and age-related changes in the oval of the face. The material is completely safe and is eliminated from the body on its own within six months.
Cog threads for face lifting are also equipped with notches, but directed in different directions. This improves the lifting effect of the procedure. You can perform a facelift with threads with notches to correct oval shapes, eliminate double chins and too noticeable nasolabial folds, to tighten your cheeks and get rid of jowls.
What is the difference between Aptos and Kogi threads?
- Age. Up to about 40 years of age, depending on age-related changes, it is recommended to use degradable threads, and after that - non-absorbable ones. Kogi is only available in the absorbable version, so Aptos has a clear advantage in this case.
- Stitches. Usually, after installing the threads, micro holes remain, which after 1-2 hours close and become invisible. But if a large number of threads or complex correction is needed, then cosmetic incisions may be necessary. Such manipulations are carried out only with non-absorbable threads, so no incisions or stitches are made for Cog.
— Difficulty of correction. Asymmetry, severe age-related changes, ptosis and other cases requiring complex treatment can only be done with threads that do not decompose in tissues. Only Aptos will do here. This is the difference between Kogi threads and Aptos threads.
Stages and cost of face lift with threads
The procedure takes place under local anesthesia. At the BL clinic, cosmetologists insert mesothreads using special cannulas - ultra-thin atraumatic tubes that carefully move apart areas of the dermis and do not injure it. Before the session begins, the skin is cleaned and disinfected, and local anesthesia is administered. When the anesthesia works, the doctor inserts threads into the correction area. The lifting result will become noticeable within a few days.
The price of a facelift using liquid or 3D threads depends on the area of the skin being treated, its condition and the amount of material used.
If you are looking for a modern and safe way to regain your youth, contact the BL clinic. We employ experienced cosmetologists who know the anatomy of the face very well and have successfully performed many lifting procedures. As a result, you will get natural facial rejuvenation without unpleasant consequences for the skin and your appearance.
Contraindications to the procedure
Thread reinforcement is not prescribed to patients diagnosed with the following diseases:
- oncology;
- acute infectious and viral processes;
- diseases of the hematopoietic system;
- hormonal, endocrine disorders;
- decompensated diabetes mellitus;
- autoimmune disorders;
- congenital or acquired immunodeficiency;
- cardiovascular pathologies;
- renal, liver, pulmonary failure;
- somatic and mental disorders;
- tendency to form keloid or hypertrophic scars.
The procedure is contraindicated for women during pregnancy, lactation, and menstrual bleeding. Thread lifting is prohibited for patients with individual intolerance to the components of the material.
In fact, the use of threads is a rare case
Threads are rarely used to correct imperfections in the nose area, the reason is that the basis of correction with threads is “stretching”, tightening of soft tissues. It is not always possible to “tighten” your nose organically. Using this method, it is possible to achieve some leveling, a slight shortening of the length of the nose, but it will not work to correct a hump or fill in an unevenness (a sunken nose). But it is possible to raise the tip of the nose, as well as implement changes in the columella area within 105–110 degrees. This is enough for visual rejuvenation of the facial area.
At the same time, lifting with threads must be treated with caution; there remains a risk of undesirable consequences after the procedure.
Thread lift “Happy lift”
Biodegradable “Happy lift” threads are made from polydiaxone (PDS) treated with polylactic acid. They are approximately 2-2.5 times thicker than a hair. And in design they are similar to the Aptos method - counter notches are applied to the center on the periphery of the thread. Although the thread itself dissolves on average in 6-9 months, thanks to polylactic acid, a fairly dense fibrous capsule is formed around it. After performing the function of a thread for some time, after one and a half to two years the capsule undergoes destruction. “Happy lift” threads are installed in a parallel direction: this eliminates the risk of generalization in case of inflammatory reactions (infection).
Advantages of “Happy lift” thread lift:
- Biodegradability. After resorption, no foreign substance remains in the tissues.
Disadvantages of “Happy lift” thread lift:
- The effect is short-lived. Threads made of absorbable material already have greater stretchability, and notches weaken the thread even more.
Conditions for the procedure: installation of threads is usually carried out under local anesthesia and takes 30-40 minutes.
Rehabilitation time: 7 – 10 days.
Duration of effect: 1.5 – 2 years.
Cost: a facelift on average costs from 40,000 to 60,000 rubles.
Positive and negative aspects of the technique
The thread technique for correcting nasal defects is a minimally invasive operation with a short recovery period. Due to this, it has few contraindications and the risk of side effects is low. Despite the wide list of advantages, most specialists (both cosmetologists and surgeons) perceive the use of threads with skepticism, the reason being its low effectiveness.
With the help of plastic surgery, only aesthetic defects are corrected; patients who experience problems with nasal breathing or suffer from an incorrect position of the septum in the nose should not hope to benefit from the correction.
Correcting the shape of the tip of the nose and lifting it using self-absorbable threads are short-lived, the achieved result begins to disappear after 6-8 months. The lifting of the back and wings of the nose lasts a little longer.
Nose correction with threads, the essence of the method
It cannot be said that thread lifting can replace rhinoplasty completely; this is not true. During the procedure, a slight change in the configuration and length of the nose is made, for which the soft tissues are tightened. In appearance, this looks like a shift in relation to the previously occupied position, as well as a decrease in volume. There are special notches on the threads, with their help the fixation becomes stronger, this is reflected in the extension of the shelf life of the results of the procedure.
Thread correction, what effects are amenable to the technique?
The technique allows you to correct only minor defects and slightly improve the appearance. Can be used for the following problems:
- large nostril size;
- elongated and drooping tip of the nose;
- unevenness of the bridge of the nose.
It is possible to correct the nose without surgical correction; threads are useful for slight shortening, creating an upturned tip of the nose - this makes the overall appearance more perky. Threadlifting is intended to narrow the base if it is excessively wide, to relieve patients of the wings that blur when smiling, to highlight and create a more attractive back.
Why does a cosmetologist need imagination - the result of tissue regeneration needs to be imagined
Smart lifting improves facial contour and strengthens tissue. It causes the skin to regenerate, making it thicker and tougher. If the subcutaneous tissue defects are so large that a smart facelift alone will not eliminate them, you can additionally supplement the treatment with polylactic acid or another filler.
The directions for inserting threads during a lift can be unidirectional or bidirectional. The threads are inserted with needles. During the procedure, the skin is, of course, pierced, but the patient does not feel it - the procedure is painless, since the area of skin where the thread will be inserted is first numbed.
The video and photos of the procedure show that many needles are inserted into the face. This is a surgical technique that allows you to see exactly where the threads were inserted (and how many). When everything is ready, the needles are pulled out one by one. Performing this procedure requires imagination, as one must anticipate how the patient's face will change after the insertion of absorbable sutures.
Thread lifting procedure
The main indications for the use of smart lifting are sagging skin, sagging “hamster” cheeks - microns with microhooks are useful here. Most procedures are performed on the face, but a smart facelift can be used on any part of the body, such as sagging breasts, buttocks, aging arms. PDO threads are also used in aesthetic gynecology.
For the treatment to have a noticeable effect, a few threads are not enough. The best facelift results can be obtained by using 30-40 threads. The threads are completely absorbed after about a year, but the effect of regenerated skin can last up to several years.
Lifting with PDO threads before and after. Photo 1
Lifting with PDO threads before and after. Photo 2
Threads will not help remove stretch marks!
Patients often ask if threads are effective against stretch marks because they have met doctors who promote such treatments. Not really! Stretch marks are loss of tissue in the skin. To eliminate them, it is necessary to severely traumatize the tissue, for example, using the radiofrequency method, in order to speed up its regeneration.
Thus, inserting several threads will not do anything, because they are very thin, almost like hair. And inserting more PDO threads based on the principle of filling the volume does not pay off from a financial point of view. Each stretch requires at least 20 threads, and stretch marks on the body are not isolated.
Therefore, you need to use lifting threads where they can really help, and not as a panacea for everything that, unfortunately, begins to happen. Nothing better than RF microneedles has yet been invented to combat stretch marks.
