Thread Lift Silhouette Soft®

A thread lift is the suspension of droopy facial soft tissue via threads inserted in the skin. It is an easy, fast, minimally invasive facelifting procedure with natural results. This innovative treatment (also known as a "one stitch face lift" or "Instalift ") uses bidirectional absorbable threads with cones to lift and rejuvenate resulting in a fresher, more youthful appearance.

The threads used in Silhouette Soft® are made of PLLA (poly-l-lactic acid), a biodegradable polymer that is also used for sutures and orthopaedic pins. It has been proven to help stimulate collagen production to tighten the skin along the thread line. Thread lifts initially came about in the late 1990s but were difficult to use. The non absorbable threads had to be anchored into the temple. The anchoring knots were permanent and occasionally painful. The newest technology threads have recently received FDA clearance and grown in popularity because of their “lunchtime” appeal and their ease of use.

The ideal indications are moderate sagging of the brow, mid face, jaw line and neck or visible marionette lines and nasolabial folds(running from both sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth). Silhouette Soft® is suitable for lifting the corners of the eyebrows, the cheeks, contouring the jawline and the upper part of the neck.

The Silhouette Soft® patient must have a good skin quality; not too thin neither too thick. It is an effective treatment for patients in the early 40s with starting signs of aging. It is contraindicated for patients with foreign body sensitivity or known or suspected allergies to implant or instrument materials in particular plastic/biomaterial.

The thread lift takes 30-45 min to do using local anaesthetic injection and is very well tolerated. Take Paracetamol and Ibuprufen an hour before and have minimal make up when you arrive for your appointment. A tiny entry point is made in the skin through which a cone attachment suture thread is inserted via a cannula into the skin. The thread is essentially “hooked” to the skin and subcutaneous muscle and with a minimal amount of tension and tightening, the skin is lifted. The suture is cut at the insertion point. Surgical tape is applied across the cheeks. In the weeks after the thread lift, collagen production will increase tightening in the tissue and will continue lifting the treated areas effectively. The final result will be visible after 4-8 weeks after the treatment . Unlike sutures of the past, these stitches will dissolve after 12-18 months and it may be repeated every 2-3 years. Silhouette Soft® is often used in combination with fillers, radiofrequency and laser as part of a Career Facelift®.

Side effects include mild procedural pain, swelling, bruising. Rarely dimpling of the skin can occur , it usually resolves but may need slight manipulation. If the skin is thin superficially placed sutures can be visible. Occasionally an antibiotic cream is needed for superficial infections. As the procedure is not indicated for severe laxity, thread-lifts also do not replace the traditional facelift. Continuous ageing and gravitational pull limit the extent of improvement and longevity. Results may be subtle and can vary based on the tissue laxity, and the amount and location of the threads used. Fillers used in combination with thread lifts increase the longevity of the thread-lift because of additional collagen stimulation.

30-45mins

Moderate

3-5 Days

From £1,200