29 May 2024 | by Dr. Leonard Miller
One of the primary reasons that a patient comes to see me to discuss facial rejuvenation is skin laxity, particularly in the lower face. Often referred to as “jowling”, drapes of loose skin in the lower third of the face may begin to develop as early as your 30’s depending on such factors as genetics and lifestyle choices like sun exposure, hydration and environmental stressors. While an appropriately placed filler may produce a slight lift, there are some patients who need something more robust, yet are not quite candidates or don’t want surgery. A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that fills that gap between non-surgical modalities and a surgical face lift. Extremely effective in the right patient, here are the 3 best benefits of a thread lift for my Boston area patients.
Thread Lift is a Minimally Invasive Procedure
During your thread lift procedure, I will make a couple of precisely placed incisions through which I insert the surgical threads. Made out of a polymer material that has been safely used as sutures for decades, these threads have a barb or hook that allows me to lift your underlying facial tissues back into a more youthful contour. While I do cut the skin, this is what’s called a minimally invasive procedure as these incisions are so tiny that they don’t even require stitches. A huge benefit of a thread lift, therefore, is that it can deliver a surgical-like result without inflicting as much trauma on your skin and tissues.
Less Recovery Time Needed with a Thread Lift
Any procedure is going to require some time for recovery. How much time will depend on the degree of trauma that your skin and tissues undergo. With something non-surgical, like Botox® or fillers, you may have some mild bruising and/or swelling, but you can typically return to your daily activities immediately. A surgical facelift, on the other hand, is going to require significantly more downtime for your skin and tissues to heal. The nice thing about a thread lift is that I can lift sagging skin without you needing to take a lot of time off to recover. It can truly be a win-win for the right patient.
Who is the Ideal Patient for a Thread Lift?
In order to achieve the kind of significant result that we both want, patient selection is critical. The ideal patient for a thread lift is any man or woman:
- In good overall health
- Mild skin laxity
- Good subcutaneous fat layer
- No thin, “crepey” skin
This is also where the expertise of the person administering your thread lift comes into play as it’s a procedure with a fairly steep learning curve. I have been performing the thread lift since its inception so I am extremely adept at choosing the right patient as well as managing expectations. For this reason, it is a procedure with one of the highest patient satisfaction ratings at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery.
Thread Lift Can Deliver Noticeable Rejuvenation
The biggest benefit of a thread lift is that I can deliver noticeable rejuvenation, lifting and restoring the youthful V shape that we all begin to lose with age. Like any non-surgical procedure, you will see more improvement if you have it done on a regular basis. Each thread lift will produce some scar tissue which helps to keep your skin and tissues suspended. Each subsequent procedure builds upon itself so there is an increased benefit to having this done every 3-6 months.
To find out more about a thread lift, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Leonard Miller at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation at his Boston or Brookline offices.
