How does a thread lift work?

If you’re looking for something to lift your sagging jowls or neck, then you’ll probably come across a procedure called a thread lift. But how does a thread lift work? And what do you need to know before you embark on this treatment.

As an owner of a Medispa, I’ve written this short article to tell you what you need to know about how a thread lift works.  I’m not here to convince you to have it – just to understand why you might choose this over something else.

What is a thread lift?

A thread lift is a procedure which uses a special type of thread (which looks like very fine cotton) to lift and plump areas of the face and neck.

The surgical thread is guided into the skin with a cannula. A cannula is a needle which is used to create space for things like drips.

The threads are tiny pieces of material – which looks like fine cotton threads, but they are actually made from a biodegradable substance which is recognised by the skin. This means the skin doesn’t reject it, and over a short time the thread actually disintegrates.

How does it work to lift the skin?

There are different types of threads which can be used. A common thread called a PDO thread has tiny hooks along its length. These hooks get hold of the skin from the inside to pull and lift where you want the skin to be lifted. This has an instant visible improvement.

But that’s not the only improvement. Over time the thread will dissolve in the skin, and your immune response will have created new collagen to form around the area.  This then keeps the skin in place, in the new lifted position.

Where can you have a thread lift?

You can have thread lifts on most of areas of the face. The common places to have this treatment include:

• Jawline Thread lift
• Neck Thread lift
• Lower Face Thread Lift
• Forehead and Eyebrow Lift
• Foxy Eye Lift (this is to create more of a fox eye look)

You can also have thread lifts on the body but they are not as popular as would require many more threads.

Here’s a before and after photo of a thread lift on the neck at my Medispa, near Wigan in the North West of England.  Here we used Mono threads – which are threads without the hooks. The reason we used Mono threads and not PDO threads is because we wanted to just plump the skin, not pull or lift it.

Is a thread lift painful?

A thread lift should not be painful, because local anaesthetic is injected into the skin first to numb it.

This means that you should feel very little during the actual procedure. Afterwards obviously the anaesthetic will wear off, and you will feel bruised and sore. Some clients will look physically bruised, in fact you should expect to get a bruise. However some clients won’t bruise at all.

How long will a thread lift last?

The peak time for the lifting effect is 6 months after the procedure. Although you will see an instant lift with a PDO thread because of the hooks.

Overall the effect should last you 12-18 months. Some places claim it will last 24 months, but in our experience it’s more like 18 months.

After the effect has worn off you can then have a thread lift done again.

Who is not suitable for a thread lift?

If you have very thick, sagging skin then this procedure wouldn’t be suitable – as you will not get the results you want.

Anyone on blood thinners or suffering from severe medical conditions won’t be able to have this treatment either.

If you’re seriously considering having a thread lift – then you should book a consultation first, and you’ll be asked to fill in a thorough medical questionnaire. You’ll able to ask any questions, and I recommend asking to see photos of clients from the clinic you’re visiting.

You should not feel pressured into undergoing this procedure, as it’s not to be taken lightly. If you feel unsure then don’t have it done. There are many other non-surgical procedure which can lift and tighten your skin including Radiofrequency Microneedling, Laser, Fillers, HIFU.

I hope this has helped you understand how a thread lift works.

If you need more help then you can click here to be taken to Radiant Living Medispa treatments.