Is Non-Invasive Face Thread Lift Worth the Investment?

by Andy Cheng Director

Just less than a decade ago, when people talk about 'facelift', they are probably referring to the traditional face lifting surgical treatments where one has to undergo a surgical procedure. Back then, surgical facelifts were usually reserved for older people seeking facial rejuvenation by lifting sagging skin. It was regarded as a treatment to ‘fix’ an advanced aging problem.

“People in the past took a more reactive approach to addressing sagging skin”, says Dr. Siew Tuck Wah, Medical Director of Radium Medical Aesthetics. “But today, more people in their late 30s or early 40s are asking about skin lifting treatments to rejuvenate the face at a younger age.”

“In recent years, people are seeking skin lifting treatments as a preventive measure, and not as a reactive measure. We encourage people to seek anti-aging treatment early for the purpose of maintaining and delaying signs of aging.”, Dr. Siew said.

So what exactly is a non-surgical thread lift treatment? Is it worth the investment?

Non-Surgical Face Lift Using Threads

Thread lift has been gaining popularity over the years because of its powerful effects against sagging skin. Young adults are seeking non-surgical facelift to retain shapeliness of the face and maintain firmness of the skin.

Making its first appearance in the medical aesthetic market in 2013, Silhouette Soft has helped more than 130,000 people all over the world to reshape facial contours and lift sagging skin.

Silhouette Soft Thread Lift is a unique non-surgical method of lifting the skin tissue by using specialized suture material that is completely bio-compatible. These sutures are inserted into the skin using a small needle. These sutures are able to grab on to the sagging skin tissue and lift them up to a higher position because they have small barbs on them.

Silhouette Soft Thread Lift is a convenient ‘lunchtime’ skin lifting treatment that does not require any general anesthesia or long recovery. It provides immediate results and it continues to improve the next 2-3 months after the procedure as collagen continues to be stimulated by the threads.

Other than Silhouette Soft, there are other options such as Korean polydioxanone (PDO) threads for the purpose. PDO threads are made of dissolvable sutures that help to anchor and lift sagging skin.

PDO Thread Lift is gaining popularity in Singapore because results are visible and the lifting capability are often more pronounced as compared to other skin lifting treatments.

Risks and Complications with Traditional Face Lift Surgery

Contrary to popular belief, a surgical face lift is not permanent. Research has indicated that close to 21 percent of facelifts relapse five-and-a-half years after the surgery. However, 76 percent of the people reported that they still look younger than they did before the surgery.

A surgical face lift is dependent on the surgeon’s skills and his aesthetic appreciation. A bad face lift cannot be undone. A patient’s face may appear to be stretched too tightly, drastically altering their overall appearance.

As incisions are made along the hairline and ears, these scars can be rather obvious when the cuts made by the surgeon are too big. Signs of a face lift may become apparent when your hairline changes as you age.

There may be other risks that are associated with surgical face lift such as post-surgery infection, facial nerve injury, skin discoloration and permanent scarring.

A face lift is expensive. The average cost for a face lift in Singapore is about $7,000.

Risks and Complications with Thread Lift

As the threads are absorbable, they will dissolve in about 6 to 9 months after the treatment. Although the threads dissolve after some time, the contours will remain lifted and maintain its shape for another 12 months. The longevity of a thread lift treatment is about 2 years.

The potential complications that may arise from a thread lift can be easily mitigated by choosing an experienced doctor to perform the thread lift.

Recommendation

The current trend for skin lifting treatment calls for fewer and less noticeable scars with visible, dramatic results. Silhouette Soft Thread Lift is a convenient, straightforward, and affordable procedure for people who do not wish to undergo a typical facelift surgery.

Thread Lift treatment allows the doctor to carefully and precisely determine the proper point of entry and exit points. After inserting the thread, the doctor applies slight pressure on the treated area to push and guide the threads upwards beneath the skin until they are taut and embedded.

Due to its non-surgical nature, a patient who undergoes Silhouette Soft Thread Lift enjoys a minimal downtime of 3 to 5 days. On the other hand, a surgical face lift has a downtime of about 2 weeks.

Although the downside of a thread lift procedure is that the lifting effects may not be as pronounced or as long-lasting as a surgical face lift, people are generally more receptive to thread lift because of its natural and safer outcome. The more regular you repeat the treatment, the longer the effects will last – thanks to the collagen remodeling that continues to take effect. In the long run, you may only require to repeat the thread lift every 3 to 4 years for maintenance.