Thread lifting has come a long way
Not all lifting techniques are the same . The Aptos Threads technique is not fixed to a firm anchor point. Other threads do not have "cogs" on the material for extra adhession, these are smooth thread lifts. The sutures are inserted in a series of loops, extending towards the corner of the mouth and looping back to the ear. Here they are anchored into the tough fascia over the bone. There are also now absorbale sutures that lay down collagen tracks that have an effect after they have been absorbed by the body.
The newest materail for thread lifting is the "Silhouette Suture", which is a straight polypropylene suture armed with tiny 'cogs'.
By elevating the underlying soft tissues which, with age, start to lose their elasticity and volume, it counters the sagging tissues of the mid and lower face, also improving the appearance of the jaw line and naso-labial grooves
The insertion of threads is minimally invasive carried out under sedation and local anaesthesia, taking around one and a half hours to perform. Tiny incisions are made high in the haired sideburn area, through which straight threads are inserted from the hairline to the naso-labial fold and down to the jaw line. Several centimeters of each thread has cogs, which assists in lifting and holding the soft tissues. With traction the threads gently lift the sagging tissues. The top end of the thread is anchored to the deep temporal fascia in the haired sideburn area. Over time collagen forms around the threads, further tightening the skin and maintaining traction on the soft tissues. Theoretically this should also slow the rate of sagging that continues over the years as part of the natural ageing process. The recovery period is relatively brief. Most patients can return to social activities within 10 to 14 days.
The Silhouette Suture Lift does not produce the dramatic tightening associated with most standard facelifts. The change is significant yet subtle. The patient's apparent age lessens by between 5 and 10 years and draws comments such as 'You look great' rather than 'What have you had done?' There have been few reports of major complications.
