ThreadLift™ (Thread Lift) Guides

Thread Lift Surgery

As we age, we start to lose facial fat and muscle. Perhaps you’ve noticed saggy skin around your neck or jowls. The thread lift is an alternative for people who are concerned about the risks of facial plastic surgery or can’t afford the cost of a facelift.

If you're feeling self-conscious about your appearance, talk to a cosmetic surgeon or board-certified plastic surgeon about the minimally invasive technique known as the thread lift. Check out these thread lift before and after photos to get an idea of the kind of results you can expect to achieve from this procedure.

Thread Lift Procedure

A thread lift is performed as an outpatient procedure and is usually performed with a local anesthetic. The procedure uses an intra-dermal thread, which has tiny barbs along its length. Small incisions are made in the skin, and the threads are inserted with needles using a zigzag-type pattern to ensure they adhere properly. These barbs grasp the tissues below the surface of the skin, lifting the surrounding area and producing a slight but noticeable revitalizing effect on the face. The small slits should heal without requiring stitches, and surgical tape is usually used instead.

Results are immediate and continue to improve over the next several weeks following surgery. The natural collagen formation in the skin tissue will eventually surround the threads, which strengthen them and make the thread lift permanent within six months.

You may notice some tingly sensations for several days following your procedure. Ice packs and pain medicines are prescribed for pain and swelling. Most people resume normal activities within five days, and soft foods are recommended for the first week or two to limit the amount of chewing. The cost of a thread lift ranges from $1,500 to $4,500.

Advantages of Thread Lift Surgery

• Giving your face a subtle and more natural-looking lift
• Relatively no downtime compared to other cosmetic procedures
• Lower cost as compared to a true facelift 

Disadvantages of Thread Lift Surgery

• Sensitivity or numbness in the treated area, which usually subsides within weeks of the procedure
• Some surgeons have reported rare repositioning of the sutures, causing an unbalanced facial look