A ‘Thread Lift’ Facelift is an excellent alternative to a Traditional Facelift when there is only early or medium degrees of facial ageing and the skin has started to lose its firmness and appears a little looser and saggy. It is not an alternative option for advanced facial ageing where a Traditional Surgical Facelift would be a more appropriate choice.
Countering the early stages of facial ageing by inserting facial threads to ‘lift’ loose and sagging skin without traditional surgery has been progressively improving over the years since Threads were first introduced in the 1990’s.
One of the early pioneers in ‘Thread Lift’ Facelifts was Dr Des Fernandes, Plastic Surgeon in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2005, Dr Mayson travelled to Cape Town where he learned first-hand Dr Fernandes’ surgical techniques.
Soon thereafter, Contour Threads – a new barbed thread system developed in the USA – were released in Australia. Results from Contour Threads were very impressive but sadly, several years later, the company was sold and the production of these Threads was discontinued.
Since then, various brands and designs of Threads have been introduced and promoted in Australia but Dr Mayson did not consider them effective enough to resume offering ‘Thread Lifts’ to his patients.
However, after years of waiting for a design of ‘Threads’ that Dr Mayson felt was worth offering to his patients, the ‘Mint’ PDO Threads from Korea were finally released in Australia in April 2009 and based on his long experience with ‘Threads’ Dr Mayson was given the first opportunity to use them. After using them for the first time, Dr Mayson felt that the different design of the Mint Threads provided so much more lifting and holding power that they are the only ‘Threads’ Dr Mayson will consider using on his patients!
Currently, more and more doctors, many of whom have no Surgical Facelift experience, are performing ‘Thread Lifts’ using various brands of ‘Threads’ and techniques which may deliver little or no appreciable improvement:
Since Contour Threads disappeared some 13 years ago, various other brands have appeared on the Australian market but until now Dr Mayson did not consider any to be effective enough for him to confidently offer to his patients.
However, after years of waiting, ‘Mint’ PDO Threads from Korea were finally released in Australia in April 2019 and in Dr Mayson’s experienced opinion, their design provides so much more lifting and holding power that they are the only brand of ‘Threads’ that Dr Mayson would currently consider using on his patients.
THE ESSENTIAL KEY to a good and lasting correction is that the Threads must be securely anchored to a fixed point. The problem is that the majority of doctors now offering ‘Threads’ have no Surgical Facelift experience and do not know how to anchor them. Instead, they insert them as either ‘free-floating’ or weakly fixed ‘threads’ – either technique of which will deliver only a minor degree of lifting and tightening and the patient will most likely feel that the final result was not worth the money they spent! We regularly receive heart-breaking calls from people complaining that they spent thousands of dollars on ‘Threads’ but never saw a result!
In order to avoid discomfort for the patient each time a ‘Thread’ is being inserted, most doctors inject substantial amounts of Local Anaesthetic Solution under the skin. The problem with this is that the resultant swelling of the skin makes it difficult to be sure that the “Thread’ hasn’t been placed too deep or too superficial. Placing a ‘Thread’ too superficially can cause permanent surface irregularities. Placing a ‘Thread’ too deeply will not lift the skin as much and even worse, could injure important deeper structures.
We prefer to be more accurate with our ‘Thread’ placements by avoiding extensive infiltration of Local Anaesthetic and instead prefer to have our Specialist Anaesthetist administer medications that allow you to remain awake but relaxed and pain-free.
| ‘THREAD LIFT’ FACELIFT | TRADITIONAL SURGICAL FACELIFT | |
| Patient Suitability | Best when skin laxity is mild-medium | Best option for advanced facial ageing |
| Anaesthesia | Local Anaesthesia with Conscious Sedation | General Anaesthesia |
| Where is it Done? | In the Privacy of our Clinic’s own Operating Theatre | In Hospital with a 1-2 day stay |
| Length of Procedure | About 2 hours | 4-5 hours |
| Surgical Scars | Very small, hidden and essentially undetectable | More extensive & noticeable, usually need to be camouflaged with make-up |
| ‘Down Time’ | Usually 4-7 days | Around 3-4 weeks |
| Post-Operative Restrictions | Some | Some |
| Post-Operative Appearances | Temporary, short-lived ‘Bunching’ of skin where it is pulled back (e.g. in front of the ears)
Surface Irregularities along the course of the threads are sometimes seen but these are usually temporary only |
No ‘Bunching’ because the pulled-back, excess skin is removed. Surface irregularities can occur but are usually temporary |
| Return to Normal Activities | Usually after 1 week | Usually after 3-4 weeks |
| Possible Complications | Uncommon, minor and usually temporary in experienced hands | More serious complications are possible |
| Duration of Correction | 2-3 years | Longer lasting, average 7 years |
| When Skin Laxity Returns | Simply add more ‘Threads’ or go to a Surgical Facelift | Repeat the Surgical Facelift or have a ‘Thread Lift’ Facelift |
| Cost | From $2,640 depending on number of Threads required +
Anaesthetist Fee ($990 – $1,320 depending on time) |
Mini-lift: Around $15,000 – $18,000
Full Lift: Around $22,000 or more |
Click on image to enlarge.
Patient TA Before & After ‘Thread Lift’ Facelift
View More Before/After Images
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
