If you have started to experience signs of ageing like skin laxity, otherwise known as the loss of skin elasticity, and have more fine lines than you’d care to count, you’re not alone. While it may feel as if the only choice open to you is to have surgical skin resurfacing in the form of facelift surgery, you need to understand there are alternative cosmetic treatments.
A thread lift is a suitable alternative that can reduce sagging skin, smooth out your facial tissues and can be performed with virtually no risk to your health.
Are thread lift procedures worth it, though? The answer is yes, if you can’t afford facelift surgery or don’t want to go under the knife but want to improve the look and feel of your facial skin while turning back the years. If you are still on the fence about this non-surgical treatment, read through our guide below.
What is a thread lift?
The non-surgical thread lift procedure involves using “threads” or temporary sutures to produce a visible but very subtle lift in your skin.
Rather than removing any of your loose skin, the plastic surgeons that perform this treatment use the threads to suspend the skin by stitching strategic sections of it.
This achieves the same effect as a surgical facelift as the skin is pulled back gently, tightening and lifting your facial skin.
What are the benefits of a thread lift?
Compared to facelift surgery, thread lifts are quicker and require little to no downtime. In most cases, you can get back to work and continue with life, even during the thread lift recovery period.
As well as being less invasive and painful, a thread lift is also less expensive and carries fewer risks than traditional cosmetic surgery
Years ago in the past, earlier variations on the procedure involved permanent fibres, but these have been replaced by dissolvable threads that are a lot safer and do not attract bacteria or cause potential problems or complications.
The results are noticeable almost instantly and although they do not last as long as more permanent measures like facelift surgery, they have a very natural appearance.
What are the potential complications of a thread lift?
Although generally considered to be safer than surgical procedures, due to the nature of the treatment, a thread lift is not completely free of potential risks and complications. Some of these risks include:
- Too shallow or too deep insertion, meaning that the thread lifts could either be visible on the surface of your skin or end up in your mouth
- Pull your skin too tight, causing a lot of pain and discomfort
- Irritation
- Infection
- Thread displacement
- Bumps, dents, or puckering
- Asymmetry
- Scar tissue that could cause problems for surgeries you need further down the line
- Broken threads – if they are pulled too tightly or put under too much stress
However, there is strict regulatory control over who can perform thread lifts in the UK. This means if you choose plastic surgeons with the relevant qualifications, certifications, experience working on thread lifts specifically, insurance, a great reputation and lots of fully satisfied patients, you should be safe enough.
How much does a thread lift cost?
It is hard to say how much thread lifts could cost, without knowing more information about you. There are a lot of variables that can affect the price, including where you go to have thread lift treatment and how many threads are going to be used to achieve the results you want.
It would also be best to book a consultation appointment to find out how extensive the work you need may be. Even if someone you know or another patient had the same procedure with the same number of threads, it may not be priced the same. Particularly as the biggest variable that affects the price is the uniqueness of your face and skin.
To give you an idea of the amount of money you could pay though, at our Linia Skin Harley Street Clinic, the lowest price for thread lifts is £250, while the highest is £1950.
How long does a thread lift last?
This is another question that does not have a direct or precise answer. Just as it is with determining and quoting the cost, it would be hard to put a timeframe on how long thread lifts will last.
Their lifespan can be affected by the type of threads used, where they have been placed, how many have been used and who performed the treatment.
How well you look after the areas of your face where you have threads inserted could also play a part in determining how long they last. On average, most thread lifts last up to 2 years.
Can I have a thread lift for my double chin?
It’s not just to help with sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, thread lift procedures can be performed as corrective treatment for your double chin, if you have one.
Whether you are a suitable candidate for the double chin thread lift treatment, just as is the case when looking into any form of plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery, you should speak to the qualified individual assigned to offer you consultation appointment.
Summary
So, if like many people of a certain age, you find yourself with some of the more obvious signs of maturing, you may be at a loss as to how you can change them. Especially as one of the most popular options is plastic surgery, which can seem too extreme for many.
However, thanks to PDO threads, and other kinds of thread lifts, you now have a viable alternative to more invasive cosmetic procedures.
For more information about thread lifts, how they compare to an actual facelift, what you should expect when you are having the treatment and crucially, how much it will cost, speak to one of the team here at Linia Skin Clinic. We are more than happy to help, even when your phone call doesn’t result in us being chosen as your clinic.
