The nose is one of the most prominent features on your face. Its shape, position and size can have a dramatic impact on the overall look and feel of your face.
If you are unhappy with how your face and particularly your nose looks, you may suffer from self-confidence and self-esteem issues.
A lot of people in your situation often turn to surgical rhinoplasty to fix problems with their noses. However, if you need to change the current shape of your nose, a minimally invasive procedure you might want to consider is a nose thread lift.
But what is a nose thread lift? A nose thread lift is a non-surgical treatment that involves the use of dissolvable fine threads made from a type of complex sugar. The PDO threads help to lift and alter your nose shape to give you a more defined nose.
It is a great alternative to more demanding cosmetic procedures and requires minimal downtime and offers immediately visible results.
How does the nose thread lift procedure work?
A nose thread lift is a relatively quick and simple treatment, which can be completed within an hour. That is why some people refer to it as the lunchtime nose job.
For the procedure, you need to lie on your back and your face will be tilted upwards. You will then be given a topical form of anaesthetic on and around your nose to stop you from feeling discomfort or pain.
The surgeon performing the treatment will place special surgical sutures, known also as PDO threads, along the nasal bridge horizontally for height and septum for projection of your nose and then vertically up to your nose tip.
These PDO threads have a two-fold purpose – as scaffolding for the structure of your nose to help shape and contour it to produce the desired look, and as a stimulator for collagen production, so your body produces more collagen for your nose to give it a longer-lasting and more sustainable lift.
The exact number of PDO threads required varies from person to person and depends on other aspects like the results you want and the current shape of your nose.
What Results Can Nose Thread Lifts Achieve?
The lunchtime nose job was developed and introduced over 15 years ago, but in more recent years there has been a spike in popularity. This cost-affordable and effective technique can be used to address various cosmetic issues you may have, including the following:
Nose Slimming – Although a PDO thread lift can’t change nose width, the procedure can be used to give your nose a slimmer appearance by simply lifting the bridge slightly.
Nose Tip Lift – Perhaps the most commonly requested reason for having a nose thread lift, the nose tip lift technique is also incredibly effective. If you have a nose tip that points downwards it makes your nose look longer.
If your nose tip droops, this can age your face. What’s more, the ligaments that support your nose and sit between the cartilage can weaken and cause the tip to drop.
A PDO thread lift replaces the support and lifts it to give your nose a shorter and more youthful appearance.
Nose Bridge Lift – If you would like your nose to be more defined with a bridge that sits higher, a thread lift can help.
Refining Your Nose Ridge – If you have a bump in your nose or a crooked nose, thread lifts can be used to reshape your nose tissue and give it a straighter appearance.
What are the benefits of a nose thread lift treatment?
There are several key benefits to having thread lift treatment, including:
- As the results are only temporary, if you are not satisfied with how your nose looks or feels, you just need to wait for the PDO nose threads to naturally dissolve. This can take between 6 and 8 months.
- Compared to traditional rhinoplasty, it is far more convenient and less expensive to have a nose thread lift
- Nose thread lifts are not only very effective but very safe too
- The treatment produces immediately visible results
- There is no recovery time or downtime, which means you can continue with your everyday activities, including work and exercise almost at once
- Although you are offered a topical anaesthetic cream to help reduce any discomfort and pain, you do not need a local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia
What are the limitations of a nose thread lift?
You need to remember a nose thread lift is not a permanent solution and will not change the actual cartilage structure of your nose. Therefore, if you are interested in significantly changing nose size, PDO threads are not going to give you the results you want.
Nose threads also cannot help resolve any breathing issues you may have because they don’t widen your nasal passages. If that is why you are interested in treatment, you should speak to your GP or doctor who will help figure out the best treatment options.
How to prepare for a nose thread lift
To give you some food for thought though and help with preparation for your treatment, keep in mind the following general guidelines:
- Avoid taking blood-thinning supplements and medication like Vitamin E, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medication and aspirin for at least the week before your procedure
- As bruising is common with this procedure, it is a good idea to include as many leafy, green vegetables as possible in your diet in the lead up to your treatment. These contain high levels of Vitamin K, which can help reduce bruising.
- Eat a proper meal and make sure you drink lots of water beforehand
What are the side effects of a nose thread lift?
While it’s true a PDO thread lift is non-invasive, with any cosmetic procedure, there is always the chance of some side effects or contraindications. It is normal to have a slight stinging sensation while the anaesthetic is working, but this should subside and you should not feel any pain after the treatment is completed.
You will also feel a measure of tightness around the areas treated and could have some mild soreness for the first few days following the procedure, Tenderness, swelling and bruising are all expected, but normally resolve within a couple of days.
How long does it take to recover from a nose thread lift?
As a PDO nose thread lift is a non-medical procedure, there is little to no downtime following this cosmetic treatment. Although you will physically be able to get on with your life, there are certain things you need to be aware of:
- You need to avoid any form of strenuous exercise and activity for at least 48 hours following the treatment
- You should avoid touching your nose and the surrounding area. This means you should avoid facial massages and facials for at least 10 days after the procedure
- You should avoid using any make-up on the area for a minimum of 12 hours to allow your skin the chance to settle
- You should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for a minimum of 7 days. Alcohol and tobacco are known to counteract your skin’s natural healing process
- Always wear sunscreen that is SPF 30 and stay out of direct sunlight
Summary
It doesn’t matter whether you are looking to have work done on your nose bridge, or nasal tip and have considered rhinoplasty, but want to avoid surgery, then a threads lift is one of the most popular treatments that can help you to get your desired outcome.
