Facial Thread Lift Treatment

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What are thread lifts?

Thread lifts to correct facial sagging without surgery

Thread lifts, also known as “magic threads,” are generally absorbable, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials applied to skin affected by different degrees of sagging, helping to promote cell cohesion. Ultimately, this technique is a great alternative to the traditional facelift, allowing you to achieve firmer, more natural, healthier, and rejuvenated skin without undergoing surgery.

Thread lifts are the answer to sagging and loss of facial volume that occur naturally with aging. They have a double effect: on the one hand, the mechanical effect of lifting and supporting the structures being treated, specifically the fat compartments; and on the other hand, the biological effect of stimulating collagen creation and densification. In addition, the elasticity of the entire neck area can also be restored with thread lifts for the neck.

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Benefits and properties of thread lifts

Effectively improve the skin of the face and neck without surgical intervention and with immediate results is now a reality. One of the trending aesthetic medical treatments is the use of thread lifts, which helps stimulate collagen production, strengthen the skin, and produce a mechanical tension or lifting effect.

This technique has revolutionized the field of aesthetic medicine due to its lifting effect, treating sagging and aging of the face and neck.

Conceals wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes and mouth.
Allows lifting of strategic areas of the face, such as the cheekbones and eyebrows.
Helps firm the skin of the neck and improves the appearance of the double chin.
Firms the facial contour and provides greater facial symmetry.
Promotes natural collagen production in the area.

Thread lift treatment

This skin tightening technique is based on the implantation of multiple micro threads in a mesh pattern that achieves a natural lifting effect. In other words, this network of micro threads acts as a support for the tissues, producing a instant firming effect and promoting natural collagen production. This aesthetic treatment is performed in-office, with local anesthesia in the form of a cream, and does not require hospitalization since it is a minimally invasive procedure. Additionally, thread lifts are compatible with other facial rejuvenation treatments such as mesotherapy, facial fillers, growth factor infiltrations, facial laser, or neurotoxin (selective chemical myomodulation). For this reason, at Antiaging Group Barcelona, before applying this technique, we assess our patients’ needs and expectations. In fact, when the expected improvement is greater in cases of more severe facial sagging, we recommend a surgical facelift of the treated area, or a combination of different types of thread lifts.

What is polydioxanone?

Polydioxanone is a synthetic polyester material that is absorbable through hydrolysis, which means it gradually breaks down due to the action of water, and water makes up approximately 60% of our body. It is a material with characteristics that make it ideal for use in the human body: it is very flexible, biodegradable, and triggers minimal immune response or foreign body reaction. It has been in use since the 1980s, but it was not until the beginning of this century that its use as a suture thread became widespread due to its safety.

Types of Thread Lift Treatments

Generally, threads are made from one or more chemical materials, whose characteristics differ in thread thickness, suitability for the treatment area, and duration of effect: PDO (polydioxanone), PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid), PLGA (lactic acid + glycolic acid), PCL (polycaprolactone), and polypropylene (the only non-absorbable threads). Just like with hyaluronic acid fillers, the type of threads we use depends on the area to be treated, the patient’s needs, and the suitability of each treatment. At Antiaging Group Barcelona, we are experts in combining different threads, which we use for their safety and reliability to offer the best personalized results.

Silhouette Soft® Threads

Silhouette Soft® is a suspension thread that represents the latest innovation for treating the facial contour, jawline, cheekbones, mid-face, eyebrows, and neck. Its application, personalized for each case, can take between 30–40 minutes and has a dual action: on one hand, it produces an immediate tightening effect and, on the other hand, progressively and gradually promotes the restoration of collagen that has been lost over time. Silhouette Soft® sutures, manufactured in the USA, are made of polylactic acid, and the cones, which create the lifting effect, are composed of a mixture of polylactic acid and glycolic acid. These components are fully absorbable, biocompatible, and biodegradable, with an effect that lasts up to 12 months.

APTOS threads, or “Russian threads”

APTOS threads, or Russian threads are chemically composed of polylactic acid and caprolactone PLA-C, which causes a slower absorption and a greater effect than polydioxanone (PDO) threads, making them suitable for multiple body areas. In short, this treatment works on two levels: on one hand, the mechanical effect from the tension generated, and on the other hand, the biorevitalizing effect through collagen stimulation, achieving overall rejuvenation of the treated area. Additionally, one of the major advantages of APTOS threads is that they can be combined with other types of thread lifts to provide better and longer-lasting results. In this way, we can offer a fully personalized treatment, designing a plan with the best combination of threads exclusively for each patient according to the area to be treated.

PDO threads, or “Korean threads”

PDO threads, which can be either smooth or barbed, are absorbable suture threads recommended for treating skin sagging. Occasionally, Korean threads can be placed with an additional fixation point in non-visible areas such as the scalp or ears, and they are also known by that name because they were first developed in Korea. Korean threads are made solely of Polydioxanone (PDO), which is the same material used in cardiac surgery. They are placed at different levels through an introducer, and the sizes and diameters of the threads do not have to be the same. This type of thread represents a new generation of thread lifts, and their main function is to provide firmness and stimulate the natural collagen induction process, an essential component for skin rejuvenation.

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Thread Lift Prices and Results

The growing satisfaction of those who choose this treatment, along with the popularity of minimally invasive procedures, has driven the demand for thread lifts. The price of thread lifts in Barcelona varies depending on the procedure and the type and number of threads used, with prices starting from €900. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Post-Treatment Care

Depending on where the threads have been placed and their number, the post-treatment experience may vary. As a general rule, some bruising and slight swelling may occur, as well as minor marks where the threads are located. All of this disappears within 7–15 days. There are areas that require extra attention, such as the eyebrows, because the frontal muscle is very strong, and if not corrected properly, the final effect may be subtle; or areas that need to remain firmer, like the neck, which may feel uncomfortable at first when turning the head. Each area and each treatment has its particularities, which are explained to patients to ensure peace of mind. Post-treatment with threads may occasionally be slightly uncomfortable depending on the treated area and the type of thread used. Some redness, inflammation, warmth, or minor bruising may appear in the area, but these effects will disappear within a few days and can be relieved with cold applications. However, it is normal not to experience any discomfort or side effects. The results of this treatment are visible immediately, allowing for firmer, stronger, and subtly rejuvenated skin. The best effects, however, are usually seen in the second to third month after treatment. The duration of these results can range from 12 to 18 months, depending on the patient’s individual characteristics and skin type.

Opiniones de nuestras pacientes

Our Specialists for This Treatment

Dra. Laura Salvador Miranda

La Dra. Laura Salvador Miranda es socia fundadora de Antiaging Group Barcelona, con más de 25 años de experiencia en Medicina y Cirugía Estética. Licenciada en Medicina y Cirugía por la Universidad de Barcelona, se especializó en Cirugía General en el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Desde 1999 se dedica exclusivamente a la Medicina Estética, liderando desde 2004 el grupo de Medicina Estética y dirigiendo el área de tratamientos láser avanzados desde 2006.

Actualmente es profesora del Máster de Medicina Estética y Bienestar del IFMiL (Universitat de Barcelona – COMB), participa activamente en investigaciones y publicaciones científicas, y es miembro de sociedades médicas como SEME, SELMQ, SETGRA y la Sección Colegial de Médicos de Estética del COMB.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems do they solve?

Threads can primarily address three issues: sagging, volume, and facial architectural support. They improve sagging through their mechanical effect of tightening the tissues where they are implanted, which is why they produce a lifting effect, although the result is never the same as a surgical facelift. They enhance volume by repositioning the facial fat compartments, especially the superficial ones in the cheeks and jaw area. They improve support because they create a mesh with collagen formation around it, which thickens the dermis and strengthens the points of facial ligament support. This is particularly noticeable with threads coated with hyaluronic acid, as they provide more plumpness to the skin and reduce a cracked or tired appearance.

What is the duration of these treatments?

The in-office treatment lasts approximately 40–120 minutes, depending on the areas to be treated and the threads used. There will be some swelling for a few days, although the initial effect can already be seen. The maximum effect is usually reached between one and six months, and then it is maintained for another 6–12 months thanks to the collagen that has been produced.

What are the advantages of thread lifts compared to other facial rejuvenation treatments?

All treatments have their advantages and disadvantages, which is why each treatment proposal must be personalized according to skin quality, age, areas to improve, and the desired effect. We cannot consider this treatment, or any treatment, as a solution for everything. Treatments should be combined to improve all layers. It’s like a house that needs a strong foundation, an attractive facade, and a comfortable interior—our appearance should be the same. The advantage of thread lifts is that there is no risk of intravascular spread, as can occur with fillers, nor the formation of granulomas. Threads can be placed in different areas, improving in a single session the appearance of more open eyes, fuller cheeks, a more youthful area around the mouth, and a firmer neck.

Is it compatible with other treatments?

It should indeed be combined with other treatments. For example, when treating the eyebrows, botulinum toxin must have been used beforehand; when treating the cheeks, it is important to assess skin quality to determine if threads with hyaluronic acid are necessary; if we want to improve the perioral area, lip contouring and filling the mucosa and corners of the mouth provide excellent results. Treatment timing must be carefully planned so that the final result exceeds expectations, because a spotted face, no matter how tight it looks, is an insufficient outcome.