Absorbable aesthetic threads treatment can provide an immediate lift and/or smoothing without incisions, general anesthesia, or significant downtime. Skinspirations was one of the first aesthetic practices in Tampa Bay to start providing thread treatments in 2007, and practice makes perfect.

Mildly sagging or crepey, lined skin can be lifted and smoothed with specially designed, absorbable threads that are placed under the skin’s surface. The threads are made of the same material as some of the absorbable sutures or “stitches” used in surgery, and collagen is stimulated along the length of threads before they reabsorb, producing results that last long after the thread is gone. 

The stimulation of surrounding tissues with absorbable threads is thought to be the reason they can help increase hair growth on the scalp.

Thread Lift Procedure. Have been a Skinspirations client for nearly 10 years. Here, you’ll find knowledgeable, professional, caring staff who offer the most innovative procedures and machines to enhance each individual’s features. Dr. Elliot recently did a thread lift to my forehead, jawline, and neck. The beauty of these threads is that you’ll notice immediate improvement and threads continue to tighten skin as time passes. Plus, the only thing you’ll feel during the procedure is a slight tugging. If you’ve been considering it, Skinspirations is the BEST!!! – Laurie

Types of absorbable aesthetic threads

Absorbable threads are made from one or a combination of the three materials described below, all of which are approved for use in the body by the FDA.

  • Polydioxanone (PDO), used also in absorbable sutures, stimulates the production of Type I collagen, and the threads dissolve over about six months. As with the other types of threads, collagen that builds up around the threads lasts much longer.
  • Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) is another absorbable suture material, as well as the main ingredient in the injectable skin stimulant, Sculptra. PLLA stimulates both Type 1 collagen and hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is important for skin moisture and firmness. The results of PLLA threads can last up to twelve months.
  • Polycaprolactone (PCL) threads are the newest option, made of a material used for long-lasting absorbable sutures. The longer duration of the material translates into more collagen and better support. Unlike the other two thread types, PCL increases both Type 1 and 2-collagen, as well as hyaluronic acid. PCL thread results may last up to eighteen months.

Most aesthetic threads are either barbed or smooth and there are multiple types and sizes of each.

Barbed, or cogged, threads have tiny barbs that are strategically placed to “hook” into the surrounding tissue to lift and hold it in place.  Skinspirations uses barbed threads that have barbs pointing both up and down the thread to suspend sagging skin without the thread sliding.

Closeup photo of aesthetic threads and its cannula used for threadlifts
A close-up view of a barbed thread & the cannula used to insert it

Barbed threads range in thickness & length with the thickest barbed threads used for heavy tissues like breasts and buttocks. They can be used almost anywhere on the body where a small amount of traction produces desirable lifting. Popular treatment areas include the brows, jawline, cheeks, upper neck, inner arms, and knees.

Smooth or mono threads have no barbs and are placed under the skin to thicken and firm the treated area. Threads are an excellent choice for nonsurgical rhinoplasties, to make a nose appear straighter and lift the tip.

How are thread lifts performed?

After a local anesthetic is applied, cannulas each containing a thread are inserted under the skin & directed to the area where slight traction or lifting produces the best results. The cannula is withdrawn leaving the thread in place. In the case of barbed threads, when the cannula is withdrawn, and the thread is slightly pulled, it causes the barbs to “hook” and lift the overlying skin. The excess thread is trimmed away and the tiny punctures heal within a few days. There’s minimal swelling or bleeding and most patients say that they notice minimal discomfort during the treatment. 

The number of threads used depends on the patient’s needs and the number of areas being treated. Results are seen immediately, but vary, of course, depending on the patient’s degree of skin laxity and the number and type of threads used.

The best results when treating the brow or lower face are obtained when downward pulling muscles are pre-treated with Botox Cosmetic or Dysport, to prevent potential dislodgement of the threads.

Although thread lifts can lift and stimulate the skin, they do not provide the volume restoration that can be achieved with dermal fillers, and since one of the main causes of sagging facial skin is volume loss, the results of using both, depending on the individual’s face, usually provide a better overall result.

Thread lifts don’t remove redundant tissue like a surgical facelift can, so people with more than minimal excess skin or sagging are not good candidates for the treatment. Those with excessive sun damage, more than a moderate amount of facial fat, or leathery skin, also should consider other treatment options.

Potential side effects of thread lifts include bruising, infection, soreness, bumps, temporary dimpling of the overlying skin, and rarely, granulomatous reactions.

Prices for thread treatments start at $800 with discounts given for multiple areas.

If you are interested in learning more about how a thread lifting treatment can improve your appearance, schedule a complimentary consultation by registering online here or by calling 727-571-1923.