Hello magazine
November 2021
Freelance Beauty Director, Caroline Brien explains why the thread lift is the perfect “stopgap between fillers and facelifts.” Caroline reached out to The Cosmetic Skin Clinic’s, Dr Joanna Christou who is an expert in creating a signatory natural look for her patients with thread lifts. Dr Joanna helps to explain why thread lift treatments have rightfully so gained “fans among people looking for a subtle, scalpel-free reshape.”
How did thread lifts become popular?
From simple beginnings of concealed sticky tape to achieve that “instant lifting effect”, threads became the more modern and sophisticated treatment.
“Pioneered in the 1980s with fine gold fibres, thread lifts now use biodegradable material similar to surgical stitches, sewing through the layer of fat just below the skin’s surface and pulling tighter where there’s sagging.”
Who needs thread lifts?
The ideal candidate for thread lifts is anyone who isn’t ready for surgery but can see:
- early signs of jowls
- drooping nasolabial folds
As we age, the fat underneath the surface can begin to slide giving a heavier, saggy appearance in the face. The threads help to pull the fat back into place, giving your face back that lift and contoured shape. The number of threads used depends on the area or areas being treated.
What happens to the thread lifts over time?
Apart from the immediate benefit of seeing more defined contours, thread lifts break down on their own after 12 weeks. This is a huge benefit as while it breaks down, your body replaces the threads with its own collagen. Collagen is the scaffolding of youthful, plump skin, and is what gives it that lift.
What type of thread can be used?
There are two types: Silhouette Soft made from poly-L-lactic acid (PPLA) and Polydioxanone (PDO).
- Silhouette Soft threads have “tiny cones along the length to catch and gather up skin. They also stimulate two types of collagen – type 1, which keeps skin youthful, and type 3, which is more akin to scar tissue, meaning it’s harder.”
- Polydioxanone threads have “barbs in place of cones to do the lifting work and create new type 3 collagen.”
Dr Joanna Christou, aesthetic doctor at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic highlights that during your consultation “your doctor will advise you, but broadly speaking, PDO threads can be more suitable for areas like the eyes as they create a mesh-like support for crepey skin. PLLA threads give more of a directional structural lift to sagging areas.”
Will it hurt or take too long to do?
As the threads are being run through the fat layer, this means there are no nerve endings. All that will be needed are maybe “a few dots of local anesthetic or numbing cream.” Some treatments are called lunchtime treatments, but thread lifts aren’t that even though it can be done in under 30 minutes.
Can you get other tweakments done with the thread lift?
Dr Joanna says that “after the lift has settled, you can finesse the overall look with fillers or treatments such as Profhilo to enhance the skin quality.”
What do most thread lift patients get tweaked after a thread lift?
In most cases, patients simply want a touch up with injectables or lasers. Dr Joanna supports this statement saying, “It’s an investment in prevention.” Patients who get thread lifts from their mid-40s “can start to work on the structure of your face in a proactive way. As you won’t have aged in the same way, thread lifts can help delay or even prevent the need for surgery further down the road.”
Thread Lift with The Cosmetic Skin Clinic
The Cosmetic Skin Clinic are experts in the facial rejuvenation treatment that is Thread Lifts. It is our goal to get you great lifting results with the best training and experience. We are about you, your experience which is why we are with you every step of the way. From the consultation to follow up check-ins to see how you’re coming along.
Dr Joanna’s ability to tackle complex facial revisions including Thread Lifts is thanks to her vast experience as a dual qualified dentist and medical doctor. As well as her years of experience, Dr Joanna has a strong education from universities such as University College London Hospital, Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ School of Medicine and Dentistry to Harvard Dental School.
With this knowledge, Dr Joanna has a special interest in facial musculature, allowing her to create a unique yet natural facial structure with the use of Thread Lifts.
As a CQC registered, multi-award-winning clinic, you can trust our practitioners to make you look like you but fresher and youthful. Want to start your own Thread Lift journey? Fill our online enquiry form or contact our clinics by calling 0330 057 5425 (London and Buckinghamshire).
