21 Sep 2023 | by Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS
Facial aging starts earlier than many patients realize. Everyone’s body naturally begins to produce less collagen and elastin, two of the primary components of youthful-looking skin, at around age 25. Genetics, lifestyle choices, such as where you live and how much time you spend outdoors, and the expressiveness of your face may also contribute to whether or not you wind up on the earlier edge of the aging spectrum or the later. This is why every person’s aging journey is unique. At Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, we pride ourselves on devising the exact right treatment plan for your individual anatomy, goals, and lifestyle. The latter is important. Not everyone wants to commit to the necessary recovery time of a surgical procedure. However, when it comes to addressing sagging skin in the lower face and/or neck, there comes a point when injectables can no longer deliver a natural looking result. This is where the NovaThreads procedure is proving to be a game-changer. So, is a thread lift right for you?
See more patients »Ideal Candidate for a Thread Lift
The ideal candidate for a thread lift is any man or woman, in good overall health, who is bothered by:
- Sagging skin and tissues in the lower face
- Loose drapes of skin around the neck
And who is either not yet ready for, or does not want a surgical facelift. Some patients simply don’t like the idea of surgery while, for others, certain health conditions may preclude surgery. Our first priority is always to keep you safe. The great thing about a thread lift is its ability to safely lift the skin and tissues without any of the downsides associated with surgery such as needing to take time off for recovery.
What is a Thread Lift?
A thread lift is a procedure in which a couple of very tiny incisions are strategically made by Dr. Doherty or myself. These incisions are so small that they do not even require stitches. A Polydioxanone (PDO) absorbable thread is then placed through a very fine needle. This is a material that has been safely used in surgeries for years. If you’ve ever had dissolvable sutures, this is basically the same thing. The PDO threads have barbs that hook into your skin and tissues, lifting them up into a more youthful looking contour. The threads stay in place. Besides giving you an instant result, they also induce your body’s natural healing response which is to produce more collagen and elastin. With time, the threads themselves dissolve, and you are left with this additional internal support of your own tissue. Ideal for the lower face and neck, a thread lift can also improve your:
- Cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Jowls
- Marionette lines
- Borders of upper and/or lower lip
Why It’s Important to See a Skilled Provider
The key to an exemplary result with a thread lift is to see a provider who truly understands the subtle intricacies of the procedure, and who is honest about what it can and cannot deliver for you. As the first practice in Boston to offer the thread lift, we have a lot of experience here at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery (BDFFR). Having tried the various thread lift options, NovaThreads is our treatment of choice. Furthermore, we are a practice that provides our patients with the full range of facial rejuvenation options. This allows us to truthfully assess what you need in order to achieve your desired outcome. If a practice only offers fillers, that is what you are going to get whether it is the right choice for you or not.
NovaThreads Procedure & Recovery
During your NovaThreads procedure, we will first numb the treatment area with a local anesthetic. Performed in a private treatment room, the procedure only takes about 30 minutes. There are two different techniques that we use:
- NovaMesh
- NovaLyft
With the NovaMesh technique, anywhere from 2-12 barbed NovaThreads are placed in a mesh like pattern about 2-3mm below your skin’s surface. It’s similar to a hashtag with threads placed both vertically and horizontally. The goal is to create a strong, stable foundation of new collagen production. The NovaLyft delivers a more dramatic looking result. In it, the barbed threads are used to literally lift your skin and tissues back to a higher, more youthful position just like a facelift, but without having to excise the skin. As discussed, the results are instantaneous, and will continue to improve over the coming months as your body produces more collagen in reaction to the threads.
There is no downtime associated with a NovaThreads procedure. You may have some slight swelling, bruising and pinpoint bleeding. These will all resolve on their own. In general, patients can expect their rejuvenated results from a thread lift to last anywhere from 9 to 12 months.
To find out more about a thread lift with NovaThreads, or any surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Leonard Miller at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, check out our website or call (617) 735- 8735 to schedule a consultation.
