What is a Thread Lift? The Ultimate Guide

What is the Thread Lift?

This is a non-surgical skin treatment which is, as the name suggests, used to lift your skin. It is an ‘aesthetic’ or ‘cosmetic’ treatment which does not require a general anaesthetic and doesn’t need the type of recovery, or have many of the other risks, associated with surgical skin tightening.

Where can I have the ‘Thread Face Lift’?

This is an extremely versatile treatment! The Thread Lift can be used on your face (often referred to as the ‘thread face lift’) and your body to lift, firm and smooth your skin.

The treatment areas that we find are most popular in our Hertfordshire skin clinic are the face; the abdomen, often after people have lost a little bit of weight or after a baby (aka the ‘mummy tummy’); inner arms for skin crepiness; and knees-where the skin has lost its firmness and has become wrinkled.

There are different types of threads that can be used in your treatment, depending on the area and the concern you have about your skin, so you can even treat very close to your eyes, for example, but also on less delicate areas such as your lower face and body.

How does the treatment work?

PDO threads are placed into your skin, in the area of your concern and depending on the type of thread used (we’ll discuss this further later), the threads may simply be left to work on their own and don’t require the practitioner to do anything further, for example threads used to strengthen and plump your skin; or the threads may be tightened by your practitioner, if you require your skin to be lifted.

All types of PDO threads will trigger your treated skin to create brand new collagen in the area. This helps to smooth your skin and give it strength and structure. All threads will also stimulate your skin to produce hyaluronic acid, which is great news, as this is something we rapidly lose with age; hyaluronic acid helps your skin to remain lubricated and plump, which in turn means that fine lines and wrinkles are less obvious. Hooray!

Skin tightening clinic Hertfordshire, Non-surgical Thread Face Lift

What are the threads like that are used in the treatment?

Threads, also known as PDO threads, are made out of complex carbohydrates; this is the same substance as sutures routinely used in heart surgery, so is very safe.

Your body naturally dissolves the PDO threads generally between five months and a year following your Thread Lift treatment; this is dependent on you as a unique individual and is influenced by things such as your lifestyle and metabolism.

Depending on what your skin needs, we may use just one type of thread or we may use a combination of threads.

Thread type one: PDO Mono Threads. This is a basic-looking thread strand which we can use to help smooth wrinkles, generally rejuvenate your skin tissue and to create light volume (usually around the cheek) and definition.

Thread type two: PDO Twist. This type of thread is made up of two strands of thread which are evenly twisted together and are inserted at the same time. This can be used to treat the same skin care concerns as Mono Threads, as well as being a good fit for places where there is thicker skin, marionette lines and nose-to-mouth lines.

Thread type three: PDO Cogging Screw. This thread is similar to the 3D cogs described below in that it has tiny cogs running along its length, however these are smaller and are used more superficially than the 3D cogs; they can be used to help volumise, gently lift and contour localised areas of skin.

Thread type four: PDO 3D Cogs. These are the treads used to lift your skin as each thread has tiny, multidirectional points running along its length which are excellent for lifting up your skin and supporting the treated tissue, as well as stimulating brand-new collagen. These are thicker threads than those described above for greater strength.

How do I know what types of threads are right for me?

We wouldn’t necessarily expect you to know what the right threads are for you, that’s why you have us!

You will have a consultation with a medical practitioner who has had training and experience in performing this treatment so they will be able to match you with the most appropriate types of threads during your discussion and assessment.

The majority of our clients at Skin to Love want a ‘lifting’ effect so these are the most frequently used threads our practitioners use. However, some patients have a mixture of thread types, depending on their needs.

How long does this skin treatment last?

This really is quite dependent on you as an individual and the threads used; as mentioned above, your body will start to break the PDO threads down anywhere between five to 12 months after your treatment and will leave behind them a legacy of new collagen and skin plumping hyaluronic acid; therefore, even when the threads have been dissolved by your body your skin will benefit from their legacy.

Many of our clients think about having the treatment again around a year and a half later. It is important to know that you do not have to have the treatment again, you can walk away from it should you wish to and your skin will gradually lose the results you achieved.

The Skin To Love Clinic, Thread Lifting Skin Treatment

How long until I see my results?

You are able to see results immediately in a Thread Lift treatment. In fact, some practitioners will show you what you look like after treating one side of your face. Further results will take a few months to see, as might the results from the ‘non-lifting’ types of threads, as it takes a little bit of time for the hyaluronic acid and collagen (as discussed in ‘how does the treatment work’) to be created by your skin.

Is the Thread Lift treatment painful?

This treatment shouldn’t be painful; at our Hertfordshire skin tightening clinic we use a local anaesthetic in the area that’s being treated which is incredibly effective in making the procedure comfortable for you. Some patients report mild discomfort at worst.

Depending on the type of threads used, you may feel some pressure in the treatment area as your practitioner places your threads and, if using the lifting threads, you will feel the movement of your practitioner tightening them.

Why would I have this skin treatment?

Our clients have this treatment if they don’t want or need a surgical lifting treatment.

You may choose to have the Thread Lift treatment if:

• Your lower face is becoming ‘heavy’ looking and you’re noticing jowls forming or a loss of definition around your jawline;
• You would like to soften and smooth lines around your eyes, aka crow’s feet, or around your mouth;
• You would like to lift and firm your neck or face;
• You’d like to redefine and lift your cheeks;
• You’d like to soften marionette lines or nose to mouth lines;
• You would like to help smooth, firm and tighten your thighs, inner arms, buttocks or abdomen;
• You’d like to improve the elasticity, brightness and quality of your skin.

At our skin tightening clinic in Hertfordshire, you would have a consultation with one of our medical practitioners prior to any treatment to make sure that you make the best choice for you and your concerns.

How will my skin look after the Thread Lift treatment?

Immediately after your treatment you should notice a lifting effect (if you have the ‘lifting’ threads) and your skin may be a little bit pink in the area that your practitioner has been treating.

Some clients experience mild swelling and/or tenderness in the area that has been treated which we’d expect to start settling after a few days following your treatment and is managed very well with over-the-counter pain relief.

Who provides the Thread Lift treatment?

This non-surgical skin tightening treatment is only allowed to be done in a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered skin clinic. This is to ensure your safety because of the advanced nature of this treatment.

Your practitioner should be a medical professional who is on the register of their governing body (NMC or GMC), which you can check by going on the governing bodies website and entering the practitioner’s name.

The skin clinic you visit will ideally be Save Face registered for further reassurance of their safety and professional standards, but this is not necessary.

Is this treatment safe?

As this treatment is a non-surgical face lifting procedure, it does not have the same risks and potential side effects that are associated with a surgical procedure and the general anaesthetic that’s required during that type of surgery.

The Thread Lift has a good safety profile; the PDO threads we use are non-toxic, are CE marked and receive the safest rank by the KFDA.

Additionally, our St. Albans Skin Clinic is CQC registered and Save Face accredited; this means that we have thorough safety and hygiene procedures and policies in place to ensure that the environment we perform your treatment in is safe.

This also means that the medical practitioners who perform the Thread Lift treatment are who they say they are, are registered healthcare professionals, have genuine and relevant qualifications, have received appropriated training and undertake regular training updates.

At Skin to Love, we’ve promised that we’ll only ever offer treatments that are evidence based and we only ever source them from legitimate suppliers. We would not offer you a treatment that we would not offer to our families and friends or have ourselves (and many of us have had the Thread Lift treatment here at Skin to Love).

What is the Thread Lift cost?

This varies depending on the type of threads used, how many threads you require, and the area being treated.

You will be given an accurate price for your specific needs during your consultation; however, treatment cost usually ranges between £250 to £1,900.

Will I get results that look like I’ve had a Face Lift after this treatment?

No, this treatment is very effective in lifting and tightening your skin, but it will not give you the dramatic results that surgical facelifts often achieve.

As with any non-surgical treatment, the Thread Lift is not a replacement for a surgical procedure, such as a Face Lift. The Thread Lift offers a more natural-looking result and does not remove any of your skin or tissue.

Facial Thread Lift Treatment,  Before & After Receiving Treatment

Are you considering the Thread Lift treatment? If you would like to learn more and discuss the treatment specifically for you and what you’d like to achieve, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly and helpful team.

Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.