Abstract
Thread lift treatment has been advanced significantly over the past decades and gained popularity due to its minimally invasive and non-surgically achievable rejuvenating effects. This treatment uses a specifically designed thread(s) to lift/pull up targeted loosed skin on areas of face such as midface, eyebrow, mandible, and neck. The visible effects of the thread lift are more obvious when used to minimize and improve the nasolabial folds that extend to the side of the nose and tend to become more noticeable with age. In this review, we aimed to demonstrate rejuvenating mechanisms and effects of thread lift and explain various materials and shapes of threads as well as thread inserting tools. In addition, we provided advantages and disadvantages of each approach to establish a potential standard procedure of the thread lift that can maximize its rejuvenating therapeutic efficacy.
Level of evidence: Not gradable
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Goldstein SA, Goldstein SM (2006) Anatomic and aesthetic considerations in midfacial rejuvenation. Facial Plast Surg 22(2):105–111
Ko AC, Korn BS, Kikkawa DO (2017) The aging face. Surv Ophthalmol 62(2):190–202
Özkur E, Kıvanç Altunay İ, Aydın C (2020) Psychopathology among individuals seeking minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. J Cosmet Dermatol 19(4):939–945
Garvey PB, Ricciardelli EJ, Gampper T (2009) Outcomes in threadlift for facial rejuvenation. Ann Plast Surg 62(5):482–485
Kalra R (2008) Use of barbed threads in facial rejuvenation. Indian J Plast Surg 41:s93–s100
Halepas S et al (2020) Thread-lift sutures: indications and safety. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 78(10):e61
Yongtrakul P, Sirithanabadeekul P, Siriphan P (2016) Thread lift: classification, technique, and how to approach to the patient. World Acad Sci Eng Technol 10:558–566
Keller GS et al (2002) Elevation of the malar fat pad with a percutaneous technique. Arch Facial Plast Surg 4(1):20–25
Najafian A, Fattahi T (2021) New trends in midface lift, integrated procedures in facial cosmetic surgery. Springer, New York, pp 567–573
Villa MT et al (2008) Barbed sutures: a review of the literature. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(3):102e–108e
Badin AZE, Forte MRC, Silva OL (2005) Scarless mid-and lower face lift. Aesthet Surg J 25(4):340–347
Bertossi D et al (2019) Effectiveness, longevity, and complications of facelift by barbed suture insertion. Aesthet Surg J 39(3):241–247
Yoon JH et al (2019) Tissue changes over time after polydioxanone thread insertion: an animal study with pigs. J Cosmet Dermatol 18(3):885–891
Kim B, Oh S, Jung W (2019) Understanding PDO in the art and science of thread lifting. Springer, New York, pp 69–70
Wilkinson HN, Hardman MJ (2020) Wound healing: cellular mechanisms and pathological outcomes. Open Biol 10(9):200–223
Yoon J, Kim S, Kim D (2012) Skin rejuvenation to make use of absorbable PDO suture. Regenerative medicine, MD world medical book, Seoul, pp 25–26
Suh DH et al (2015) Outcomes of polydioxanone knotless thread lifting for facial rejuvenation. Dermatol Surg 41(6):720–725
Kwon HH et al (2019) Clinical evaluations of a novel thread lifting regimen using barbed polyglyconate suture for facial rejuvenation: analysis using a 3-dimensional imaging system. Dermatol Surg 45(3):431–437
Rezaee Khiabanloo S et al (2019) Innovative techniques for thread lifting of face and neck. J Cosmet Dermatol 18(6):1846–1855
Rezaee Khiabanloo S et al (2019) Outcomes in thread lift for face and neck: a study performed with silhouette soft and promo happy lift double needle, innovative and classic techniques. J Cosmet Dermatol 18(1):84–93
Lycka B et al (2004) The emerging technique of the antiptosis subdermal suspension thread. Dermatol Surg 30(1):41–44
Sulamanidze M et al (2011) Avoiding complications with Aptos sutures. Aesthet Surg J 31(8):863–873
Rezaee Khiabanloo S, Nabie R, Aalipour E (2020) Outcomes in thread lift for face, neck, and nose; a prospective chart review study with APTOS. J Cosmet Dermatol 19(11):2867–2876
Kim B, Oh S, Jung W (2019) The art and science of thread lifting-based on pinch anatomy. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore
Tong LX, Rieder EA (2019) Thread-lifts: a double-edged suture? A comprehensive review of the literature. Dermatol Surg 45(7):931–940
Cobo R (2020) Use of polydioxanone threads as an alternative in nonsurgical procedures in facial rejuvenation. Facial Plast Surg 36(4):447–452
Goldberg D et al (2013) Single-arm study for the characterization of human tissue response to injectable poly-L-lactic acid. Dermatol Surg 39(6):915–922
Jelonek K et al (2013) Novel poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) matrices obtained with the use of Zr [Acac] 4 as nontoxic initiator for long-term release of immunosuppressive drugs. Biomed Res Int
Park JH et al (2017) Preparation of biodegradable and elastic poly (ε-caprolactone-co-lactide) copolymers and evaluation as a localized and sustained drug delivery carrier. Int J Mol Sci 18(3):671
Wong V (2021) The science of absorbable poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) threads for soft tissue repositioning of the face: an evidence-based evaluation of their physical properties and clinical application. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 14:45
Shimizu Y, Terase K (2013) Thread lift with absorbable monofilament threads. Jpn Soc Aesthet Plast Surg 35(2):1–12
Wu WT (2004) Barbed sutures in facial rejuvenation. Aesthet Surg J 24(6):582–587
Yeo SH, Lee YB, Han DG (2017) Early complications from absorbable anchoring suture following thread-lift for facial rejuvenation. Arch Facial Plast Surg 23(1):11–16
Tsukahara K (2007) Comparison of age-related changes in facial wrinkles and sagging in the skin of Japanese, Chinese and Thai women. J Dermatol Sci 47(1):19–28
Ezure T, Amano S (2012) Involvement of upper cheek sagging in nasolabial fold formation. Skin Res Technol 18(3):259–264
Latrenta GS (2004) Atlas of aesthetic face and neck surgery. Saunders/Elsevier, London
Pessa JE, Brown F (1992) Independent effect of various facial mimetic muscles on the nasolabial fold. Aesthet Plast Surg 16(2):167–171
Snider CC (2017) New insights into the anatomy of the midface musculature and its implications on the nasolabial fold. Aesthet Plast Surg 41(5):1083–1090
Myung Y, Jung C (2020) Mini-midface lift using polydioxanone cog threads. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 8(6):e2920
Lorenc ZP, Goldberg D, Nestor M (2018) Straight-line vector planning for optimal results with Silhouette InstaLift in minimally invasive tissue repositioning for facial rejuvenation. J Drugs Dermatol 17(7):786–793
The Aesthetic Society’s Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank (2020) Statistics 2019. Aesthet Surg J 40(Supplement 1):1–26
Lackey DE et al (2014) Contributions of adipose tissue architectural and tensile properties toward defining healthy and unhealthy obesity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 306(3):E233–E246
Martin RB et al (2015) Mechanical properties of ligament and tendon in skeletal tissue mechanics. Springer, New York, pp 175–225
Park YJ et al (2021) Maximizing thread usage for facial rejuvenation: a preliminary patient study. Aesthet Plast Surg 45(2):528–535
Funding
The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Ethical approval
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jun, H., Yi, Y., Lee, J. et al. Usages of thread lifts on nasolabial folds for facial rejuvenating effects. Eur J Plast Surg 45, 873–880 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-022-01961-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-022-01961-2