On May 14, Dr Jasleen Kaur, Dermatologist and Cosmetologist, Dr Jasleen’s Skin and Laser Clinic, joined Aesthetic Medicine India live for a session on thread-lift for facial rejuvenation.
Here’s listing select key takeaways from the discussion:
• Facial ageing process begins with surface and subsurface structural changes in multiple facial tissue layers, including skin, fat, muscle and bone.
• Changes include thinner, drier skin (due to loss of hyaluronic acid); less elastic (due to loss of elastin); reduction in collagen; and redistribution, accumulation and atrophy of fat.
• Four ‘R’s of the facial rejuvenation process: Resurfacing, recontouring, redrapping and relaxing.
• Thread-lift is one among the various facial rejuvenation procedures.
• Fine thread contour therapy: It is a quick, minimally invasive treatment for people who are not ready for a surgical facelift.
• Non absorbable threads: Contour, Aptos and Woffles.
• Absorbable threads: Polydioxanone; silhouette soft threads (PLA) polylactic acid; and PCA (polycaprolactone).
• Barbed threads: Uni-directional barbed thread, bi-directional thread, and multi –directional cogged thread.
• Smooth thread: Monofilament plain and monfilament screw.
• Benefits of PDO thread therapy: An excellent and effective cosmetic technique to lift and tighten sagging skin tissue; re-defines facial contours; lifting effect can last for up to two to three years; the thread will form an integral support structure for the tissue of the face due to collagen synthesis; the lifting effect is at its peak six months later when collagen has formed around the threads; associated with low incidence of complications.
• PDO is fully absorbed by hydrolysis within four to six months.
• PDO stimulates collagen synthesis, which holds the skin structure created by the threads for 12 to 15 months
• Selecting the right patient: People with minimal signs of ageing who have sagging at jaw line and mid face; who require natural look lifting; usually women between 35-45 years; who accepts and understands the possible risks and complications.
• COG threads: Using a hollow guiding needle, cog threads are inserted into subcutaneous fat. The canula containing the thread is then positioned to provide the required correction and removed. The microscopic cogs on the threads then attach to the underside of the skin and gently lift the skin and secure it in the desired position. The excess thread is trimmed. Apply ice to thread treated area to minimise edema and bruising.
• Botox can be done with threads in same session in a different area but after thread insertion as after Botox, the patient cannot lie down.
• If Botox is to be done on same area than it should be done a week prior to threads. This will result in a relaxed tissue thus increasing thread efficiency.
• Ideally, threads should be done prior to fillers. There should be a minimum gap of 20 to 30 days between fillers and threads to reduce chances of inflammation affecting the filler.