Why might you be interested in a Thread Lift?

As we grow older, our skin gradually becomes less elastic and tends to sag. This is most visible on the face and is made worse by the pads of fat in the face decreasing in size. The traditional remedy for this sagging has been a surgical facelift performed by a cosmetic surgeon, but a facelift is a costly and highly invasive procedure that requires serious downtime.

A thread lift offers a quick and much less invasive alternative in which the practitioner inserts fine sutures — the ‘threads’ — under the skin of the face or neck to give the skin a physical lift. The threads not only lift the skin but also stimulate collagen production, triggering improvements in skin tone and texture.

What are the benefits of Silhouette Soft?

Silhouette Soft provides a fast and effective way to restore your facial contours without resorting to expensive or painful surgery. Using a minimally invasive technique that leaves no surgical scars, Silhouette Soft can tighten sagging skin, improve the look of your midface area, reduce nasolabial lines and ‘marionette lines’, and restore definition to your jawline and neck.

What are Silhouette Soft threads made of?

Silhouette Soft threads contain poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), two biocompatible synthetic polymers.

• PLLA, which is used in some dermal fillers as well as for surgical sutures, stimulates your body to produce more collagen.
• PLGA, often referred to as ‘poly acid’ or simply ‘poly’, has various medical uses including drug capsules for sustained release, sutures, and orthopaedic devices (such as surgical screws, pins, and plates) designed to dissolve over time rather than remain in the body permanently.

After a Silhouette Soft thread lift, the PLLA in the threads stimulates collagen production in the treated areas. So even though the PLLA gradually breaks down, and your body metabolises it, the collagen boost gives the treated areas greater volume.

How does a Silhouette Soft thread lift work?

Using a needle, the practitioner inserts the biodegradable threads into the fat layer under your skin, running the threads so that they will counteract the sagging you want to reduce. Once the threads are in place, the practitioner tightens them, physically lifting the skin to where you want it and restoring the shape of your face or neck. After the procedure, the threads gradually disintegrate, but the poly-L-lactic acid from the threads stimulates your skin to produce more collagen, which helps increase its volume and counteracts sagging.

How long do the results last?

The results of a Silhouette Soft thread lift can last up to 18–24 months.

Is a Silhouette Soft thread lift painful?

No. You are under local anaesthesia while the practitioner performs the thread lift, inserting the threads into a layer of fat, which does not contain nerve endings. That said, you may experience some discomfort if your treatment includes multiple threads.

Where can Silhouette Soft threads be used?

Silhouette Soft threads are typically used on the face and neck, but some practitioners use them on other areas of the body as well.

These are the key uses for Silhouette Soft thread lifts, starting at the top and working down:

• Tightening the skin around the temples
• Lifting drooping eyebrows to improve the look of the area around the upper eyelid
• Raising sagging cheeks to a more youthful position and reducing the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth
• Reducing ‘marionette lines’, the lines that run down from the corners of the mouth towards the chin
• Redefining and sharpening the jawline
• Tightening and lifting loose or sagging skin on the neck

Who is suitable for a Silhouette Soft thread lift?

Suitable candidates for a thread lift are either men or women who need skin lifted to counteract mild to moderate sagging in the brows, mid-face, neck, or jawline. Candidates are typically in their late 30s to early 60s.

A Silhouette Soft thread lift can also be used to reduce facial asymmetry or to remedy problems caused by previous procedures.

How long does a Silhouette Soft thread lift take?

Inserting Silhouette Soft threads normally takes less than an hour and requires minimal downtime. Many patients return to work the next day.

How quickly can you see results?

You can typically see results straight after the procedure because of the physical lifting effect that the threads produce. Subsequently, you see further improvements as the threads stimulate your skin to produce more collagen, increasing the skin’s volume.

How much does a Silhouette Soft thread lift cost?

The cost varies depending on which area or areas you’re having treated and the number of threads the practitioner will use for the treatment. Treatment of a single area starts at around £350, with a full-face thread lift — brows, midface, jawline, and neck — costing around £3,500.

Will I have scars from a Silhouette Soft thread lift?

No. A Silhouette Soft thread lift leaves no scars and doesn’t alter your face’s features.

Are there any side effects from a Silhouette Soft thread lift?

As with any procedure of this type, you may experience some side effects following a Silhouette Soft thread lift. Side effects may include temporary or persistent pain; swelling and oedema, the build-up of fluid; and bruising or haematoma, localised bleeding. Your skin may also feel uneven, and you may be able to feel the ends of the threads under your skin. Such side effects should be temporary and should pass within a few days after the procedure.

If you have side effects such as high fever, increasing pain, or persistent redness or swelling, contact your healthcare professional.

What is the aftercare advice after a Silhouette Soft thread lift?

After a Silhouette Soft thread lift, follow any specific advice your practitioner gives you about recovery and how to minimise side effects from the procedure.

Generally, treat your face and neck as gently as possible. Follow these six Do’s:

• Do apply ice packs to reduce swelling. Wrap the ice pack in a cloth rather than applying it directly to your skin.
• Do take analgesia (such as paracetamol) to reduce pain.
• Do sleep face-up rather than face-down, elevating your head on pillows, for three to five nights.
• Do reduce movement of your face and neck, avoiding extreme expressions that will stretch your face.
• Do wash and dry your face as gently as possible for at least five days. If you shave, do so gently.
• Do skip your make-up, moisturiser, and other skin products for at least the first 24 hours, and preferably longer.

Follow these five Don’ts:

• Don’t sunbathe for at least two weeks.
• Don’t exercise vigorously during the first two weeks.
• Don’t go to the sauna or Turkish bath for three weeks.
• Don’t have your face or neck massaged, and don’t have other aesthetic treatments on those areas, for four weeks.
• Don’t have dental surgery for four weeks.

Who are thread lifts not suitable for?

While thread lifts work well for many people, they are not suitable for individuals with conditions including the following:

• Very lax skin. Thread lifts work best for mild to moderate sagging.
• Thin skin. The threads and cones may be visible under the skin.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid thread lifts if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Acne or skin infections. Resolve the skin problems before having a thread lift.
• Allergies to biomaterials or fillers. Although materials such as PLLA and PLGA are considered safe, some people are allergic to them.

Consult a practitioner for advice about further contraindications.