The thread lift is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. Due to the minimally invasive procedure, which does not require cuts in the skin, the procedure is quick and takes about an hour.

Before the actual lifting, the doctor marks the course of the threads to be used on the patient's face. Subsequently, the threads are inserted transversely or perpendicular to the muscle axis. This is done via small punctures using a hollow needle through which the threads are placed under the skin. The fixation is supported by light movements and a gentle massage of the skin. When the thread is in place and the needle is removed, the thread lift is complete. The patient is recovers immediately. A removal of the threads at a later date is not necessary because they dissolve over time.

In the course of a thread lift several threads can be used within one procedure. Often this lifting is also combined with other methods of wrinkle treatment, such as with a Botox treatment or wrinkle injection or contour enhancement with hyaluronic acid.

Polydioxanone (PDO) threads consist of polylactic acid and stimulate the body's own collagen production. The threads dissolve within 10 to 15 months. However, the smooth and firm effect of the skin can be retained for up to 24 months after the dissolution of the sutures.

In the case of drawstring threads, which cause hardening of the connective tissue and induce collagen production through the activation of the fibroblasts, the tightening effect can also last for up to 3 years.

Both methods not only produce a visible lifting effect but also revitalize the skin structure. In addition, the stimulation of the blood circulation promotes the removal of excess fluid from the body. Through these effects, the thread lift can also be used to reduce cellulite and strengthen overstretched skin.

A thread lift can be smooth mainly wrinkles that have formed naturally between the 30th and the 50th year of life due to advancing age. After the age of 50, the skin often relaxes so much that a thread lift alone would likely not lead to a satisfactory result, but should be combined with other methods of wrinkle treatment or remedied by a classic facelift. Such a lift is therefore not suitable for patients who have excess skin around the face and neck. Here, the thread lift does not show sufficient effect, as it does not remove excess areas of the skin that make the face appear slack and tired. This can also interfere with the facial contour.

For light cellulite and stretch marks, the method can also be used, but here too, one shouldn’t hold on to unrealistic expectations.

In addition, care should be taken that the patient has no allergy to the material of the threads used (usually polypropylene). This should be excluded in case of doubt before lifting.

Another criterion that may preclude a patient for such a lift is the condition of the skin. If there are inflammatory skin or tissue disorders in the area of the skin to be treated, this treatment should be dispensed with or it should only be undertaken after the recovery of the affected areas of the skin.

Criteria for a thread lift at a glance

• No excess skin
• No allergy or intolerance to the thread material
• Healthy skin without inflammatory diseases
• No pregnancy or lactation

The smoothing of wrinkles by means of thread lifting is done quickly and promises a particularly natural-looking result. A great advantage of this treatment is that it is a minimally invasive procedure that does not cause scarring. Small punctures instead of cuts shorten the recovery time so that the patient has minimal recovery time Just as with a vaccine or a blood sample, the healing process involves small puncture wounds. This makes this form of lifting particularly gentle and represents a major advantage compared to invasive forms of wrinkle treatment.

Another advantage of this lifting is that, as a relatively small intervention, it can achieve great effects that look natural. The wide range of application of the procedure makes it attractive for many patients, because different wrinkles can be treated and smoothed. Not only does it correct facial wrinkles, it also raises eyebrows, gives more volume to the cheeks and restores facial contours. It gives the face an overall firmer and more youthful appearance.

Advantages of thread lifting at a glance

• No scars
• Quick healing
• Gentle on tissues
• Wide application area
• Immediate results
• Results look natural
• Formation of new connective tissue (lasting effect)
• Compatible with other treatments

By eliminating incisions, the thread lift is considered a very gentle procedure with very little risk of complications. In particular, the risk of infection is lower with this lift than with invasive surgery. An allergy or intolerance to the materials used must be ruled out prior to treatment in order to avoid complications.

After a thread lift, only slight swelling and bruising may occur. However, after a few days, they will diminish and fade quickly.

The costs of a thread lift are very difficult to determine without further information. What a thread lift can cost depends on many factors and varies from patient to patient. Above all, the extent of the therapy, the type of wrinkles to be treated and the number of threads used play a decisive role in pricing.