<\/p>\n
Thread lifts have been around for years, but as interest shifts toward treatments that promise subtle results with less downtime, they\u2019re getting a second look. The procedure uses dissolvable threads placed beneath the skin, and depending on the type, they can lift or reposition tissue, add support or encourage collagen production.<\/p>\n
Ahead, the difference between barbed, smooth and twisted threads, how they fit into the larger shift toward collagen-stimulating treatments, why some doctors remain cautious and how to know if a thread lift\u2014versus a facelift\u2014is the right call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Beverly Hills, CA facial plastic surgeon Kimberly J. Lee, MD sees the appeal as part of the move toward more natural-looking rejuvenation. \u201cAs we turn even more towards looking natural, threadlifting is a minimally invasive procedure to lift sagging skin by using dissolvable threads. It\u2019s gaining more popularity because of the ability to provide natural and subtle results, minimal downtime and ease of having it done under local anesthesia.\u201d<\/p>\n
But threads remain a divisive treatment. Some doctors use them regularly, while others are more cautious about the results, risks and whether certain patients need them at all.<\/p>\n
One important distinction is the type of thread being used. Barbed threads are designed to grip tissue for lifting. Smooth and twisted threads work differently. They\u2019re used more for subtle tightening than for a mechanical lift , so their results shouldn\u2019t be grouped together under one promise of a \u201cthread lift.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York dermatologist Dr. Amy Spizuoco regularly performs thread treatments but avoids barbed threads. \u201cI only do the smooth and the twisted,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Her preference developed after training with barbed threads early in her practice. \u201cI learned on the barbed threads, but I just didn\u2019t see the results.\u201d She also found barbed threads uncomfortable for some patients.<\/p>\n
Instead, she uses smooth and twisted threads for more subtle improvement. \u201cI like the smooth ones. I\u2019ll do them under the jawline, and it gives a nice little lift and tuck. I also use the smooth ones to improve the lines.\u201d For Dr. Spizuoco, matching the thread type to the patient\u2019s goal matters more than defaulting to whichever technique promises the biggest lift.<\/p>\n
For Dr. Spizuoco, threads aren\u2019t necessarily about creating a dramatic mechanical lift. She also sees them as part of the larger move toward biostimulatory treatments designed to encourage collagen production over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all biostimulatory. Filler was the thing for a while, along with Botox, but now we\u2019re evolving. You can correct something instantly, but now it\u2019s more about the longevity of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She points to Sculptra as another example of that same collagen-stimulating philosophy. The two treatments work differently (one is a physical filament, the other an injectable), but both aim to stimulate the skin\u2019s own collagen production rather than deliver an instant, mechanical change.<\/p>\n
The less-invasive nature of a thread lift doesn\u2019t mean it should be treated casually. New York dermatologist Brian Hibler, MD, has seen patients seeking help after undergoing threads and multiple other aesthetic treatments abroad.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had threads under their eyes, and they got all this stuff done that I don\u2019t think they needed,\u201d he says. \u201cThey probably need imaging and to see a plastic surgeon.\u201d The patients had lumps, bumps or swelling after multiple procedures, making it unclear which treatment caused the reaction.<\/p>\n
His larger point applies to aesthetic procedures more broadly: patients need to understand the risks and have a clear reason for choosing a treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are medical procedures. There are risks, so it\u2019s really important not to do something to your face that you might regret and not to do something just because it\u2019s trendy, went viral and you want to be a part of it,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
The answer depends on what you expect them to accomplish and which type of thread is being recommended. Dr. Lee sees threads as part of a broader shift toward natural-looking rejuvenation, while Dr. Spizuoco has narrowed her own practice to smooth and twisted threads after finding barbed threads less effective.<\/p>\n
For patients seeking more substantial lifting, a facelift is a different category of treatment. A facelift, by contrast, repositions deeper facial tissues and can remove excess skin. Threads and facelifts aren’t interchangeable\u2014one isn’t simply a lower-downtime substitute for the other.<\/p>\n
The biggest takeaway is that \u201cthread lift\u201d isn\u2019t one universal treatment. Ask what kind of thread is being recommended, what it can realistically accomplish and what risks come with it. Those answers should help determine whether the treatment makes sense for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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