What are threads
Thread lifting has undergone a renaissance in the past few years, due mostly to increased demand for non-invasive treatments for facial rejuvenation, improvement in the understanding of facial ageing, technological advances and improvement in techniques.
The history of thread lift dates back to the late 1990’s when Professor Marlen Sulamanidze from Moscow, first published articles about the use of barbed threads (APTOS threads) for the repositioning of sagging facial tissues. Parallel developments by Professor Serdev in Bulgaria allowed improved outcomes. Over the past decade and a half, thread lifting has been used extensively in Asia, particularly in South Korea, and doctors from this area have developed a huge body of knowledge and expertise in the use of these threads. There has been a paradigm shift in the understanding of what thread lifting can achieve, especially with monofilament threads such as Polydioxanone (PDO) threads. Rather than to try to replicate the effect of a surgical face lift, the emphasis now is on skin rejuvenation. PDO threads are very reliable at generating collagen in the skin (neocollagenesis) for improved skin quality and firmness.
Each PDO thread is very small, less than the thickness of a human hair. A meshwork of these threads are inserted just under the skin using specially designed needles. These threads are dissolvable. As the body dissolves the threads, it results in a mild inflammatory response which causes new collagen to form. Over the course of a few months, the treated skin becomes thicker and more resilient.
Who is a suitable candidate for thread lift
Anyone with ageing skin and collagen loss will benefit from thread lift treatment. Premature skin ageing from sun damage and post-menopausal collagen loss are prime examples.
At Aesthetic Harmony, we have a number of treatments that specifically generate new collagen as the primary treatment endpoint, as well as many other treatments that cause new collagen to form as a secondary endpoint. How do we choose which treatment? In a nutshell, we pick the best treatment for you. These treatments do not compete with each other, but instead, they complement each other. For example, laser treatments work well at the level of the superficial dermis, fractional radiofrequency microneedling works deeper into the dermis, and PDO threads work below again, with biostimulatory fillers able to target the deepest layers. In fact, these are best used in combination to achieve the best possible outcome.
What to expect
Topical local anaesthetic is first applied to the areas to be treated. Once adequate time has allowed the local anaesthetic to work, multiple needles containing PDO threads are inserted into the skin of the treated areas in a lattice pattern. The needles are then withdrawn leaving the threads within the skin.
There may be mild swelling and bruising over the next couple of days.
The threads will dissolve over the next 3-6 months. The process of our body dissolving the threads sets up an inflammatory response, and this drives new collagen formation. New collagen is formed gradually, and the skin quality improves.
We expect all our patients to experience a positive outcome with PDO threads. The clinical response to PDO threads, like all other collagen inducing treatments, will vary from one person to another, largely dependent on how well our skin is able to generate collagen. Patients who have lost more of their collagen generating ability are likely to require more treatment sessions to get the desired response.
As we continue to age and our skin continue to lose collagen, we will all need regular treatments to maintain the clinical results. Many patients find that once a year maintenance treatment is adequate.
How are we unique
The are two main reasons that set us apart: choice and experience.
Choice:
At Aesthetic Harmony, we have a full suite of energy and non-energy-based treatment modalities available to improve your skin. We have the ability choose the best combination of treatments from our extensive range and in the right sequence, to achieve the best outcome for your skin.
Experience:
We have been involved with thread lift treatments since it was invented over 15 years ago. Dr Leung was amongst one of the first doctors in Australia to be trained in this treatment modality. We have watched this treatment evolve and we understand what it can and cannot achieve.
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