Threads are micro sutures introduced with a fine needle to lift, tighten and stimulate production to the brows, cheeks, lower face and neck. This technique can move the brow and/or cheeks back up to their original position and creates a lift structure to the neck. With a single suture running from side to side under the chin and jaw, the resulting scaffold effect suspends any loose tissues and gives the appearance of a neck lift.

At Academy Face and Body, we are constantly looking for less invasive ways of obtaining a cosmetic benefit. Although surgeries for brow lifts and cheek lifts have become less invasive, they are still significant procedures.

Thread Lifts do not involve the solid fixation of these tissues to a more elevated position and thus, it should not be expected for threads to deliver the same results as long lasting surgery.

Expected improvements last approximately 2 years. Further threads can be placed later to reproduce the improvement.

Thread Lifts are ideal for someone concerned with:

• Requiring mild to moderate elevation
• Requiring elevation of the outer brow rather than the inner brow
• Sagging to cheeks, jowls and brows

There may be some reduction in early jowls, but Thread Lifts are not a replacement for a face lift – in fact, thread cheek elevation is a good combination with an ‘S-Lift’. A thread neck lift is specifically designed to tighten the tissue around the neck region.

The technique is ideal for patients who do not require a full face lift or ‘S-Lift’, but rather need the lift effect to restore the neckline and revitalise the appearance of the neck.

Thread Lifts are not ideal for someone who:

• Has unrealistic expectations
• Does not want to repeat the procedure
• Has large amounts of skin or very heavy skin (may be better suited to a ‘S-Lift)
• Has thin, fragile skin

The procedure is performed under a combination of local anaesthetic and light sedation and takes approximately 30-60 minutes. Barbed threads are inserted through a tiny incisions and are gently pulled back to life and smoothe the skin. Surgical tape is applied afterwards and can be removed after 1 week.

Depending on the amount of bruising and puckering of the skin, which may vary from very mild to very obvious, it takes approximately 1-3 weeks for puckering to fade.There is little swelling to deal with initially as well, which is more noticeable in the cheeks/jowl region than the brow.

You may experience some swelling and bruising, which will gradually settle down. However, the more the tissue is lifted (especially in the cheeks) the more obvious the puckering may be. The skin under which the thread is passing is covered with skin coloured tape for the first week.

You may experience mild discomfort, which can be managed with over the counter analgesics or as prescribed by Dr Oates and his team of doctors.

Your pre and post-operative care is managed by our registered nurses and includes pre-operative assessment and post-operative wound management.

Thread Lift Before and After Gallery