Thread Lift

Thread lift is a minimally invasive facial lifting technique that uses dissolvable sutures (PDO, PLLA, or PCL threads) introduced through tiny skin entry points to mechanically lift sagging facial tissues and simultaneously stimulate collagen production in the surrounding tissue. At Art Ethic, the procedure is performed under local anaesthesia without general anaesthesia or large incisions, making it a practical intermediate option for patients who want visible lifting results but are not ready for surgical facelift or brow lift. Threads dissolve over 6–18 months while the collagen they stimulate persists beyond this.

Thread lifting occupies an important niche in the aesthetic treatment spectrum: more effective than injectable treatments for correcting visible tissue descent, but significantly less invasive than surgical facelift. The technique uses barbed or coned sutures — typically polydioxanone (PDO), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), or polycaprolactone (PCL) — which grip the subcutaneous tissue as they are passed through the skin. Once placed, the threads are retracted to lift the tissue mechanically, and the barbs or cones anchor the lifted position. At Art Ethic Beauty Clinic, thread lift is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon under local anaesthesia in approximately 45–60 minutes. Tiny entry points (1–2 mm) are made in the hairline or at the scalp margin, through which the cannula carrying the thread is passed in the subcutaneous plane to the intended anchor point. Once positioned, the thread is gently retracted to create the lift. Multiple threads are placed in a fan pattern across the target area for even, natural-looking elevation. Common treatment zones include: the lower face and jowls (cheek lifting toward the hairline), the midface (cheek elevation and nasolabial fold reduction), the brow (a less aggressive alternative to surgical brow lift for mild ptosis), and the neck (for early neck laxity with visible banding). The mechanical lift is immediately apparent; the effect is enhanced over the following two to three months as collagen deposition around the thread adds structural support. PDO threads typically dissolve at six months; PLLA at 12–15 months; PCL at 18–24 months. The collagen stimulated by the thread persists for several months beyond dissolution, extending the overall benefit. Most patients consider re-treatment at 12–18 months to maintain results. Thread lift is most effective in patients aged 35–55 with mild-to-moderate tissue laxity and good skin quality. For patients with significant excess skin or deep-plane descent, surgical options (facelift, brow lift) will produce more substantial and durable correction — a conversation the surgeon leads honestly at consultation.