The best candidates for a thread facelift are in their 30s to 60s and have relatively good skin tone. Most are beginning to experience sagging in their face or neck but do not have excessively loose skin or drooping facial areas that might require more rigorous facelift surgery. If signs of aging are relatively minimal, a thread lift may be a good way to make cosmetic enhancements while avoiding facelift scarring and other potential side effects, which sometimes occur after more intensive surgical procedures.

Side effects include mild procedural discomfort, edema, erythema, bruising, and rarely, allergic reaction to thread material and they may need to be replaced. Similar to fillers that provide a “liquid face-lift,” the down time is minimal. Common side effects include bruising, and patients should refrain from heavy exercise and opening their mouth wide with chewing for 5-7 days (such as eating a large apple). Soreness, particularly in or near the hairline or jaw line, can occur and can last up to 2 weeks. Dimpling in the skin can occur and usually resolves on its own; however, if threads are placed incorrectly, dimpling can cause some disfigurement. 

Results can vary based on the tissue laxity, and the type, amount, and location of the threads used. While results have been reported to last 18 months to 2 years, the procedure is not a replacement for fillers. Facial aging is caused by a combination of skeletal, soft tissue, and skin changes that lead to soft tissue laxity and volume loss. Fillers are essential in restoring lost volume in the aging face and are particularly helpful in combination with tissue tightening lasers, face-lifts and the thread-lift procedures. Fillers used in combination with thread-lifts also increase the longevity of the thread-lift because of additional collagen stimulation.