As the aging process begins, your tissue thins because the collagen and elastin fibers break down. The resulting changes are seen as sagging, deep creases, folds and wrinkles that usually begin to appear in your thirties. In general, the best candidates for a Contour ThreadLift™ include both women and men in their thirties to their sixties who want a more dramatic and long lasting effect than fillers and botulinum toxin or other treatments can provide, but do not want a full face lift, brow lift or neck lift procedure.

A Contour ThreadLift™ with patented Contour Threads™ is a safe and effective procedure that offers subtle, natural-looking results. This technique allows the physician to produce a relaxed, refreshed appearance while preserving and enhancing the natural contours of your face. Contour ThreadLift™ does not replace a conventional face lift; rather it offers patients an innovative, minimally invasive approach to achieving face lift-like results.

What are Contour Threads™?

Contour Threads™ are the first non-absorbable barbed sutures cleared for marketing by the FDA for lifting the sagging contours of the brow, midface and neck areas. Unlike conventional sutures, which are smooth, Contour Threads™ have tiny hair-like barbs and are made of clear polypropylene, so they are not visible under fair or thin skin. Polypropylene is a material that has been safely used in the body for many years in medical devices.

How do they work?

The physician makes a tiny incision or puncture in the hairline area and the Contour Threads™ are inserted under the skin. The tiny barbs on each thread open in an umbrella-like fashion to form a support structure that gently lifts sagging tissues of the brow, face, and neck. Once in position, your body generates new collagen bundles that encapsulate each thread to help maintain the elevation or lifting effect. The exact placement of the threads will vary from patient to patient.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure is quick and usually performed under local anesthesia, and if desired, light intravenous sedation. The actual length of time will depend on the total number of threads used and the expertise of the physician. On average a typical procedure takes approximately 60 minutes. In most cases, four threads is the minimum,  needed to address moderate sagging of one facial area.

How long is the recovery?

Depending upon the extent of the procedure, patients can usually return to normal activities or to work within a few days to one week. In most cases, there is minimal discomfort, bruising and swelling. Concealing makeup may be worn soon after the procedure. The results are enhanced if the tissues are taped and supported for about a week, allowing the threads to integrate with the tissues.

NOTE : The Contour Threads have been withdrawn from sale, and will be replaced by newer generation threads from Promoitalia. The latest studies have shown that slowly absorbable threads will give great results, without  leaving permanent sutures in the body. The general discussion above remains appropriate.

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