Everything you need to know about thread lifts

A traditional face lift is an invasive surgery that costs thousands, and can take a good few weeks to recover from. 

But what if we told you there were a way to get similar results for a fraction of the cost and minimal down time?

Rumoured to count celebrities like Kim Kardashian, J. Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow as fans, the 'thread lift' is one of the most effective forms of non-surgical face lifts you can get. 

We spoke to Dr. Josh Wall, medical director of Contour Clinics to tell us everything we need to know about the thread lift.  

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What is a thread lift?

The name of the procedure makes it sound almost medieval, but the technology behind it is advanced.

Dr Josh describes a threadlift as: "A form of non-surgical face lift that uses suture-like material to raise sagging facial features. This procedure causes an intensive collagen stimulating process around the threads, which causes a lifting and tightening effect to the area treated. The suture material itself will dissolve over the next 3-6 months." 

Is the procedure painful?

A huge downside of the traditional face lift is the high level of pain associated with it. As for the thread lift, Dr Josh says, "most people tolerate the procedure well, with mild discomfort, rather than pain." 

How long do the results of a thread lift last?

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately thread lift results aren't permanent. Dr Josh says you can expect results to last "12-18 months, depending on the threads used." 

Who is the ideal candidate for a thread lift?

Dr. Josh says you could look into a thread lift if you have "mild sagging of facial features including: mild-moderate nasolabial folds, mild jowling, and mild brow heaviness." 

How long does the procedure take?

Because the procedure is non-invasive, it is quite quick. Dr Josh says that "in my hands, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes depending on the number of threads."

Is there any downtime?

The downtime for this procedure is very minimal, and Dr Josh says recovery time will vary. "Some people leave the clinic with no evidence of any procedure being done. Others, have mild to moderate facial swelling that resolves in 1-2 days." 

How much does a thread lift cost?

"Depending on the number of threads and the area treated, prices vary from $1400 for a brow lift, and $4200 for a full non-surgical face-lift." 

Image credit: Dr. Josh Wall contourclinics.com.au

Would you ever try a thread lift?