Collagen-stimulating Face and Neck Thread Lifts
A FACE LIFT WITH NO CUTTING AND MINIMAL DOWNTIME
Bioscor is one of the few clinics in Australia to range of collagen-stimulating threads such as Silhouette Soft® and MINT Lift® (Minimally Invasive Nonsurgical Threads).
Moreover, Dr. Amanda Ong is the national Head Trainer for MINT Lift® threads and an advanced trainer for Silhouette Soft® threads, regularly holding training sessions for her fellow peers and cosmetic injectors in the industry.
As collagen-stimulating threads are designed to provide lift when strategically placed within the skin, these non-surgical threads allow the correction of age-related changes in the skin such as volume loss and skin sag in the areas of the face and neck.
Dr. Amanda Ong conducting a thread lift training session (July 2019)
Understanding how thread lifts can help you
As we age, we naturally produce less and less collagen. Our skin begins to lose volume and thickness, causing wrinkles and creases to appear. As the skin’s support structure weakens, our skin begin to sag due to gravity.
Collagen-stimulating thread lifts work by anchoring into the skin and creating a gentle pull to provide a “lift”. The strategic placements of threads will correct any skin laxity, contour the face and neck, as well as restore collagen by stimulating its production. This prolonged collagen stimulation helps strengthen the skin’s structure and improve its firmness.
Non-surgical face lifts are recommended for both men and women over 30 years of age looking to undergo a non-invasive natural alternative to a surgical face lift.
These before and after images are of a real patient of Dr. Amanda Ong’s with expressed permission obtained. Notice the natural, subtle lift achieved one month after her thread lifts treatment.
Which areas can collagen-stimulating threads treat?
These non-invasive threads can be used to treat various parts of the face and neck including:
- Midface
- Jaw line
- Jowls
- Neck
What Makes Thread Lift treatments So Effective?
Both Silhouette Soft® sutures and MINT Lift® threads are sterile, surgical strands of 100% bio-compatible, absorbable materials with the ability to “anchor” to the skin tissue where they are placed.
The two aims of thread lifts are to:
- Achieve a lifting action of the tissues where they are anchored,
- Create a regenerative effect by stimulating collagen in a gradual manner
This means thread lifts have both instant and long-term benefits. The immediate improvement in skin laxity can be seen as soon as the threads are placed within the tissue. Over a 12 – 18 month period, these threads will stimulate the tissue to gradually and naturally create your own collagen.
There are reasons why Silhouette Soft® and MINT Lift® threads are the only two non-surgical threads approved by the FDA to be used in non-surgical face lifts. Threads traditionally used in non-surgical face lifts are often inferior in comparison; for example ‘feathered’ threads have cuts in the threads themselves thus undermining the strength of the threads.
What is the difference between Silhouette Soft® and Mint Lift® threads? How will I know which threads is best for me?
Dr. Amanda Ong has been using Silhouette Soft® since 2013 and is the National Head Trainer for MINT Lift® in Australia. With her invaluable knowledge and experience, Dr. Amanda will always ensure that the most appropriate threads will be chosen to help her patients achieve their desired results.
There are various differences between Silhouette Soft® and MINT Lift®: they differ in the material that they are made of and the “anchors” in which they utilize to provide the lifting effect. Their unique features set them apart from all the available threads as well as from each other.
Silhouette Soft® is made of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) which is generally considered to last up to 12 months before being fully re-absorbed. Silhouette Soft® uses bi-directional movable cones to attach onto the tissue and provide a more gentle and subtle lift.
MINT Lift® is made of polydioxanone (PDO) which lasts 6 – 9 months in the tissue. Its unique patented 360 degree helical barbs can fix the facial tissue in various directions. This molded barb structure also means MINT Lift® has four times more the tensile strength and anchorage of traditional threads.
It is important to note that these products and their abilities to create a lift can only be effective in the hands of a skilled practitioner.
How does Thread Lifts compare to Surgical Facelifts?
As with any other non-surgical option, the results of a thread lift cannot be directly compared to a surgical facelift performed by a plastic surgeon. Since threads can only anchor the tissues where they are placed, the amount of lift achieved is usually by a few millimeters. Therefore, it is ideal for those who are experiencing mild to moderate skin laxity, and prefer a more natural result compared to facelift surgery.
Non-surgical face lifts using threads can be performed in less than a couple of hours and without the need for heavy sedation or overnight hospitalization, so can be much more affordable than a surgical face lift.
Another advantage of thread lifts is that it is considered a low-risk procedure due to the fact that there is virtually no risk of scarring, excessive bruising, swelling, bleeding or other complications. This also means that there is minimal recovery time.
This is why thread lifts is a great alternative for those who are not ready to have a surgical face lift procedure.
If you are interested to learn more about the procedure and to see if you are a suitable candidate, please contact the office for a consultation with our Dr. Amanda Ong on (03) 9544 7429.
Before and Afters Silhouette Soft Thread Lifts
Please note that individual results do vary based on individual factors and circumstances.
Before and Afters for MINT Lift Threads
What are the differences between PDO mono threads and “Lifting threads”?
There is a lot of confusion when it comes to threads as there are many different types, materials and classifications.
‘PDO’ actually refers to the material that they are made of: polydioxanone, an absorbent polymer that’s often used in dissolvable sutures. Both lifting threads (with anchors or barbs) and as smooth threads (no anchors or barbs) can be made of PDO.
For clarification, we will refer to threads without any anchors or barbs to as “monos”. Most “monos” available are made of PDO which is why you will often come across the terms “PDO monos” or “PDO mono threads”.
