ThreadLift(TM)
In July of
2004 Dr. Capuano attended a Toronto teaching seminar,
hosted by Dr. Steve Mulholland, a renowned plastic surgeon,
with practices in Toronto and Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Mulholland, through studies with European, Indonesian,
Asian and South American plastic surgeons has developed
a procedure he calls ThreadLift(tm). ThreadLift tm employs
technology that has been around since the 1960s, perhaps
longer in other countries. Dr Mulholland demonstrated
the technique (April 15, 2005), live on TV (Good Morning
America). The procedure showed immediate, dramatic improvement.
The Oprah Winfrey show has also featured the procedure
and again the improvement was noted to be dramatic and
immediate, without major incisions, etc.
The technique involves the use of threads, barbed threads,
or sutures to lift up and contour various parts of the
sagging face and neck. While some say that there are 'no'
incisions, scars, etc. the technique can involve the use
of usually very small incisions, usually less than an
inch to accomplish the lifting.
The areas that can be lifted include the brow, cheek,
and the area near the nose and under the lids, along with
the jowls and the neck.
The technique
can be done under Novocaine type anesthesia, along with
medications taken by mouth. For those who are very apprehensive, intravenous sedation may be chosen.
Depending on
the region(s) treated, the procedure takes usually between
one to three hours. This procedure is not suitable for
everyone, and may be used in conjunction with other, more
involved surgeries.
Of course,
there can be problems. Some possible problems or complications
that can be associated with this procedure are depressions,
dimpling, wrinkling and/or puckering. Risks may also include
an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, collections of
blood or fluid, infection at the tip of the suture or
around the suture. The possibility of infection is small.
This may occur particularly in the area of the thread
"knot" under in the scalp or at the tip of the suture.
While this has not yet occurred in our experience,
it could require removal and/or replacement of the thread.
The possibility of nerve injury of significance is low.
Some areas may be slow to heal. No allergies to the suture
material used have been reported to date.
Especially
in thin skinned individuals, on close inspection (you
are looking for problems), a line might be visible or
the thread may be felt, especially if you go 'looking'
for it ! If a thread end pokes into the skin or through
the skin, the thread may have to be replaced, Contact
us earlier than later if you think this might be happening.
Call us if you have concerns.
Unequalness
of the face is always a concern. This happens in this
surgery as well as in face lift surgery. It is easier
to attempt to correct unequalness with threads as opposed
to going back and redoing a face lift. But certainly,
there are very few faces that are equal on both sides
for multiple reasons., including skin, tissue beneath
the skin, muscle thickness, and bony structure. To think
that symmetry will be present at the end of this procedure
or even an open, extensive face lift procedure is not
practical. There are options available for unequalness
and these should be discussed with Dr. Capuano beforehand
if they are a concern. Remember - doing nothing is an
option..
Regarding the
suture material: the suture material itself has been used
for over fifty years. Tens of thousands, if not millions
of this suture material is used each year in the US and
worldwide. Placement of the barbs in the thread is considered
to be the advancement, (what is 'new'). However, if the
literature is researched, barbed sutures are noted to have
been around for a long time.
The FDA has
approved a suture for such lifts in the USA (circa 4-2005).
Other barbed sutures may be used at the discretion of
the surgeon. Sutures from other countries such as Argentina,
Russia, Korea, Indonesia, Canada, etc. have been used
for years in their 'native' countries. Only recently has
the technique been brought to the US for lifting of the
face. Similar sutures were used in the USA during circa
the 1970s for tendon repair by Dr Bunke.
This procedure,
the ThreadLift(tm) - Barbilift(tm) - Featherlift(tm) whatever
you want to call it, falls into the category of procedures
that I call 'weekend surgery'. Of course this may not
be a 'weekend lift' for everyone, but our experience to
date says that with this procedure and a little swelling
and maybe some makeup to cover bruising should it occur,
you can be operated on a Thursday and expect to be back
to work on Monday. We usually do not recommend that you
'play it so close', which means it might be prudent to
have more time available to recuperate. But many individuals
who own their own business, or office, or have home employment,
usually can sequester themselves while at work and limit
their contact with others during recuperation period. The
majority of patients have puckering
or dimpling to some extent, and
this may be present for 2-3 weeks.
We have never seen this to
be permanent, but if you are in
a business involving lots of "face
time" such as sales, etc.,
you may wish to take more than a
few days off.
The cost involved
with Threadlift(tm) is approximately $1,600-$6,000. The
threads themselves are quite expensive. Full face, brow
and neck treatment may be $4,000 - $6,000.
How long does it last? According to those with the longest
experience, about three to five years, although results
will vary from person to person depending on factors such
as heaviness of the skin, facial expressiveness, etc.
The goals
of most modern cosmetic surgeons are to decrease pain,
downtime, and risks. The Thread Lift (tm) fits these objectives
or goals, in that, so far, downtime is less, and on average
the risks and the amount of discomfort after the procedure
are less.
Check the 'update' as of 10-2005 page
Consultations
are available. Please check our consult
page to qualify for a complimentary consult.
An excellent
page for more information is yestheyrefake.net/feather_lift
All information written and pictorial on this page and
on this site unless otherwise noted
Copyright and Copy 1982 through present by Donald J Capuano
MD
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