Even if you’re unhappy with the skin laxity that develops with age, you may not be ready for a surgical facelift. However, skin laxity can be one of the most challenging skin concerns to treat without surgery.
At Chetco Medical and Aesthetics, we understand that most patients want younger-looking skin without surgery. That’s why we offer a variety of treatments that can restore a more youthful appearance without an invasive medical procedure, such as thread lifts with NovaThreads.
A thread lift offers actual, skin-lifting results without the need for general anesthesia, downtime, or the other concerns that come with surgery.
What Is a Thread Lift?
A thread lift is a minimally invasive non-surgical procedure. During treatment, temporary sutures are strategically placed to lift the skin subtly. Unlike in a facelift, where a surgeon removes loose facial skin, a thread lift stitches up portions of loose skin to lift and tighten the face.
The overall effect of a thread lift is twofold: excess skin is pulled back and tucked away, giving patients a younger appearance, and the body’s healing response is stimulated, sending collagen to the treatment site.
Why Does Collagen Matter?
Collagen is a protein that can be found in the skin and throughout the body. It heals wounds, supports the structure and volume of the skin, and plays a part in replacing and restoring dead cells.
As you age, your body produces less and less collagen, leading to a loss in thickness, volume, and strength in the skin. Loss of collagen is an essential factor in skin laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Most anti-aging procedures work to stimulate collagen production in the body. When the body produces more collagen, skin becomes thicker, more hydrated, and more robust, offering an overall younger appearance.
What Are NovaThreads?
NovaThreads are a type of thread lift that uses polydioxanone sutures, also known as PDO threads, to lift, tighten, firm, and smooth skin. PDO threads have a long history of use in surgery and are designed explicitly for safe reabsorption by the body.
There are different varieties of NovaThreads from which the skilled physicians at Chetco Medical and Aesthetics will choose to provide the best results based on your needs. The three main types of NovaThreads are barbed, twist, and smooth.
Barbed
NovaThreads Barb is a PDO thread with tiny barbs. This thread is designed to grab and lift the skin. Barbed threads are the best option for treating skin folds and laxity. Patients seeking a lift to their cheeks, brows, and jowls often achieve that effect with Novathread Barb sutures around the hairline.
Twist
Twist sutures are also PDO threads, but these offer an effect that more closely resembles traditional dermal fillers. In addition, the twist’s corkscrew-like shape provides an ideal choice for treating nasolabial folds, glabellar lines, and depressed scars.
Smooth
NovaThreads Smooth PDO threads are less for lifting and more for producing collagen. Often applied in a net-like pattern, these sutures target areas that benefit from an overall collagen boost, such as acne scarring on the cheeks or fine lines and wrinkles in the neck.
How Do NovaThreads Compare to a Facelift?
Choosing between a minimally invasive procedure like NovaThreads and a surgical procedure like a facelift requires taking many factors into account.
For example, some patients have no desire for surgery, while others want the results of a particular surgical procedure. In addition, there are critical differences between NovaThreads and a facelift, including scarring, recovery time, and lasting results.
NovaThreads vs. Facelift: Scarring
It’s almost impossible to perform a surgical procedure without some scarring, especially with the level of skin manipulation required in a facelift. However, in the hands of a skilled surgeon, facelift scars are well hidden behind the ears or along the back of the hairline.
Those hidden scars may be a non-issue for some, but for others who prefer to keep any procedures private or prefer to wear their hair shorter, they may pose a problem.
NovaThreads offer a lifted look without the incisions required for a facelift. The tiny PDO threads are placed below the skin and eventually absorbed. The procedure leaves no permanent marks, and the rush of collagen to the site improves the look and feel of the skin in the treatment area.
NovaThreads vs. Facelift: Recovery Time
The recovery time from a facelift depends on a patient’s age, health, and procedure specifics. However, most facelift patients can expect a two- to three-week recovery period.
After a NovaThreads lift, there is no downtime. However, we do recommend patients avoid activities that cause them to sweat extensively or jostle their face for about two weeks after the procedure. Otherwise, you will be able to perform your regular tasks as usual.
NovaThreads vs. Facelift: Lasting Results
Facelift results are impressive but not permanent. Seeing the full effects of a facelift surgery takes three to twelve weeks, with results improving over time. However, as you continue to age, the skin droops. In general, facelift results last about ten years.
NovaThreads lifts offer immediate results from the sutures and then ongoing, progressive facial rejuvenation as the body’s collagen production restores skin’s youthfulness. Most NovaThreads lifts last a year or longer, and patients can have their results restored with a touch-up procedure.
Lift Without Surgery at Chetco Medical and Aesthetics
If you’re looking to lift and tighten your skin without surgery, NovaThreads may be the ideal option to restore your youthful-looking skin. Schedule an appointment with the skilled professional team at Chetco Medical and Aesthetics in Gold Beach, OR, today to learn more about this procedure and how it can benefit you.