When a few features of your face begin to soften and drift downward, this approach gently lifts the soft tissue back toward a more youthful position — so that when you look in the mirror, you see your own natural features, a little fresher.
A thread lift is a minimal, less invasive procedure. Your surgeon uses special threads passed beneath the skin to move the soft tissue of your face back toward a more youthful position, easing the signs of sagging that come with time. Because this is a gentle, supportive procedure, whether it suits you depends a great deal on how much soft tissue needs lifting and where. Here is how to tell whether this is right for you.
Everything begins with a consultation. The surgeon performing the procedure will look at the areas of your face that are drooping — the face, neck, brow, and cheekbones through to the nasolabial folds — and decide where the soft tissue needs lifting. This is why the procedure should be carried out by a surgeon who understands the anatomy of the face and how it changes at each stage of life, so the plan fits you.
The procedure is usually done under local anaesthetic, meaning only the treated area is numbed and you stay awake. If it is combined with other procedures — such as fat grafting, a face and neck lift, a forehead and temple lift, or wrinkle treatment with laser or a peel (a light resurfacing of the skin's surface) — general anaesthetic may be needed. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how many areas are treated.
Depending on how many areas need treating, your surgeon makes one or a few tiny incisions, only a few millimetres long, placed within the hair. Through these, the surgeon passes the threads beneath the skin to the area that needs lifting, then anchors the threads to hold the soft tissue in its new position. Because the incisions sit within the hair, there are no visible scars on your face.
Throughout, your surgeon works carefully to support the soft tissue by the right amount and to keep both sides balanced. Once the threads are placed, the treated area does not need a dressing. You will not need to stay in hospital and can go home the same day.
The procedure brings a more natural look to the areas that are lifted, and for many people a fresher feeling when they look at their own face. Results are usually seen after about two weeks, once the mild early swelling has settled. Hold the result in a realistic light: this is a gentle, supportive lift that softens the signs of ageing rather than erasing them.
The days after the procedure are usually gentle and free of pain. The aftercare is not complicated, and most people return to their normal routine quite quickly. The points below are rough guides — everyone heals at their own pace.
Most procedures done according to sound principles go smoothly. But every procedure carries risks worth knowing in advance — and knowing them helps you decide well. Your surgeon will go over them with you in detail.
This procedure may seem gentle, but the result depends a great deal on the hands that perform it. At the hospital, the surgeons assess your facial anatomy and how it has changed with age before deciding which areas to lift and how to place the threads — because this is what determines whether the soft tissue settles into the right position and the face keeps its natural look.
When it helps, the surgeons combine the thread lift with other procedures such as fat grafting, a face and neck lift, a forehead and temple lift, or wrinkle treatment with laser or a peel, depending on your situation. Your surgeon will tell you honestly whether a thread lift suits you, or whether another option would be a better fit — so the plan is built around you.
It is usually done under local anaesthetic, so you do not feel pain during the procedure. The days afterward are usually gentle and free of pain as well; your surgeon prescribes a pain reliever for the first three days or so to keep you comfortable.
The incisions are only a few millimetres long and are placed within the hair, so there are no visible scars on your face. The treated area looks natural, with no scar showing.
The procedure does not require a hospital stay, and many people can return to their normal activities as early as the next day. How much time you actually take off depends on how much swelling remains and the nature of your work.
The aim is to move the soft tissue gently back toward a more youthful position, so the treated area usually looks natural. The outcome depends on the features of your own face.
Results are usually seen after about two weeks, once the mild early swelling has settled.
It is usually recommended for people roughly between 30 and 50 years old. If your sagging is more advanced than a gentle, supportive procedure can improve, your surgeon will talk with you about options that suit you better.
The treated area does not need a dressing, and the aftercare is not complicated. You take the medicines your surgeon prescribes, including an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and a pain reliever, for about three days.
Some bruising can appear, along with mild local swelling. These signs usually disappear after a few days and are easy to cover with makeup.
Yes. It can be combined with fat grafting, a face and neck lift, a forehead and temple lift, or wrinkle treatment with laser or a peel. When it is combined this way, general anaesthetic is sometimes needed instead of local anaesthetic alone.
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.