Contour ThreadLift™

As the aging process begins, your facial tissue thins due to collagen and elastin fibers breaking down, resulting in sagging skin, deep creases, folds and wrinkles that usually begin to appear in your thirties. Contour Threads, the only FDA- approved nonabsorbent threads for use in the United States , are the latest cosmetic development used to lift sagging skin on the mid-face, forehead, eyebrows and neck. A Contour ThreadLift is a safe and effective procedure that offers subtle, natural-looking results and fits into one of the most sweeping trends in cosmetic surgery - short procedures with minimal recovery time.

During your consultation, Dr. Finzi will evaluate your goals, and specific anatomical considerations including skin quality, degree of sagging, underlying bone structure, and where you desire a lifting effect. The more Contour Threads used at one time, the greater the lift you can achieve.

About the Procedure:

The physician makes a tiny incision in the hairline area and the Contour Threads are inserted under the skin. The tiny barbs on each thread open in an umbrella-like fashion to form a support structure that gently lifts sagging tissues of the brow, face, and neck. Once in a position, your body generates new collagen that encapsulates each thread to help maintain the elevation or lifting effect. The exact placement of the threads will vary from patient to patient.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What areas can be treated with a Contour ThreadLift?

In properly selected patients, the Contour ThreadLift can be used to:

• Lift sagging eyebrows
• Adjust asymmetric brows
• Reposition sagging cheeks
• Lift drooping soft tissues of the mid and lower face
• Smooth out premature skin aging

Candidates for the Contour ThreadLift:

Contour ThreadLift is best for patients between the ages of 30 and 70 years old with moderate sagging facial skin, although Dr. Finzi has successfully performed the procedure in an 85 year old patient. If your goal is to achieve a fresher, more youthful appearance without much downtime, scarring, or risk, Contour Threads may be right for you. People who are NOT good candidates, are patients with thin-skinned faces with very little facial fat, fragile aging skin, people with very heavy, jowly faces, and patients who want a dramatic transformation that only a surgical face lift can achieve.

What are Contour Threads?

Contour Threads are the first non-absorbable barbed sutures cleared for marketing by the FDA for lifting the sagging contours of the brow, mid-face and neck areas. Unlike conventional sutures, which are smooth, Contour Threads have tiny hair-like barbs and are made of clear polypropylene, so they are not visible under fair or thin skin. Contour Threads are non-absorbable and will not dissolve over time. The polypropylene material has been used in brain, heart and abdominal surgery for many years.

How do they work?

The physician makes a tiny incision in the hairline area and the Contour Threads are inserted under the skin. The tiny barbs on each thread open in an umbrella-like fashion to form a support structure that gently lifts sagging tissues of the brow, face, and neck. Once in a position, your body generates new collagen that encapsulates each thread to help maintain the elevation or lifting effect. The exact placement of the threads and the number of threads used will vary from patient to patient.

How is a Contour ThreadLift Performed?

Using a thin needle, Dr. Finzi inserts a thread into the fat layer just under the patient's skin. One end of the thread is then tied to deeper, firmer internal structures in the face. The other end of the thread travels under the skin about four inches. When Dr. Finzi withdraws the needle, barbs on the sutures deposit themselves in the drooping parts of the face. He then gently manipulates the thread which pulls the loose flesh up, closer to where it once sat in the patient's youth, and ties it down. New collagen then forms around each thread to maintain the lifted effect. The technique can be used to lift sagging cheeks, jowls and to create a better balance for eyebrows that may not be symmetrical.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours to complete, depending on the number of threads used. In most cases, four threads is the minimum needed to address moderate sagging of one facial area. Patients are able to go home soon afterwards.

Are there any side effects?

The Contour ThreadLift is very safe and complications are rare. Minor complications may include swelling, and bruising. Patients may feel temporary numbness, tightness and/or pulling of the skin, and may be able to feel the threads. These side effects diminish daily until you are fully recovered. 

What is the recovery period like?

Recovery varies from patient to patient based on age and amount of threads used. In most cases, full recovery takes 3-4 weeks. Immediately following the procedure, the facial tissue will be swollen, feel tight, and numbness may occur. Depending on your skin's laxity, temporary bunching of the skin will appear around the treated areas. For best results, patients are advised to avoid facial rubbing and opening their mouth too widely for several weeks. Extreme facial movements should be kept to a minimum for 3 to 4 weeks. Patients will leave the procedure with flesh colored steri-strips that keep the skin taunt and must be worn until the post-operative appointment one week after the procedure. During this visit, the steri-strips will be removed, the face will be cleansed, and another set of flesh colored steri-strips will be applied for an additional week. If so inclined, patients can return to work within three days.

What are the typical results of a Contour ThreadLift?

The skin is lifted immediately after surgery. It takes several weeks for the body to reabsorb the excess skin and optimal results usually occur within 4 – 6 weeks after surgery.

How many treatments will I need? 

Usually only one procedure is needed to achieve the desired lifting effect.

How long will the results last?

The actual duration of the lift lasts for years depending on the age of the patient at the time of the procedure, the amount of sagging in his or her face, and the number of threads used.

Will I still be able to have a face lift, brow lift, or a neck lift at another time?

Yes. Developed by a board certified plastic surgeon, the unique design of Contour Threads makes it simple for your cosmetic surgeon to perform a traditional face lift, brow lift, or neck procedure when you are ready. Important to note, in lieu of a face lift, additional threads can be added as the aging process continues and more sagging occurs.

Can a ContourThreadLift be combined with Botox, dermal fillers and chemical peels or other cosmetic procedures?

This procedure is an ideal complement to other facial rejuvenation techniques. It is not uncommon to have a Contour ThreadLift combined with Botox to reduce facial muscle activity, dermal fillers to enhance volume, or peels and laser therapy to improve skin texture. Chin augmentation and liposuction of the neck are some of the other procedures that can be done in conjunction with a Contour ThreadLift.