Contour threads Surgery

Contour threads are used in cosmetic/plastic surgery to vertically lift facial tissues that have dropped ("ptosed") or become sunken with age. The "ptosis" or descent of facial tissues with aging is a universal phenomenon to which much cosmetic facial surgery is directed.
Strands of 2/0 Prolene monofilament thread, with little notches cut into their sides, are placed in the subcutaneous plane under the ptosed facial skin. These are anchored under secure points in fronto-occipitalis and temporalis tissues. Dropped or "ptosed" facial skin is then elevated onto the barbed threads, and stay elevated because of the barbs. Thus the patient gets a "facelift", without any scalpel work and without any removal of skin.
In the event that a patient is unhappy with the results, the threads can be readily removed and the patient's face thence returns to its position prior to treatment. Thus, Contour threads have negligible permanent "biological cost", as the effect is reversible. Effects last for a number of years, quoted as 2–5 years, after which time the positive effect is gradually lost and the patient's face returns to its state prior to treatment.

Contour Threads

Contour Threads are the only non-absorbable barbed suture product cleared by the US FDA for the elevation and fixation of midface, brow and neck areas. These specifically designed sutures are fashioned from clear polypropylene, a material that has been safely used in the body for many years in other medical products.

As the ageing process begins, the skin's connective tissue thins and collagen and elastic fibers begin to break down.

As a result, these changes in underlying support structures appear as sagging, deep creases, folds and wrinkles in the skin as early as your thirties. Now there is a simple new technique that makes it possible to rejuvenate and beautify your appearance. Patient selection is critical for a great result.

A lift procedure performed with Contour Threads is a safe, conservative and effective one that offers subtle, natural looking results. By gently, shifting sagging tissues in an upward direction, this technique allows the surgeon to produce a relaxed, fresh appearance while preserving and enhancing the natural contours of your face. This procedure does not replace a conventional face-lift; rather it offers patients an innovative, minimally invasive approach with immediate results.

What are Contour Threads

Contour Threads are a patented self anchoring thread technology that permits a minimally invasive surgical approach for elevation and fixation of skin. Contour Threads are the only US FDA product cleared for market with current indications for elevation and fixation of midface, brow and neck.

Contour Threads are made from polypropylene, a material that has been used inside the human body as a suture material for decades. Contour Threads are designed with patented dimensional barbs that attach to the sub dermal tissue, lifting, suspending and fixating contour of the brow, midface and neck areas.

Contour Threads Advantage

• US FDA cleared for sale/CE marked
• Unique cog design scientifically designed for optimal lifting
• Anchors or Fixates to stationary fascia or tissue points
• Clear Polypropylene - will not be visible in light or thin skinned patients. Can reduce risk of damage if used with complimentary procedures (laser or RF technology)
• Swaged/Attached Needles to Suture Material-allows a closer ratio with tissue and barbs than standard introducer
• Longer Thread length allows greater control and ease of use

Patient And Procedural Benefits
(When compared to traditional surgical approaches)

• Minimally invasive approach with minimal scarring
• Reduced procedural and recovery time
• Patient satisfaction is more immediate
• No General Anesthesia - local anesthesia and sedation as required

indications
In general, the best candidates for this procedure include both women and men in their
thirties through their sixties who want a more youthful appearance, but do not want a
conventional full facelift or browlift procedure.

Possible indications may include:

• Moderate drooping of the soft tissues of the brow and face
  
• Poorly defined upper and mid face contours
  

PROCEDURE:
The Contour™ Thread Lift is an in-office procedure done under a local anesthetic, taking
less than an hour. The lift is accomplished using a barbed self-anchoring and adjustable
suture that is strategically placed below the skin. These special sutures have a needle
system that inserts the threads in the treatment area. The skin is able to, as a result, slide
into a desired position while a patient can look in a mirror and direct the plastic surgeon
with regards to the extent of the lift. The barbs then act to lift the facial tissues and anchor
it in a re-suspended more youthful location.

Due to the Contour Threads being new in the market no long term studies have been done
as to how long the effects may last. Though it is believed they can last for a few years.
THE RECOVERY PERIOD:
Down time is minimal, you may return to normal activities the following day. Some patients
may experience some mild swelling and bruising or headache. This is easily controlled with
medications.We recommend patients avoid taking aspirin, other anti-inflammatory agents
and vitamin E supplements for one week prior to treatment. This will help minimize any
bruising.
THE NEW LOOK:
In just a couple days, patients can enjoy full recovery from a contour thread lift, and the
procedure can still be adjusted should the patient want certain spots tweaked. Like all
cosmetic procedures, a contour thread lift has risks, as well as benefits.

NOTE: The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be
determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk.
Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are
unusual.

Contour Threads Face Lift Surgical Time and Recovery: The advantages to this procedure is there are no visible scars and the recovery time is minimal. Contour Threads are performed under local anesthesia and the actual length of time will depend on the number of threads used and the extent of the area treated. A typical procedure takes 45 to 60 minutes to perform. In most cases, there is minimal discomfort, bruising, and swelling. Ice compresses are recommended for the first 48 hours. Patients can usually return to normal activities in a few days to one week.

Where Do I Begin?

Not all plastic and cosmetic surgeons are authorized to use and work with the threads. The manufacturer requires surgeons to first take a short training course before being allowed to use the threads in surgery. You can use our Surgeon Finder (at the top, right) to locate in your area a physician cleared to do the procedure.

How is a Contour Threadlift™ Performed?

The operation starts when the surgeon, using a thick, hollow needle, inserts a thread into the fat layer just under the patient’s skin, starting near the cheekbone, (if the task at hand is to lessen the nasolabial folds, those thick, facial creases that run from the corner of the nose to the corner of the mouth.) 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 the surgeon withdraws the needle, barbs on the sutures deposit themselves in the drooping parts of the face. The physician then gently tugs on the thread which pulls the loose flesh up, closer to where it once sat in the patient’s youth, and ties it down. Many surgeons say the procedure is like opening an umbrella under loose skin. 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. The procedure usually takes less than an hour to complete, depending on the number of threads used. Patients are able to go home soon afterwards.

People who are NOT good candidates, according to the manufacturer, are patients with thin, fragile aging skin, patients who want a dramatic transformation, people with very heavy, jowly faces and those who have thin faces with very little facial fat.  In most cases, four threads are the minimum needed to lift moderate sagging of one facial area.

What Are the Typical Costs Associated with a Contour Threadlift™?

Fees vary according to the part of the nation in which you live. For instance, cosmetic surgery in New York City costs more than in South Carolina. But the general range for a Contour Threadlift™ is usually $2000 to $5000 per facial areas. The areas that can be treated include the brows, midface, cheek, jowls and neck.

CosmeticSurgery.com provides general information about plastic and cosmetic surgery to help consumers make decisions about their own treatment options. However, the medical information provided is not the same as medical advice – the application of medical treatment to an individual’s specific circumstances. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend that you consult a qualified medical practitioner if you want the professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.