Thread Lift | Dr. Sofonio

Facial surgery refers to various procedures used to help improve your face’s appearance. Facial surgery is sometimes used for reconstructive purposes, while other patients seek it for cosmetic or medical reasons. Whatever the reason, we would be happy to provide a consultation to determine which techniques would help you achieve your desired results.

What is a thread lift?

While skin resurfacing treatments and injectable compounds can help restore some degree of firmness, removing loose skin with a facelift has been one of the only solutions for loose skin. Because only some people are willing or able to have surgery, a new type of procedure bridges the gap between nonsurgical methods and facelift surgery: the thread lift.

Temporary sutures, or threads, are implanted into the face to produce a subtle but visible "lift" in the skin. Instead of surgically removing loose facial skin, the inserted threads pull the skin back slightly. In addition to lifting and tightening the face, threads combat aging by triggering the body's healing response to direct large amounts of collagen to treated areas. The result is firmer, tighter skin and a more youthful appearance that continues to improve over time.

We provide the Silhouette InstaLift, the most advanced, effective non-surgical lift available. This unique treatment provides significant benefits.

What is the Silhouette InstaLift?

InstaLift uses Micro-Suspension Technology™ to immediately lift the mid-facial skin, targeting sagging cheeks and deep nasolabial folds. This unique lift technology is the first and only thread lift that uses advanced Micro-Suspension Technology™. These sutures are formed as absorbable, bi-directional micro-cones, which are especially effective in gathering the surrounding tissue, and thus achieving a more pronounced lifting effect, providing noticeable sculpting of the cheeks and jowls.

Why choose a thread lift instead of a traditional facelift?

The most significant benefit of a thread lift over a facelift is the significantly reduced recovery time associated with thread lifts. Most facelift patients require around-the-clock assistance from a caretaker for at least three days after surgery and generally need to take up to two weeks off work to heal.

Recovery from a thread lift is comparatively easy. Thread lifts can be performed under local anesthesia, meaning that thread lift patients can drive home and look after themselves immediately after their procedure. Most can return to work and their everyday routines immediately.

You should choose a thread lift instead of a traditional facelift if you have:

A busy schedule
A demanding career
Children at home
Any other reason to avoid recovery time

Because thread lifts are much easier to perform than facelift surgery, they are much more affordable.

Jon Poling, PA has been selected out of a small group of providers to be a national trainer for the Silhouette InstaLift procedure. He has performed over 300 procedures and is one of the top performers in the United States.

How does InstaLift work?

InstaLift uses fully resorbable sutures that have bi-directional cones. These work together to create rejuvenating effects. When the InstaLift suture is inserted under the skin, it lifts and repositions the underlying tissues. The micro-cones hold the subdermal tissue, while the bi-directional cones keep the sutures and facial skin lifted and elevated.

The InstaLift suture and cones are made from glycolide L-lactide (PLGA). Over time, the threads stimulate fibroblasts, resulting in gradual collagen maturation and restored facial volume to the mid-face that appears natural and refreshed.

What happens during the InstaLift procedure?

InstaLift is an in-office procedure. We will begin by marking the areas where you desire a youthful lift. Local anesthesia is injected into the treatment area to ensure you’re comfortable.

A needle is then gently inserted to a depth of 5mm. This needle guides the threads upward through the underlying tissues of the mid-face. The sutures are equipped with bi-directional absorbable cones that hold the sutures in an elevated position. Once the absorbable sutures are in place, the needle is removed.

Who is an ideal thread lift candidate?

Silhouette InstaLift is a treatment for patients who would like to rejuvenate their appearance without having a surgical procedure, fillers, or lasers. Suitable candidates should have good skin quality.

Patients must maintain realistic expectations for this procedure. While thread lifts produce visible changes, they generally only lift the face by a few millimeters, creating a more subtle and natural-looking result than facelift surgery. For this reason, the InstaLift thread lift is best for patients with mild to moderate, rather than severe, signs of skin laxity.

Other candidacy criteria include:

Are generally healthy
Have no serious medical concerns
Have no allergies or foreign body sensitivities to plastic biomaterial
Do not have particularly thin skin
Do not have excessively thick, heavy skin
Do not have an outbreak or skin infection in the facial treatment areas
Are in your late thirties to early fifties (many patients over the age of about 55 will better benefit from facelift surgery)
Have age-related conditions that make you ineligible for surgery under anesthesia
Understand that thread lift results last up to two years while facelift results last up to a decade

What are the benefits of the Silhouette Instalift?

The Silhouette InstaLift procedure redefines the contours of your mid-face by lifting the skin and the underlying layers upward to achieve a more youthful, contoured appearance. Benefits include the following:

An effective alternative to a surgical facelift
Minimally invasive
Firms, defines, and contours the mid-face
Tightens the skin
Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
Causes no scarring
Results are long-lasting and natural-looking
Recovery period is short, allowing you to get right back to your lifestyle
Boosts collagen production to improve the skin and restore volume from within

Recovery after your InstaLift

The InstaLift procedure takes under an hour. The recovery period is quite minimal and includes some swelling, bruising, and tenderness at the treatment site. These effects will fade within several days.

You will be able to return to your usual daily routine after your procedure is over. The results are instant and continue to improve over time as your body naturally builds fresh collagen to replenish lost volume in hollow areas.

Why choose Dr. Sofonio for an InstaLift thread lift?

Dr. Sofonio and his team at Sofonio Aesthetics strive to exceed your expectations and help you live a happier, more confident life. Known for his exceptional level of medical care, many of Dr. Sofonio’s patients come to him through word of mouth, recommended by friends, family members, and colleagues. These factors make Dr. Sofonio's clinic the best choice for an InstaLift thread lift. Please call to schedule a consultation and learn more about how the InstaLift can help achieve a more youthful appearance to help achieve your aesthetic goals.

InstaLift FAQs:

What is Micro Suspension Technology™?

Micro Suspension Technology is what makes InstaLift so uniquely effective. Instead of simple threads, micro cones are placed in the deepest layer of your mid-facial skin. This results in an immediate lift, made more enhanced by the cones, which gather the tissues and skin more effectively. At the same time, the technology results in a significant, continuing boost of collagen production. This gradually restores lost facial volume in the mid-face and results in a more youthful appearance.

What are the InstaLift threads made of?

The InstaLift sutures and cones are made from poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). PLGA is a common biodegradable biomedical copolymer that is biocompatible.

Is Silhouette InstaLift FDA approved?

Yes. InstaLift has been FDA-cleared since April 2015.

What areas can be treated with the Silhouette InstaLift?

The InstaLift achieves a youthful contour in the mid-face and cheek areas.

Are there any side effects with InstaLift?

There are minor side effects associated with InstaLift, including minor pain, swelling, and bruising. Other potential side effects include allergic reaction, sensory nerve injury, or poor outcomes, such as asymmetry or banding.

Silhouette InstaLift Thread Lift