SILHOUETTE SUTURES
PROCEDURE
After you are prepped and made completely
comfortable with local anesthesia and a relaxant if
needed, the doctors will make a small incision in
the hairline area through which he or she will draw
the needle and Silhouette Suture to the mid-face
area. The sutures are deployed in the soft tissue of
the malar and peri-oral areas, placed slightly
parallel to each other. The Silhouette Sutures are
then pulled backwards until the cones engage the
tissues of those facial areas. This engagement
suspends and lifts them to a higher location. The
sutures are then fixed in pairs in the deep tissue
area. The lift is instantaneous and longer lasting
than with all other previous techniques and
procedures. The sagging mid-face tissue is elevated
to a new, higher position – ensuring you a more
youthful, long lasting appearance. This can also be
used to lift the jowls.
Q & A:
What is the
Silhouette Lift?
The Silhouette Lift is a mid face lift that
uses the new Silhouette Sutures to lift sagging
tissue in the mid-face area. It can also be used to
lift the jowls.
What are Silhouette
Sutures?
They are an entirely new, FDA approved
material used for lifting soft tissues in the facial
areas. They are made of polypropylene strands, which
allows for better results than with the “barbed”
sutures. There is less down time involved with this
lift.
How are Silhouette
Sutures different from barbed sutures and
conventional sutures?
Silhouette sutures do not have sharp barbs,
which can weaken the suture. A barbed suture is
created when cuts are made in the shaft of
conventional sutures, which then weakens the
inherent strength of the thread itself. Silhouette
sutures are made from 3-0 polypropylene substrate,
which allows for smaller knot tying in the temporal
area, and also utilizes clear, flexible, absorbable
cones. Over time the cones are completely absorbed
and tissue grows around and through the small knots
to allow for long-lasting tissue suspension.
Who is the best
candidate for the Silhouette Mid-Face Lift?
Typically anyone between ages 40-60 years old will
benefit from this lift. There must be an obvious
drooping of the mid-face soft tissues in order to be
a good candidate and see optimum results. Men and
women alike have participated in the rigorous 3 year
trial period -using the Silhouette Sutures lift –
both achieved outstanding results.
What are the main
advantages of the Silhouette Suture Lift over other
methods? The advantages include (but are
not limited to) the following:
- There are no barbs to
cause weakening of the suture.
- The hollow cones of
the Silhouette sutures allow for much stronger
anchoring.
- It is much less
invasive than a full facelift so there is less
trauma and downtime.
Does the Silhouette
Suture lift replace a traditional facelift?
No – but it can and does offer a safe and
viable alternative with amazing results.
Is it FDA approved?
yes!
How long is the
recovery?
In most cases, there is minimal discomfort,
bruising and swelling. Ice compresses are
recommended for the first 24-48 hours. After
a Silhouette thread lift, patients can usually
return to work or normal activities in a few days to
one week.
How long do the results
last?
Duration varies depending on the age of the
patient at the time of the procedure, the degree of
sagging, and the number of threads used. Additional
threads may be added as needed.
What are the possible
side effects?
The Silhouette Thread Lift procedure is a simple
procedure to perform. Side effects can include some
minor swelling and bruising. Complications are very
rare, but can include a small pucker at the entrance
of the thread, or the thread can protrude slightly
from the skin. If such side effects occur, they are
easily treatable by trimming the excess thread or
massaging the skin. Since this technique is entirely
reversible, unwanted effects are usually easily
corrected under local anesthesia.
Can this procedure be
combined with other cosmetic procedures?
Dermal fillers can enhance volume, laser
treatment can improve skin texture. Portrait skin
regeneration and diamond wire minilift are some of
the other procedures that can be done in conjunction
with ThreadLift procedure.
Will I still be able to
have a conventional/traditional facelift or a
browlift at another time?
Absolutely. The Silhouette threads are carefully
inserted into the subcutaneous layer of the skin
using a small needle. The neck and upper brow can
also be treated using Featherlift. The effect of the
treatment will continue to improve over several
months as the collagen in the skin collects around
the newly placed threads.
Good candidates for Silhouette
Thread Lift are those patients who are starting to
see some droopiness of the cheeks, jowls and/or neck
and would like to see a lift effect, but do not want
the risk, scars, or recovery of a real facelift, or
necklift operation. It is a procedure that is
typically suited towards younger and middle-aged
patients. Good candidates must have realistic
expectations and be prepared to follow the
postoperative recovery protocol and must be
accepting of the risks.