Suture Lift

(S-Lift)

As we begin to age, the facial tissues weaken and the underlying support structure becomes lax and begins to sag.

The objective of the Suture Lift is to achieve the effect of a surgical facelift without cutting, and to avoid scars.

The Suture Lift, or S-Lift, is a mini face lift that minimises the scars to around part of the ear only, avoiding the usual facelift scars that go back onto the neck and up into the temple hair line.

Before After

There are many different types of suture lifts available: Aptos Threads, Feather Lift, Contour Threads, Silk Lift, Hollywood Lift, Thread Lift, SafFe Lift and more. Some doctors, experienced in suture lifts, have their own variations on the procedure to help achieve optimal results for their patients.

This procedure is most commonly performed on patients 30 to 50 years old. Those in the 50-60 year age bracket may also undergo the procedure, provided they do not have a lot of sagging skin.

A suture lift requires no cutting (except two small incisions behind the ears) and the skin is lifted with sutures alone. The sutures are made from a nylon type material and are placed under the skin. After the threads are placed in carefully predetermined areas of the face to support the tissue and lift it, they are left permanently. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia and takes about 30 minutes.

For the first three weeks until the threads have settled, the treated area becomes very sensitive to touch. The patient therefore needs to avoid anything that would stretch that skin or jar the face. Bruising and swelling is normal after the procedure and is helped by ice packs. Sometimes, temporary lumping under the skin, caused by bleeding (clot formation as in liposuction) can occur, which actually improves long term results as this can increase fibrosis and tightening. Given the small entry site for the thread (which is just about the size of a needle), infection is very unlikely.

Results of a suture lift are improved over time as collagen covers the thread and “bunches” around it, causing a further lifting effect. If there is a lot of loose neck skin then you are better off with a more extensive formal neck lift as the S-lift is designed for the "jowls" on the jaw line mostly.

Average Price Range: $3500-$6000

Please ask your doctor for further information.

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