Lip Thread Lift – What to Know About the Procedure

As a person gets older, the lips can start to gain a look that is lacking in volume and also has an increased appearance of fine lines. In the past, many patients turned to lip fillers to gain a younger and more rejuvenated look to the lips. However, the lip thread lift, AKA lip threading, has grown in popularity since it now known as a way to achieve a subtle change to the appearance of the lips.

Let’s start our look at the procedure with a lip thread lift procedure 411 from Cosmetic Town:

Lip Thread Lift – How is It Performed?

The procedure involves the use of small, dissolvable threads that are intended to boost the production of collagen and also smooth out the appearance of fine lines around the mouth. While lip fillers only add a greater amount of volume to the lips, a lip thread lift provides an improved curve, a natural look, and a greater amount of definition to the cupid’s bow area of the upper lips.

The procedure takes about thirty minutes and starts with the doctor numbing the treated area. Then, the dermatologist or plastic surgeon creates a small hole at the corner of the mouth by puncturing the area. The hole is flush with the lip line and the doctor inserts a cannula that has a thin thread in the hole. The thread can also be prepackaged in a needle that has a point and, in this case, there will be no need to create the puncture hole in the targeted area.

The size of the thread varies and, once it is inserted, the cannula is gently pushed towards the cupid’s bow (and this is where the doctor usually stops pushing the cannula or needle). The procedure will be repeated on the other side of the upper lip. Once the thread is in the proper place, the end of the thread will be trimmed by the doctor and the end of the thread will be placed in the hole that was created so it is not visible to others.

FYI: The procedure can also be performed on the lower lip. Plus, more threads can be added if the patient wants to gain more volume or height to the lips.

Lip Thread Lift – Common Side Effects, Risks, and Results

The safety of a lip thread lift depends on the expertise of the medical provider, so it is important for a patient to make sure their doctor of choice is experienced in performing the treatment.

The treatment needs to be performed with skill and accuracy, so the lips do not gain a look that is lopsided in appearance. The doctor also needs to make sure to properly trim the visible threads once the procedure is complete.

Some of the other common risks and side effects of the treatment include:

• Scarring
• Bruising
• Swelling
• A temporary sensation of tugging or pulling
• Infection
• Threads sticking out of the lips

In general, the recovery process is relatively quick. Patients cannot get the area wet for about 12 hours and they should not apply any makeup to the lip area for 48 hours. They should also avoid touching the nearby area immediately after the treatment. Soft foods should be consumed for about a week after the procedure.

The results of a lip thread lift last anywhere from one to three years. The threads will dissolve after about three months but the improved definition to the upper lip will continue thanks to the collagen production that is the result of the reaction of the body to the threads.

Lip Thread Lift Cost

The total cost of a lip thread lift depends on the area of the country where it is performed, the number of threads used by the surgeon, and any additional fees that are charged by the surgeon or the medical facility. In general, the final cost can run anywhere from $500-$1500 as determined by the medical professional.

Lip Thread Lifts – What are the Options?

There are two types of threads available for patients to use during lip thread lifts:

• Nova threads are made of polydioxanone (a surgical suture), and they are considered to be one of the safest materials to place in the body. This type of thread has been used for more than 60 years in a variety of medical procedures.
• Silhouette Instalift threads are made of poly-L-lactic acid and this type of thread is recommended for patients who enter the process with a mild to moderate amount of skin laxity.

Patients who are interested in having a lip thread lift need to schedule a consultation appointment with a doctor who is experienced in performing the treatment. The doctor can examine the current condition of the lips to determine if the person is an ideal candidate for the procedure. In addition, the medical professional will be able to share the pros and cons of a lip thread lift so the patient can make an educated decision about having the procedure.

- MA