Mindy DiPietro and Dr. Kathleen Marc have been dubbed The Dynamic Duo of Aesthetics by Florida Weekly. Since joining forces in 2017, Dr. Marc and Mindy have combined their expertise to create the ultimate luxury Medical Spa experience at Aesthetic Treatment Centers. Haute Beauty experts at Aesthetic Treatment Centers explain how non-surgical thread lifts stimulate collagen production, resulting in more youthful-looking skin.

Photo Credit: ShutterstockWhat is a thread lift?

A thread lift is a type of procedure wherein temporary sutures are used to produce a subtle but visible “lift” in the skin. Instead of removing the patient’s loose facial skin surgically, the cosmetic surgeon simply suspends it by stitching up portions of it. This has the effect of pulling the skin back slightly and therefore lifting and tightening the face. In addition to being ideal for lifting the skin, threads combat aging in another way: by provoking the body’s “healing response” and causing the body to direct large surges of collagen to treated areas. This is important because of the vital role collagen plays in the aging process.

How does collagen play a significant role in aging?

Collagen helps support “growth factors” that greatly influence the condition of our skin. In addition to being used for wound healing, collagen helps to keep our skin strong, voluminous, and supple. As we get older, our bodies gradually produce less and less collagen, which leads to an 80% reduction in skin thickness by about age 70. This loss of volume and strength is a large factor in the creation of excess skin and wrinkles. As the skin grows weaker, it’s no longer able to support the tissues beneath it adequately, meaning that gravity pulls it downwards and stretches it. Infusing the skin of the face with fresh collagen when the signs of skin laxity are still mild can help to both reduce looseness (by thickening and hydrating the skin) and prevent it from getting worse (by strengthening the skin).

What are the benefits of a thread lift?

In other words, this process provides ongoing and progressive rejuvenation for the facial tissues. Patients who have a thread lift for the purpose of stimulating collagen will notice a gradual improvement in their skin tone and firmness. While their threads are in place, the body’s healing response will be constantly activated because the body will want to “heal” the sutured areas and expel the sutures. The body is biologically programmed to react this way when it senses any foreign object present within the dermis. Fortunately, because the threads placed under the skin during a thread lift are so small, the patient will not feel any of this happening. Most people cannot feel their sutures at all once the skin has healed around them.