The FEATHERLIFT (APTOS THread LIFT)

*Also featuring information about Threadlift and Russian Threadlift

As we age the tissue of the face become weakened, we lose facial fat and the underlying support structure becomes lax and ptotic (sagging).  The areas to suffer this sagging are the cheeks, around the eyes, the jowls, the brows, and neck creating a longer, older looking face.  Younger patients suffer from cheek and brow sagging, as well, often prompting them to seek procedure, which may be designed for individuals in need of more invasive means.

There is now minimally invasive procedure available, which can lift, contour and suspend the sagging tissues of the face and neck.  The Feather Lift Procedure can provide quick and relatively bloodless lifting for patients who may need only little to moderate rejuvenation.  The Feather Lift is also been called the APTOS Lift, the APTOS Thread Lift and Suture Suspension Face Lift.  The Feather Lift is the name for using monofilament, polypropylene threads with cogs or barbs, called also APTOS® threads to lift the underlying tissue and contour the facial tissues.  

Other thread manufacturers have coined the technique as the Silk Lift™, BPS® (Barbed Polypropylene Sutures) threads, Threadlift, and even the Russian Lift or Russian Threads.

The suspension threads have cogs or barbs, which lie in one direction and open up, so to speak, when implanted into the subcutaneous fat and tugged into place.  The tissue is caught slightly in these cogs and the tissue is then suspended and lifted.  The threads are placed in carefully predetermined areas if the face to support the tissue and lift it.  Even better, the results are improved over time as your collagen encapsulates and "bunches" around the threads causing an even further lifting effect.  

This procedure is considered much less invasive than traditional mid-face, face and brow lifts, requiring less operating room time and less downtime.  The Feather Lift is also becoming popular with younger persons wishing for subtle changes or to possibly delay the signs of aging.

TREATMENT AREAS

The areas that may be treated with suspension threads are:

* Outer brow for ptosis
* The cheeks for midfacial ptosis
* The jaw line for jowls
* The neck

Younger patients will not need all these areas corrected.  Common areas for younger patients are the cheeks and brows since they are the first in line to begin their descent.  As you age the lower half of the face begins to sag also.

CANDIDATES FOR SUTURE SUSPENSION FACE LIFTING

If you are in good physical and emotional/mental health, have realistic expectations, have reasonably normal skin thickness and have the desired to rid yourself of loose sagging tissue of the face and neck, you may be a good candidate for a Feather Lift or Suture Suspension Face Lift.  

Those with considerable laxity may opt for a face, brow and neck lift instead.  Dr. Zemmel will discuss this with you at the time of your initial consultation.

Also, if you are considering losing weight you may want to wait until after your have lost weight.  You may need additional lifting or skin removal surgery to alleviate excess skin after you have lost the desired weight.

YOUR CONSULTATION

No two faces are alike and therefore no two facial rejuvenation procedures are the same. Facial enhancements are very individualized procedures. During your initial consultation Dr. Zemmel will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.

Dr. Zemmel will check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell Dr. Zemmel if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.

Also let Dr. Zemmel know about any vitamins, supplements and over the counter medications.

If you decide to have a Threadlift, Dr. Zemmel will explain his technique and the anesthesia he will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved.

Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.

Dr. Zemmel will discuss in detail the procedure and its risks and complications and what to expect during the procedure. You will also discuss the available anesthesia that will be used for your procedure.  Most feather Lift procedures are performed under regional or local anesthesia with the addition of an oral sedative. 

You will discuss in great detail what areas will be treated such as the brow, the cheek, jowl, and the neck.  Not everyone will need all of these.  A full set consists of 18 threads.  A full-face lift requires all 18 although not everyone may need a full lifting procedure.  The threads required per area would be 2 for each brow, 3 for each cheek, 2 for each jaw line and 2 for each side of the neck -- equaling 18 threads.

Dr. Zemmel will also discuss treatment protocols and discuss what to expect immediately post-op and over the following few days after treatment. 

PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY

Dr. Zemmel will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.

Following these instructions will help your procedure go more smoothly. If you smoke, it's especially important to stop at least 4 weeks before and after surgery. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.

You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.

YOUR PRE-OPERATIVE APPOINTMENT 

You will have a pre-operative appointment for the Suture Suspension Face-Lift.  Dr. Zemmel will go over the procedure again in detail and outline what to expect after surgery. Post-op prescriptions and patient instructions will then be given.

HOW A SUTURE SUSPENSION THREADLIFT IS PERFORMED

The face is swabbed and scrubbed usually a Betadine solution to decrease the amount of surface bacteria to help avoid infection.   Your face is then carefully felt and measured and will be marked for the placement of the threads. 

Dr. Zemmel then begins to infiltrate the area using a hypodermic needle with a local anesthetic mixture comprised usually of Lidocaine, epinephrine, and normal.  This ensures that you will not feel any pain and also the epinephrine decreases the amount of blood loss and anesthetic absorbed during the procedure.  The epinephrine does this by temporarily narrowing the diameter (vasoconstriction) of the blood vessel.

The threads are then placed under the skin using a guiding needle. The cogs on the threads attach to the underside of the skin and gently lift the skin and secure it in the desired position. The excess thread is trimmed so it does not appear above the skin surface. The procedure is quick, as an entire face can be done in about one hour. Local anesthesia is used and recovery is rapid, with some patients returning to work the next day, if desired. There is some swelling for a few days, and bruising, if present, will last about a week.

Each area is treated and the treatment areas normally taped to prevent movement in the first few days.  Excessive movement can dislodge the intended placement of the threads, altering the desired result.

POST-OP RECOVERY

Although not as invasive as other face lifting procedures, this procedure will cause swelling and possibly bruising. The area will be sore, and puffy and possibly discolored from minor bleeding (a bruise).  You are told not to make exaggerated facial expressions, massage the face, rub the face in anyway, not the sleep on the face or disturb the face if at all possible.  Any of the above can, again, disrupt the placement of the threads.

You can resume normal activities (light walking, sitting up, watching television, computer, etc.) within the hour and are told to take it easy during the first few days.  This means no exercise, no sexual activities, no excessive talking or exaggerated facial movements, again no facial massage, no shaving of your face, scrubbing, rubbing, chemical peels, harsh cleansers, or facial sleeping for 5 days.

There is often immediate results however, the results continue to improve over a 3 to 6 months period.  This improvement is due to the collagen synthesis and lifting/bunching effect.  

RISKS & COMPLICATIONS OF SUTURE SUSPENSION FACE LIFTING

The risks include an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, hematoma, infection, and palpability of the threads resulting in a telltale line.  Sometimes a thread end may poke through the skin, if this should happen contact Dr. Zemmel doctor immediately for an in-office visit.  Do not attempt to re-insert the thread yourself, at any time.  This may possibly result in an infection.

Although extremely rare, dislodging of the thread may occur resulting in a lopsided or crooked result (asymmetry). Dr. Zemmel will make every effort to ensure that you get an even, symmetric result. Please contact Dr. Zemmel as soon as possible for an in office visit.