Silhouette InstaLift Threads

Freya's Lair Medical Spa

Aesthetic Center and Wellness Spa & Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner located in Albuquerque, NM

What is the Silhouette Instalift?

The silhouette Instalift procedure is a relatively new breakthrough technology that uses clear threads with tiny clear cones on them placed precisely under the skin to lift up the skin of the mid face including cheeks, nasal labial folds, marionette lines, jowls, and jawlines without surgery or incisions, and with far less downtime.

These threads are made out of the same substance that is used in the product Sculptra. That substance known as PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) is famous for building collagen in the skin like almost nothing else. The substance was first used in medical patients with conditions such as AIDS and cancer where their faces had hollowed out and left these patients looking gaunt. This substance became famous when safely injected into those hollow areas, it was able to stimulate the bodies own collagen production and build back up the skin allowing their faces to look full and healthy again.

Using this PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) in lifting threads is really a completely different concept from the thread lifts of old. Instead of permanent threads lifting the skin, these threads slowly dissolve but leave a collagen matrix in their place that continues to lift the skin as well as rejuvenate the skins texture and appearance giving a twofold effect.

Silhouette InstaLift Threads

How long does the Silhouette Instalift last?

In general the collagen created by PLLA is thought to last for 18 to 24 months. That said, some have found that the lift effect lasts much longer. The reason thought to be behind this longer duration of lift is the fact that when your skin is held in a lifted position for a long period of time, other dermal attachments to the skin will often form holding that skin in that lifted position indefinitely. That said, to manage expectations properly we generally like to say the Silhouette Instalift procedure lasts anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 years.

How long does the procedure take to perform?

The procedure generally takes approximately 45 minutes to perform. It is performed under simple local anesthesia without the need for general anesthesia. A 1 1/2 hour appointment is booked for you and the remainder of time is often not entirely needed, but generally used to take before and after pictures, go over the procedure a final time, carefully mark where the threads are going to be placed, clean and sterile drape the facial areas, and go over your aftercare instructions.

How uncomfortable is the procedure?

Again, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Most patients rate the procedure as a 3 to 4 out of 10 on a 10 point pain scale. Most of the discomfort patients actually say is the discomfort of the local anesthetic being administered itself which again is rated on that pain scale as a 3 to 4 out of 10. After the anesthetic has been injected, the patients generally find the procedure reasonably comfortable and tolerable.

What are the common side effects from this procedure?

Most common side effects include bruising, and for the first 2 days puckering, and draping of the skin that has almost always completely resolved by DAY 3. These side effects always resolve, and result in an incredibly soft and natural result. Approximately 10-15% of patients get a significant bruise usually up in the hairline region which can last longer than the usual 5 to 6 day recovery time but is generally easily covered up with makeup.

What sort of lift can I expect from this procedure?

The Silhouette Instalift procedure gives a beautiful and always natural lifting effect. It is not a surgical face lift, and cannot give as extreme a lifting result. That said, where a facelift in some can appear overly taut and unnatural for a period of time or longer, the Silhouette Instalift always looks natural and rejuvenating. This procedure fills the void for patients that have some mid to moderate facial drooping, heavy smile lines, jowls, and loose skin but are not ready or far enough along to need a facelift. For patients that really prefer to stay away from going under the knife all together, the Silhouette Instalift procedure can be repeated in more heavy problem areas of the face months later to achieve more profound results.

The other advantage of the silhouette instalift procedure is the beautiful collagen building skin effect the threads have on the face that one does not get with a surgical face lift alone.

Silhouette InstaLift is a treatment unlike any other. Our Micro Suspension Technology is comprised of threads with micro cones that are placed in the deepest layer of mid-facial skin. It delivers an immediate lift and gradually restores lost facial volume of the mid face by activating your own natural collagen production for a more youthful appearance that continues to improve over time. The sutures and cones are made from poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), a well-known biomedical copolymer that is biocompatible and biodegradable

MINIMAL DOWNTIME, LONG LASTING RESULTS

The procedure takes under an hour and is done right in our office. InstaLift also has minimal downtime with most signs of treatment (ex: bruising, swelling, and tenderness at the treatment site) dissipating within 24–48 hours. Patients can get right back to their activities and enjoy an instant lift in the cheeks, while adding volume over time for long lasting results, up to two years.