Thread Lifts

Overview

What are thread lifts?

A thread lift uses absorbable, barbed sutures placed under the skin to lift the face and neck (ASPS). The ASPS says thread lifts generally lift the face only a few millimeters, that results generally last one to three years compared with up to a decade for a facelift, and that recovery is comparatively easy (ASPS).

Mechanism

How thread lifts work

Barbed sutures hold tissue in a raised position. The FDA clearances for MINT threads and Silhouette InstaLift describe this as face or mid-face suspension surgery “to temporarily fixate the cheek sub dermis in an elevated position” (FDA 510(k) K220549; FDA 510(k) K200140). The ASPS also says thread lifts work by stimulating collagen production in the skin (ASPS).

Materials. MINT threads are made of polydioxanone (PDO) (FDA 510(k) K220549). Silhouette InstaLift sutures are made of poly(glycolide/L-lactide) (FDA 510(k) K200140). Threads made of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are also in use (Hong et al., Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2024).

How long the threads last in the body. Published figures differ by source and product:

PDO: the ASPS says NovaThreads (PDO) stay in place for about four to six months (ASPS); a 2024 review lists PDO absorption at 6 to 8 months (Hong et al.); the FDA 510(k) summary for MINT reports absorption in 180 to 220 days in a rat study (FDA 510(k) K192423).
PLLA: about 12 months (Hong et al.).
PCL: about 1 to 1.5 years (Hong et al.).

How long a thread stays in the body is not the same as how long the lift lasts (see below).

Barbed and smooth threads. The ASPS says smooth sutures produce less of a lift than barbed ones but are used for collagen stimulation (ASPS).

What does the evidence say about collagen stimulation?

The evidence is limited. In a study of 10 patients, ultrasound at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after PDO thread placement showed collagen forming around the threads (Lots, J Cosmet Dermatol 2023). A 2024 review cites a mouse study of PCL threads that found increased new collagen at 8 weeks (Hong et al.). The authors of a 2025 randomized trial wrote that studies with longer follow-up are needed to understand whether collagen stimulation contributes to lasting results (Germani et al., Aesthet Surg J Open Forum 2025).

Two systematic reviews found weak support for thread lifts overall. A 2018 review in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found little or no substantial evidence on efficacy or safety added to the literature in the previous decade (Gülbitti et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2018). A 2021 review in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery concluded that no new evidence had been added to support the procedure and that patients should be told about adverse events, how long the effect lasts and the limited data on efficacy (Atiyeh et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 2021).

Duration

How long results actually last

The ASPS says thread lift results generally last one to three years (ASPS). Several published studies found shorter results:

In 160 consecutive patients treated with barbed PDO threads, the improvement declined noticeably by 6 months and was absent by 1 year (Bertossi et al., Aesthet Surg J 2019).
A 2018 systematic review of 12 studies found that all but two showed at best a very limited durability of the lifting effect, and the two positive studies were sponsored by thread manufacturers (Gülbitti et al.).
In a 2025 randomized trial of 22 patients comparing 3 and 6 PDO threads per side of the face, initial improvements in volume and tissue position diminished by 60 days, and using more threads made no significant difference (Germani et al.).

Patient satisfaction also drops over time. A 2021 meta-analysis found pooled satisfaction of 98% immediately after a thread lift and 88% at longer-term follow-up, and its authors recommend telling patients before the procedure that the effect may not last (Niu et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 2021).

What to expect

Recovery timeline

The ASPS says thread lifts can be done under local anesthesia, that most patients can return to work immediately and that strong pain medication is seldom needed (ASPS). For a Silhouette InstaLift, it says mild soreness and swelling can last a few days, and it advises not rubbing the face vigorously while cleansing or applying moisturizer for at least a week (ASPS).

Swelling is the most common side effect, reported at a pooled rate of 35% in a meta-analysis of 26 studies (Niu et al.). Ask your provider for written aftercare instructions, including which activities to avoid and for how long.

Is this right for you?

Who is a good candidate?

The ASPS says the typical candidate is in their late thirties to early fifties with mild to moderate, rather than severe, skin laxity (ASPS). It also says thread lifts can be an alternative for older patients who cannot have a facelift for medical reasons (ASPS). The authors of the 160-patient study recommend limiting the procedure to patients who cannot have more invasive facial surgery (Bertossi et al.).

Age affects complication risk. In the 2021 meta-analysis, patients older than 50 had higher rates of skin dimpling (16% vs. 5.6%) and infection (5.9% vs. 0.7%) than younger patients (Niu et al.).

A thread lift is less likely to meet your goals when:

Your skin laxity is severe (ASPS)
You want a result that lasts as long as a facelift, which the ASPS says can last up to a decade (ASPS)

If your laxity is more advanced, ask a board-certified plastic surgeon whether surgery would meet your goals better.

In Houston

What to expect locally

This site does not publish a Houston price range for thread lifts. Prices depend on the number and brand of threads and the areas treated, so ask for a written quote that lists the thread brand, the number of threads and the total cost.

Choosing a provider

How to choose a Houston provider

Lifting threads are regulated by the FDA as Class II medical devices (surgical sutures), and the cleared indications use surgical language such as “face suspension surgery” and “soft tissue approximation” (FDA 510(k) K220549). Not every cleared PDO thread is cleared for lifting: the clearance for PDO Max sutures states they are not intended for lifting and supporting tissues (FDA 510(k) K210871).

Credentials to verify. In Texas, medical cosmetic procedures are regulated by the Texas Medical Board (TDLR). A physician may perform the procedure or delegate it to a physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, and the physician must register that delegation with the Texas Medical Board (22 TAC §169.5). The delegating physician must be trained in, or familiar with and able to perform, the procedure and must make sure the person performing it is trained (22 TAC §169.26). The delegation requires a written order (22 TAC §169.27), and the delegating physician’s name and Texas license number must be posted in each public area and treatment room (22 TAC §169.28). The person performing the procedure must also sign and date a written protocol (22 TAC §169.26). An esthetician or cosmetology license does not cover medical-type procedures that use needles (TDLR).

Ask whether the performing or delegating physician is certified by a board that is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Member boards relevant to facial procedures include the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABMS). The ASPS notes: “There is no ABMS-recognized certifying board with ‘cosmetic surgery’ in its name” (ASPS). You can check a Texas physician’s or PA’s license status and any board disciplinary actions on the Texas Medical Board’s Look Up a License page.

Questions to ask during your consultation:

Which thread brand do you use, and is it FDA-cleared for lifting?
How many thread lift procedures has the person performing mine completed?
Who is the delegating physician, and what is their board certification?
What complications have your patients had, and how do you handle thread extrusion or asymmetry?
Can I see before-and-after photos of your own patients (not stock or manufacturer images)?
What result can I realistically expect given my degree of skin laxity, and how long do you expect it to last?

Treatment Areas

Areas treated

Cheeks and mid-face Jowls Eyebrows Neck

Frequently asked questions

How does a thread lift compare to a surgical facelift?

A thread lift places absorbable barbed sutures under the skin to lift the face and neck, without the incisions of a facelift (ASPS). The ASPS says thread lift results generally last one to three years, while facelift results can last up to a decade, and that thread lifts suit mild to moderate skin laxity rather than severe laxity (ASPS). Recovery is shorter than after a facelift (ASPS). In a 2021 meta-analysis, patient satisfaction was 98% right after a thread lift and 88% at longer-term follow-up (Niu et al., Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2021).

Are thread lift results really noticeable?

Yes, but the change is small. The ASPS says thread lifts "will generally only lift the face by a few millimeters" and give a more subtle result than facelift surgery (ASPS). The ASPS also says they suit people with mild to moderate skin laxity rather than severe laxity (ASPS). If your laxity is more advanced, ask a board-certified plastic surgeon whether surgery would meet your goals better.

What are the most common side effects of thread lifts?

A 2021 meta-analysis of 26 studies reported these pooled rates: swelling 35%, skin dimpling 10%, numbness or tingling (paresthesia) 6%, visible or palpable threads 4%, infection 2% and thread extrusion 2% (Niu et al., Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2021). Absorbable threads had lower rates of paresthesia and extrusion than non-absorbable threads, and patients over 50 had higher rates of dimpling and infection (Niu et al.). Less common but more serious complications include facial nerve injury, parotid gland or duct injury and hematoma (Yi & Park, J Cosmet Dermatol 2025).

Can thread lifts be reversed?

In some cases. The ASPS says that if sutures become visible or cause irritation, they can be removed (ASPS). Absorbable threads also dissolve on their own: the ASPS says NovaThreads (PDO) stay in place for about four to six months (ASPS), and the FDA 510(k) summary for MINT PDO threads reports absorption in 180 to 220 days in an animal study (FDA 510(k) K192423). The ASPS says thread lift results generally last one to three years (ASPS).

Which thread lift brands are FDA-cleared for lifting?

Threads cleared by the FDA for facial lifting include the MINT product family from Hans Biomed, made of PDO and cleared for face suspension surgery to temporarily hold the cheek in a raised position (FDA 510(k) K220549), and Silhouette InstaLift, made of poly(glycolide/L-lactide) and cleared for mid-face suspension surgery (FDA 510(k) K200140). Not every cleared PDO thread is cleared for lifting: the clearance for PDO Max sutures states they are not intended for lifting and supporting tissues (FDA 510(k) K210871). These products went through the 510(k) process, in which the FDA finds a device substantially equivalent to one already on the market; that is clearance, not premarket approval (PMA) (FDA). You can look up any brand in the FDA 510(k) database.

Who can legally perform thread lifts in Texas?

Thread lifts place surgical sutures under the skin; MINT threads, for example, are FDA-cleared for face suspension surgery (FDA). In Texas, medical cosmetic procedures are regulated by the Texas Medical Board (TDLR). A physician (MD or DO) may perform the procedure or delegate it to a physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, and the physician must register that delegation with the Texas Medical Board (22 TAC §169.5). Under the board's rules for delegated cosmetic procedures, the physician must be trained in, or familiar with and able to perform, the procedure and must make sure the person performing it is trained (22 TAC §169.26). An esthetician or cosmetology license does not cover medical-type procedures that use needles (TDLR). You can check a physician's or PA's license on the Texas Medical Board's Look Up a License page.

Thread Lifts in Houston