French Suspension
What Is It?
The French thread lift is a non-surgical lifting method: we place dissolvable suspension threads under the skin to carry the facial tissue upwards and hold it there. The logic is similar to a surgical face lift. But there is no incision and no tissue is removed. We go in through needle holes and put the structures that have sagged with age back where they were. The small barbs on the threads grip the tissue, so the lifting effect appears during the procedure itself.
It has a second effect as well. Over time the threads create a collagen response around them, and the tissue gains some extra support. So the result does not come from mechanical lifting alone; the tissue’s own response plays a part too. That is why the final look settles over weeks.
How Is It Done?
The treatment starts with facial analysis. We look at the degree of sagging, the weight of the tissue and the difference between the two sides. We decide which area we will move in which direction, in other words the vectors, by drawing them on the face. This planning is the decisive part of the work. If the angle is wrong, you get a pull that does not look natural.
We mark the entry points and give local anaesthesia. We place the threads under the skin and move the tissue in the planned direction. How many threads we use depends on the area and the weight of the tissue. The areas we work on most often are the midface, the jawline, the brows and the area under the chin. The procedure takes 45-60 minutes on average. When it is finished, we check the symmetry both with the face at rest and during facial expressions.
Who Is It For?
Threads are one of the things patients ask about most at consultations. Many tell me, “Filler makes you look puffy, I’d rather have threads.” The treatment suits patients who notice mild or moderate sagging in the face, who feel their contours have become less defined, and who do not want surgery or for whom surgery is still too early. Skin that has kept its elasticity and tissue that is not too heavy directly determine the quality of the result.
If sagging is advanced and there is marked excess skin, the lift a thread can give stays limited, and then we talk about surgical options. When I tell patients “this won’t give you the result you want”, it upsets them, and frankly it upsets me too. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection in the area, bleeding disorders, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, a history of keloid and known allergy to the thread material change the planning. We look at each of these separately at the consultation.
Process & Recovery
Facial analysis and vector plan
We assess the degree of sagging, the weight of the tissue and the difference between the two sides. We decide the directions of lift by drawing them on the face, and we take photographs.
Treatment day
We mark the entry points and give local anaesthesia. We place the threads under the skin and move the tissue in the planned direction. The procedure takes 45-60 minutes.
First 72 hours
Tenderness, swelling and bruising occur at the entry points. A feeling of tightness and pulling is normal. During this period we ask you to avoid wide facial expressions, sleeping face down, massage and intense exercise.
First 2-4 weeks
The swelling goes down and the over-tight look of the first days softens. The contours settle during this period, and we do not assess the result before it is over.
Months 2-3
The collagen response around the threads comes into play and tissue support increases. We do the review at this stage. The threads are absorbed over time, but this support continues for a while longer.
Results & Duration
We see the lifting effect during the procedure. In the first days, though, the look is stronger than it will finally be, because of swelling and tightness. The contours take about a month to settle. The second effect, from tissue support, becomes clearer in months 2-3.
The range generally reported is 2-3 years. Duration depends on the type of thread, the weight of the tissue, age and skin structure. The threads are made of a dissolvable material; over time the body absorbs them, and they leave no permanent structure behind. Ageing also carries on in the meantime. When the effect fades, we can plan a renewal.
What Is Not Promised
A thread lift does not replace a face lift operation and does not lift on the same scale. It does not remove excess skin. It has no effect on pigmentation or skin quality problems, and it does not restore lost volume.
We do not promise a particular amount of lift or a particular duration. Slight asymmetry and tightness may be felt in the first weeks; we assess the result after one month. If your expectation does not match the condition of the tissue, we discuss this openly at the consultation.
Key Benefits
- V-sharpness
- Lifting
- Scarless procedure
“What we do with threads resembles a surgical lift, but there is no incision and we remove no tissue; we put what has sagged back where it was. I don’t place a thread before I have drawn the direction of lift, because the wrong angle spoils how natural the face looks.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a thread lift surgery?
No. In a surgical lift the skin is cut and the excess is removed. Here we lift the existing tissue without an incision, going in through needle holes. That is why recovery is measured in days.
Which areas can be treated?
We work most often on the midface, the jawline, the brows and the area under the chin. We decide which of these suits you through facial analysis.
How long does it take?
45-60 minutes on average. You go home the same day.
Is it painful?
We don’t expect pain during the procedure, because we numb the area with local anaesthesia. In the first days you feel a pull when you move your face. This shows that the threads are holding the tissue, and it eases within a few days.
Is the result immediate?
Yes, the lifting effect is visible during the procedure. In the first days, though, it looks stronger than it will finally be; the contours settle in about a month.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported is 2-3 years. It varies with the type of thread, the weight of the tissue and skin structure.
Do the threads stay in my body?
No. They are made of a dissolvable material and are absorbed over time, leaving no permanent structure behind.
Which situations need separate assessment?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection in the area, bleeding disorders, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, a history of keloid and allergy to the thread material change the planning. We discuss these at the consultation.