Thread Mid-Face Lift
What Is It?
In a thread mid-face lift we carry the loosened tissue in the cheek and cheekbone area upwards with suspension threads. This region sits at the centre of facial ageing. The structures that hold our face up, tying the skin to the bone, loosen over time. As the cheek pad slides down, the cheekbone area empties, the lines beside the nose deepen and the face grows heavier towards the bottom.
The distinction matters here. If the tissue has slid down, threads put it back in place. If the tissue has melted away, in other words if there is volume loss, the threads end up lifting an empty area and do not give the expected result. In that situation, filler is a separate matter.
More detail: French Threads — the full technique, Filler — for volume loss
How Is It Done?
In the facial analysis we look at the direction of the sagging, the state of the cheekbone support and the depth of the nasolabial fold beside the nose. We note the share of volume loss separately. Under local anaesthesia we place the threads along the planned vectors and carry the cheek tissue upwards. The procedure takes about 60 minutes on average.
Who Is It For?
It suits patients whose cheeks have slid down, whose cheekbones have flattened and whose lines beside the nose have deepened. It usually comes up from the late thirties onwards. If sagging is advanced, this method does not meet the expectation, and we discuss a surgical assessment.
Active infection in the cheek area, bleeding disorders, use of blood thinners, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, a tendency to keloid scarring, and pregnancy or breastfeeding affect the planning. We discuss all of these at the consultation.
Results & Duration
The lifting effect is visible in the session. As the swelling and tightness go down, the appearance settles, reaching its final form in about a month on average. The reported duration is 2 years. It varies with tissue structure, age and how stable your weight stays.
What Is Not Promised
A mid-face thread lift does not add volume. It does not fill an emptied cheekbone area, so it does not replace filler. It does not completely erase the lines beside the nose, does not change skin quality, and does not take the place of surgical lifting. We make no promise about the amount of lift or how long the effect will last.
Key Benefits
- Cheek lift
- Cheekbone prominence
- Lifting effect
“In half of my patients who say “my cheek has dropped”, the tissue has not dropped; it has melted away. Hanging melted tissue higher does not lift the face. In that case we talk about volume first.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference from filler?
The two do different jobs. Threads lift tissue that has dropped; filler replaces lost volume. We build the plan around whichever is the source of the complaint, and if needed we plan both together.
Will my nasolabial folds go?
Not completely. When the tissue is lifted, the depth of the fold can decrease, but we do not expect it to disappear.
When does the result settle?
The lifting effect is noticeable in the same session; the final appearance settles in about a month on average.
How long does it last?
The reported duration is 2 years. It varies with tissue structure, age and how stable your weight stays.
What is recovery like?
For the first two weeks there is swelling and tightness in the cheeks, and this feeling can be stronger when you chew. We ask you to avoid exaggerated facial expressions, sleeping face down, sauna and intense exercise.