Enrich Clinic

Category: Thread Lift

  • What is recovery like for a thread lift?

    What is recovery like for a thread lift?

    Preparing for a thread lift means consideration of aftercare and understanding what to expect in terms of the visual impacts during healing, comfort and recovery times. Here is a quick guide to our thread lift options at ENRICH Clinic, with a rundown on what you can expect during recovery. 

    Thread lift recovery – the basics

    In a thread lift, your specially-trained practitioner threads a special suture with small anchors through the jawline just under the skin. The thread stimulates the production of collagen, while also providing some physical lift to sagging skin around the jowls and cheeks. Over time, the newly-formed collagen provides greater support for facial tissue, while the thread itself disappears, absorbed into the skin. 

    Your practitioner creates insertion points for the thread in a discreet area, with these small incisions taking a week or two to heal. These incisions heal like a normal cut, with only very minor scarring that will not be visible to the naked eye, placed into natural creases in hidden areas. 

    After your procedure is complete, there will be a feeling of tightness, some slight swelling, redness, possible bruising and inflammation. You’ve had a foreign substance threaded through your tissue to tighten it, so these feelings are normal. The sensations and swelling will dissipate over the coming week as the tissue heals and acclimates to its new addition. 

    You’ll see instant results from the physical lift, but there is more to come since collagen takes 2-3 months to generate fully. You can expect a complete recovery from your thread lift in no more than two weeks. 

    It’s important to get advice from your doctor on what activities to avoid as the tissue heals; for example, we recommend you avoid vigorous exercise and facial massage. Generally, we advise you to take care for a few weeks, but you can resume your regular (non-vigorous) activities straight away. Avoid anything likely to pull or dislodge the threads before they have a chance to embed in your tissue fully. 

    We suggest if you have a big event planned, book your thread lift well in advance to avoid any crossover during your recovery.

    We use a local anaesthetic during the procedure to ensure your comfort. The procedure is generally well-tolerated, with a steady and full recovery expected in healthy people. Only specially trained practitioners can perform this procedure, which at ENRICH Clinic is always an experienced cosmetic doctor. 

    At ENRICH in Melbourne, we use two thread lift systems: 

    Silhouette Soft thread lifts

    The Silhouette Soft thread lift system uses poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) thread as its main component. PLLA is a well-known polymer with a long history of use in medicine as an absorbable suture in surgery and also as a drug delivery system. Researchers use PLLA in tissue engineering. 

    The PLLA suture (thread) has moulded cones of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid, a substance developed by scientists working on reconstructive and cosmetic surgical innovations. 

    The suture acts as scaffolding beneath the skin’s surface, lifting sagging soft tissue. Soft tissue includes skin, but also muscle, tendons and fat. The cones stabilise the threads in place, which over time stimulates a natural response in the tissue of collagen production. This collagen replaces depleted facial volume, which naturally decreases with age, and contributes to the appearance of ageing in the face. 

    Silhouette Soft offers: 

    • Immediate lift
    • Progressive stimulation of collagen 
    • Suture absorbs into tissue, disappearing eventually
    • Non-surgical
    • Minimally invasive
    • Natural-looking results
    • Minimal recovery time
    • No downtime

    MINT PDO Thread Lift recovery

    MINT PDO is an absorbable, biocompatible suture made from polydioxanone (PDO). PDO is used in many types of surgery, particularly orthopaedic and cardiovascular. 

    The MINT PDO system works by pulling sagging tissue and skin into position, while the bidirectional and spiral barbs anchor onto tissue, bringing skin into the desired position. The aesthetic impacts can be remarkable, but the procedure is deceptively simple.

    There is minimal pain and a rapid recovery from MINT PDO thread lifts. As with all thread lifts, the incisions are tiny, fade quickly and are invisible to observers. 

    MINT PDO offers: 

    • Minimally invasive procedure
    • Instant rejuvenating and contouring
    • Instant lift
    • Best results are seen after 2-3 months
    • Completely dissolved sutures after 6-8 months
    • Results last for a further 3-6 months
    • Improvement in the appearance of skin texture, fine lines and elasticity
    • Compatible with dermal fillers

    Which product is best?

    You do not need to worry too much about product options, as your doctor will discuss with you the options and determine which is the best based on your circumstances.

    What to do next

    Contact our Melbourne clinic for a consultation to examine your individual aesthetic goals, and offer you a treatment plan now and into the future. 

    Elevate your skin.
    Contact us for a consultation

    ENRICH Clinic

  • Wrinkle prevention: is there such a thing as too early to start?

    Wrinkle prevention: is there such a thing as too early to start?

    When considering the future of your face, many of you may be wondering if there is such a thing as ‘too early’ to start an anti-ageing regime.

    To answer this question, we need to understand a little bit about how the skin ages, and thus what is worth spending time and money on and at what age and stage.

    It is not unreasonable – if you’re into that sort of thing – to start an anti-ageing plan in one’s 20s, but it’s also just as feasible to work on your skin as issues arise.

    Prevention isn’t necessarily the goal for everyone, though it’s true that it works well as part of an anti-ageing strategy when started at the right time.

    Cosmetic treatments cost money and take time, and while it’d be marvellous if we all have nothing but time on our hands, that’s not the reality. We have to carefully choose our plan based on the resources we have available to us. It’s therefore worth having a consultation with your chosen clinic to discuss your goals and make a plan, rather than following fads and fighting cosmetic fires.

    Important note about teenagers and anti-ageing routines

    It’s important to note upfront that here at ENRICH Clinic, we do not believe teenagers should be considering anti-ageing treatments. It’s not your time, teenager!

    Anti-ageing treatments in teenagers are a potentially damaging pointless exercise – the skin is healthy and supple and not at risk of developing wrinkles, fine lines or creases just yet.

    The only anti-ageing routine that teenagers – and everyone else – should be undertaking is wearing high-SPF sunscreen every day and taking measures to protect skin from damaging UV rays.

    Of course, if there are problems such as acne, psoriasis or dermatitis, that is different altogether and a job for a dermatologist. That’s not what we are talking about here.

    The ageing process and when we ‘should’ start caring

    We are constantly getting older, from the minute we are born, which may seem obvious, but we don’t start talking about ‘ageing’ until we think about wrinkles, fine lines and creases in our face.

    These start to appear en masse during our late twenties and thirties, making themselves at home in our forties and fifties and beyond.

    An anti-ageing regime is designed to keep the skin looking smooth and supple for as long as possible, which may mean starting before the cracks start to appear.anti-ageing regime

    The most common way to start an anti-ageing routine in younger people is with wrinkle reducing treatment that relax certain muscles and prevent the development of wrinkles in key areas, but many approaches are just as useful, for example, regular laser treatments.

    How should I start my anti-ageing plan?

    At what point someone decides to start an anti-aging routine and what they start with varies depending on many factors: care factor, budget, time and skin type.

    For example, many Asians look 15 years younger than they are, which can be extremely annoying when trying to get into a bar but means many anti-ageing treatments can wait. Skin-beautifying can, therefore, be the focus, rather than wrinkle treatments.

    Caucasians tend to suffer a great deal of sun damage throughout life, particularly in Australia, and thus may age faster and less gracefully than darker skin tones. Reducing the impacts of sun damage may be a primary focus, for example, removing pigmented spots and softening fine lines and wrinkles.

    Young people have far more fat in their cheeks than older people. You’ll notice in older people that the cheekbones become prominent because the cheeks have lost fat volume.

    Chubby cheeks are very much related to youth. This loss of fat volume in the cheeks can have an impact on the eyes, dragging the skin down and contributing to looking tired. Strategically placed filler can create subtle – but impactful – changes to how aged the face appears.

    Making the most of your beautiful face

    An ageing face has so much character and beauty to it, so when we consider your anti-ageing plan, we aren’t aiming for an expressionless, frozen face that never creates a line.anti aging treatments

    Your face will always age; you will never look 25 when you are 55, no matter how hard you or we try or how much money you spend. And nor should you. That’s not the point.

    You want to look like yourself, at whatever age you are. At ENRICH Clinic, we always aim to enhance your natural assets, not change them. You have a great face and more to the point it’s unique to you! We help you make the most of it.

    Having beautiful skin will never go out of fashion

    There are some effective, non-invasive skin treatments that anyone can start their anti-ageing journey with: 
    • Non-invasive no-downtime treatments
    • Laser microdermabrasion
    • Facials – laser facials, HydroActive facials China Doll carbon serum facials
    • Skin peels
    When you get a little more experienced or know what you’re after, the treatment range includes: 
    • Deeper facial treatments that may include some downtime
    • Wrinkle reducing  & targetted dermal treatments
    • Non-surgical rhinoplasty (nose job)
    When you’re really on top of what you can expect, including deeper treatments that come with some downtime, the treatment range includes:
    • The Portrait – deep skin resurfacing
    • The Secret RF – skin needling and radiofrequency all-in-one for skin tightening and rejuvenation
    • Deeper laser microdermabrasion – deeper skin resurfacing

    Not sure what you need or where to start? Come in for a consultation, and we’ll help you. We understand that ‘looking good’ means different things to different people. For some of you just waking up without red cheeks would make a world of difference. For others, lifting the skin and softening wrinkles is the goal.

    Caring for your changing face is a unique journey for each of us. We at ENRICH Clinic are here to help you look your best self.

    Want more beautiful skin?
    We can help.
    Contact us

  • Why two skin treatments can offer 3X the result

    Why two skin treatments can offer 3X the result

    Combining skin treatments may seem like double the effort, but it could offer triple the benefit. There is no single ‘best’ treatment when it comes to your skin. Often a few excellent procedures combine that offer, together, even better results than you’d see with just one treatment alone.

    If you are concerned about signs of ageing (wrinkles, blemishes, brown spots or sallow cheeks), you aren’t going to find one single best treatment. A laser may work well on your skin tone, while an anti-wrinkle injection may be useful to stave off a deep wrinkle.

    Age and sunspots are treated with a laser, chemical peel or another light-based treatment, while sallow cheeks can also be treated with hydration increasing treatments.

    Finding treatments that complement one another is key to getting the 1 + 1 = 3 effect. We love combining treatments because the results can often be three times more effective!

    Ageing is a complicated process

    There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to how your face is going to age or what concerns you the most. There is an intricate pattern of wrinkles, some that stay static (like a frown line) and those that appear on flatter surfaces of the skin (think forehead and cheeks).

    We lose facial volume, which in turn results in new folds and contours appearing over time. Blood vessels can also become more prominent.

    The multifaceted process of ageing, therefore, is best served with a combination cosmetic approach.

    Treatments that work well in combination

    Needling, lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), microdermabrasion, chemical peels, hydration treatments and high-quality skincare products can all be used together in various combinations for positve cosmetic outcomes.

    We use these combos a lot at ENRICH Clinic, where Dr Michael Rich is a great proponent of the multi-treatment approach. The treatments can often be performed in one appointment but may be scheduled over several appointments where necessary.

    Classic treatment combos

    • Laser and radiofrequency
    • Hydration and wrinkle reducing treatments
    • Acne medication and topical acne or acne scarring treatments
    • Skin needling (The Secret) and chemical peels
    • Peels & Diodes
    • Ultraformer (HIFU) and lasers

    What is the best cosmetic treatment combination?

    The best cosmetic treatment combination for you depends on your skin concerns. Talk to your cosmetic dermatologist or doctor to see what their thoughts are. Consultations are the key as well as developing a long-term plan for your skin health, and also handy for budgeting!  Combination treatments can be different for everyone and depends on ou skin type, age, diet, gender and genetics.

    A break between treatments may be necessary, so your skin can do its thing

    Some procedures are, by necessity, performed away from others. For example, a robust collagen-boosting treatment requires at least a month, if not more, to reach its maximum potential. There’s not much point in doing more collagen-boosting treatments over the top. Your skin is already maxing itself out. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t do wrinkle-reducing treatment or even a pampering, ultra-hydrating facial.

    Other treatments require a break due to the way they function in the skin. For example, certain needle-based treatments need time to settle before other skin treatments go over the top. This timing is in place because the liquid can migrate, or the skin has been pierced so you have to be careful of infection for at least 24 hours — also, no facial massage after any kind of needling.

    Swelling from some treatments may impede the effect of others, so a break for healing may be useful for the best outcomes for some combined treatments. You don’t have to have them done in the same appointment for the combination treatment effect to come into play.

    Using lasers and other wave-based treatments in combination

    Some cosmetic devices are designed to penetrate more deeply than others, which is why we may utilise the powers of two or more wave-based devices as a combination treatment.

    One such combination may be a radiofrequency device, which penetrates deeper layers, with a laser that works on the skin’s surface. This way, skin gets a deep treatment that stimulates, tightens and strengthens as well as undergoes a smoothing, brightening, resurfacing treatment. Here’s a paper on a study that reviewed how certain combination treatments can be effective.

    Your cosmetic doctor knows the best combination of treatments. 

    If you’re not sure what you need, don’t worry! We do. Come in for a consultation, and we’ll help you figure out the best course of action for your skin.

     

    Let us get the most out of your skin.
    Contact us for an appointment

    ENRICH Clinic