Dermal fillers vs. Thread Lift – Which is right for you?
Plain and simple, treatments that lift and contour the face are in big demand. After the age of 25, we experience a gradual decline in our collagen and elastin production – two proteins that help our skin stay firm, plump, and radiant – leading to a loss of volume and laxity in the long run. Many treatments are positioned as the antidote to this problem, two of which include dermal fillers and the thread lift.
But with such a choice as there is today, it can be challenging to know which procedure best suits our needs and requirements. To help you understand the two treatments and determine which is right for you, we have outlined everything you need to know below.
What are dermal fillers, and what do they do?
When assessing a face, an aesthetic practitioner will consider how to bring harmony and balance to the features. The aim is to soften the face by replacing lost volume, particularly in the chin, cheeks and lips. Also, dermal fillers are used to lift and structure the face, for example, by adding definition to the jawline and chin or balancing facial asymmetry.
The most commonly used facial fillers are temporary hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. The best known and best-accredited filler brands are Juvederm and Restylane, which both fall into this category. Dermal fillers are available in different densities or thicknesses, depending on the area they are used for – a denser, firmer filler would be used to contour the cheeks or strengthen the jawline. At the same time, you’d opt for a more lightweight filler to give a gentle uplift to the lips.
The way hyaluronic acid fillers sit beneath the skin and attract water helps them hold their shape and, over the following weeks, integrate with your facial tissues and become part of your face.
What is a thread lift?
The most well-known brand in the thread-lifting market is Silhouette Soft, which uses poly-L-lactic acid sutures. They are threaded through the face underneath the top layer of the skin, from a starting point in the hairline, down through the cheek. The threads have tiny cones running along with them, so as they are pulled tight, they lift the skin tissues and anchor them into a new position.
Silhouette Soft provides an instant physical lift and stimulates the body to restore the collagen that age has depleted. Similarly to the Profound RF, threads can be used in the jowls, the chin, the neck, and the midface, but the results only last for approximately eighteen months.
Which is right for me?
Knowing whether you would benefit from dermal fillers, thread-lifting, or a combination of both for the best results is challenging to determine alone, and it takes consultation with an experienced aesthetic practitioner to help guide you.
Dermal fillers can do a lot for the face, from rebuilding lost volume and correcting asymmetry to softening nose-to-mouth lines, lifting jowls ever-so-slightly and redefining the curve of the cheek.
On the other hand, Threads tighten and lift the skin more profoundly than dermal fillers by producing a mechanical lift to the face and neck area.
At Illuminate Skin Clinic, the majority of our skin tightening candidates are more suited to energy-based skin tightening treatments such as the Profound RF or Ultherapy, which use heat to awaken your body’s own natural healing process by stimulating the production of three skin elements – collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, resulting in a tighter, smoother, more lifted appearance.
Whilst a relatively comfortable procedure, Silhouette Soft can leave you sore, swollen, and uneven for several days post-procedure. It also entails more extended downtime where patients must be cautious with exercise and facial expressions for three weeks.
When it comes to the Profound RF, you should expect approximately 5-7 days of downtime, but the difference is that you don’t face any of those restrictions when returning to a normal lifestyle. The Profound can treat areas where the skin is relatively thin and is suitable for a broader range of patients.
Enjoyed this? Sign up to our mailing list for weekly tips, tricks and skinspiration from our medical director, Dr Sophie Shotter.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.