Contour Threads™  - Houston
(The clear choice in barbed sutures)

Have you ever looked in the mirror and pulled up your cheeks or the skin above your eyebrows to a higher position and wished it would stay there? Now there is a simple new technique that makes it possible.

Introducing a new era in minimally invasive rejuvenation techniques - Contour Threads™. The only non-absorbable barbed suture product cleared by the FDA for elevation and fixation of brow, midface and neck.

The Beauty of Contour Threads™

As the aging process, begins the connective tissue thins and collagen and elastic fibers break down.  These changes in the support structures appear as sagging, deep creases, folds and wrinkles that can appear in your thirties.

A procedure with patented Contour Threads™ is a safe, conservative and effective one that offers subtle, natural-looking results.  These specially designed sutures are fashioned from clear polypropylene, a material that has been safely used in the body for many years in other medical products.  By gently shifting sagging tissues in an upward direction, this technique allows the surgeon to produce a relaxed, fresh appearance while preserving and enhancing the natural contours of your face.  This procedure does not replace a conventional facelift; rather it offers patients an innovative, minimally invasive approach.

A consultation with a cosmetic surgeon who has been fully trained in this procedure is the first step.  To ensure a high level of safety and accuracy, all physicians must complete a training course on the surgical technique before using Contour Threads™.

In general, the best candidates for this procedure include both women and men in their thirties through their sixties who want a more youthful appearance, but do not want a conventional full facelift, browlift or neck procedure.

Possible indications may include:

• Moderate drooping of the soft tissues of the brow, face and neck
• Poorly defined upper, lower, midface and neck contours

What areas can be treated?

• Repositioning sagging cheeks, jowls and neck
• Lifting sagging eyebrows
• Adjusting asymmetric brows or face
  

What are "barbed" sutures?

Unlike conventional sutures which are smooth, Contour Threads™ have tiny barbs or cogs, that are spaced evenly apart.  Once inserted under the skin, they are fixated in an umbrella-like fashion and with tension creates suspension that gently lifts sagging tissues of the brow, face and neck.

How do they work?

The physician makes a tiny incision or puncture in the temporal area and the Contour Threads™ are inserted under the skin. The tiny barbs on each thread open in an umbrella-like fashion to form a support structure that gently lifts sagging tissues of the brow, face, and neck. Once in position, your body generates new collagen bundles that encapsulate each thread to help maintain
the elevation or lifting eff ect. The exact placement of the threads will vary from patient to patient.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure is quick and usually performed under local
anesthesia, and if desired, light intravenous sedation. The actual length of time will depend on the total number of threads used and the expertise of the physician. On average a typical procedure takes approximately 60 minutes. In most cases, four threads is the minimum needed to address moderate sagging of one facial area.

How long is the recovery?

Patients can usually return to normal activities or to work within a few days to one week. In most cases, there is minimal discomfort, bruising and swelling. Concealing makeup may be worn the next day.

How many treatments will I need?

Usually only one procedure is needed to achieve the desired lifting effect.

How long will the results last?

Physicians’ experiences have shown that duration varies from three to fi ve years or more, depending on the age of the patient at the time of the procedure, the degree of sagging, and the number of threads used. Over time, the threads can be gently tightened for added support or additional threads may be added as needed.

Can a Contour ThreadLift™ be combined with botulinum toxin, fi llers, peels or other cosmetic procedures?

This procedure is an ideal complement to other facial rejuvenation techniques. It is not uncommon to have a Contour ThreadLift™ combined with botulinum toxin to reduce facial muscle activity, dermal fi llers to enhance volume, or peels and laser therapy to improve skin texture. Chin augmentation and liposuction of the neck are some of the other procedures that can be done in
conjunction with a Contour ThreadLift™.

Will I still be able to have a face lift or a brow lift at another time?

Yes. Developed by a board certifi ed plastic surgeon, the unique design of Contour Threads™ makes it simple for your physician to perform a traditional face lift, brow lift or neck procedure when you are ready.

For more information on Contour Threads™ please click here.