Nowadays, the field of aesthetic medicine has changed greatly in recent years in the way of facial rejuvenation. The development and applications of dermal fillers as well as thread lifts have given people a very effective alternative to undergoing surgical face lifting with results that look natural and require little downtime. With all the talking about aging and safer ways to enhance one’s looks, it begs the question that is fillers and threads the future of facial rejuvenation? Here is an article that discusses the growing trend of such treatment, its benefits and limitations, and probably its future. 

The Rise of Non-Invasive Facial Rejuvenation

Traditional surgical facelifts really do work, but they are highly risky, time-consuming for recovery, and way costly. However, non-invasive procedures like dermal fillers and thread lifts are now top methods elected by many to attain a subtle but effective anti-aging (Funt & Pavicic, 2021). Non-surgical cosmetic procedures are growing demand steadily in the years by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2022), and most of the demanding procedures are fillers and thread lifts. 

Dermal Fillers: A Revolutionary Approach

Fillers for the skin are hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxylapatite, and poly-L-lactic acid, and they have changed the face for facial rejuvenation. With their injection, volume loss is recovered, wrinkles smoothen, and facial contours become improved. 

Benefits of Dermal Fillers 

  • Immediate results: Fillers can impart instant volume enhancement and wrinkle improvement as surgical facelift does (De Boulle & Heydenrych, 2021).   
  • Minimal downtime: Most patients experience slight swelling or bruising, which means they can quickly return to normal activity.  
  • Customizable Treatment: Fillers can be injected in specific areas like cheeks, lips, and jawlines and aligned with an individual rejuvenation plan. 
  • Collagen-stimulation: Some fillers such as poly-L-lactic acid induce collagen production, hence giving long-term improvements to the skin (Moers-Carpi et al., 2020). 

Limitations of Dermal Fillers 

  • Temporary Results:Fillers are usually in the form of temporary treatment that lasts between 6 to 18 months and requires continuous maintenance treatments. 
  • Risk of Complications: Though rare, side effects such as vascular acute occlusion or lump formation can arise from improper injection. 
  • Overuse Concerns: Excessive application of filler can give the person an unnatural or exaggerated look. 

Thread Lifts: A Minimally Invasive Alternative

In thread lifting, a procedure that uses biodegradable sutures inserted into the skin to raise and tighten tissue that has sagged, polydioxanone(PDO), polycaprolactone (PCL), or polylactic acid (PLA) threads promote collagen production for tightening the skin over time (Sulamanidze et al., 2021). 

Advantages of Thread Lifts 

  • Instant lifting effect: Threads are designed to provide that instant lift while increasingly working on the elasticity of the skin.  
  • Collagen stimulation: As the threads dissolve, collagen is formed that keeps the skin rejuvenated over a longer time.  
  • Minimal invasiveness: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with minimal scarring and downtime.  
  • Cost-effective alternative: These thread lifts are highly affordable compared to the traditional surgical facelift. 

Limitations of Thread Lifts 

  • Temporary Results: The results of thread lifts result to a peak last of 12 to 24 months. This will need a repeat procedure for maintenance. 
  • Limited Effectiveness for Severe Sagging: Ideal for mild to moderate skin laxity but may fall short for correcting more advance aging. 
  • Risk of Asymmetry and Infection: Improper placement or technique can lead to visible irregularities or complications. . 

The Future of Facial Rejuvenation

As demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures continues to grow, new developments in fillers and threads are expected to prolong their effectivity, safety, and efficacy. These innovations include:   

  • Next-Generation Fillers: Research is focusing on improving currently available hyaluronic acid fillers to make them more biocompatible and long-lasting (Rzany & Kestemont, 2022).  
  • Smart Threads: New-generation threads containing bioactive compounds that stimulate collagen regeneration might have longer-lasting effects throughout the treatment areas.  
  • Combination therapies: There is a growing trend among dermatologists to combine fillers and thread lifting with various energy-based procedures (laser, ultrasound, or radiofrequency) for improved skin rejuvenation results.  
  • Personalization: AI counseling systems for facial analysis are advancing and may allow clinicians the ability to prepare more individualized rejuvenation programs based on unique aging patterns. 

Fillers and thread lifts have changed the whole paradigm of facial rejuvenation, granting patients non-surgical options that do miracles rejuvenating the skin. Though these treatments are limited in application, development and refinement of formulation and technique improve their applicability all the time. Fillers and threads are likely to become the mainstay of aesthetic medicine in the future, since they are becoming safer and more popular with greater ease of use. 

References

  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2022). Plastic surgery statistics report 2022. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000029137 
  2. De Boulle, K., & Heydenrych, I. (2021). Patient-centric approaches to dermal filler treatment: Techniques for achieving natural-looking results. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 41(1), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa247 
  3. Funt, D., & Pavicic, T. (2021). Dermal fillers in facial rejuvenation: A review of clinical evidence and practical considerations. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 14(8), E48-E56. https://doi.org/10.25251/jcad.14.8.4 
  4. Moers-Carpi, M. M., Vogt, A., & Rzany, B. (2020). Long-term effects of poly-L-lactic acid: A focus on collagen stimulation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 8(7), e3075. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003075 
  5. Rzany, B., & Kestemont, P. (2022). Advances in hyaluronic acid-based fillers: Enhancing durability and natural outcomes. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 44(3), 255-267. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12721 
  6. Sulamanidze, M., Sulamanidze, G., & Paikidze, A. (2021). The evolution of thread lifting: Past, present, and future perspectives. Dermatologic Surgery, 47(4), 563-573. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000003024 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR