The “thread lift” is making a comeback in Hollywood. This minimally invasive procedure lifts sagging skin tissue by burrowing barbed threads beneath the skin. While the skin lifting benefits are not as dramatic as a traditional facelift surgery, threading results are immediate, distinguishing it from other popular non-invasive skin tightening procedures that use lasers to stimulate the body’s natural resources to gradually lift and tone skin. Yet “thread lifts” are quickly being replaced with alternative skin tightening technologies, partly because of the health risks involved with threading.
MINT PDO Thread Lift Overview
The Minimal Invasive Nonsurgical Thread (MINT) Lift is a nonsurgical facelift performed on the mid-face. The procedure addresses signs of aging caused by gravity, such as sagging skin, by restoring the sharper jaw line and V-line of the patient’s youth. With no incisions, patients experience no scarring, and MINT’s biodegradable material is FDA approved and dissolves completely. What’s more, side effects are so minimal that patients return to their normal routine immediately after the procedure.
Procedure Walk-Through
Preparation: Begin preparing for your procedure at least two weeks ahead of time, especially if you smoke tobacco or take blood-thinning medications. Blood-thinning medications include NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen as well as certain vitamins and supplements such as Ginkgo biloba.
Anesthesia: MINT Lift requires only a local anesthesia. Discuss your anesthesia options with Dr. Vallecillos during your preoperative consultation.
Preoperative Consult: Bring any questions you have about the procedure and postoperative care to discuss with Dr. Vallecillos, as well as your medical history. Also, share your goals in undergoing this procedure to allow the doctor to help manage your expectations.
MINT Lift Procedure
After administering the anesthesia, Dr. Vallecillos uses a special suture thread containing 360-degree helical barbs. These protrusions allow the thread to anchor evenly and lift sagging facial tissues. The procedure takes approximately one hour to complete, and you can resume normal activities immediately.
Podcast with Dr. Vallecillos
In the following interview with eHealth Radio host Eric Michaels, Dr. Glenn Vallecillos discusses MINT Lift, and answers the following questions:
- What is the most common reason people come into your practice?
- What are classic signs of an aging face or neck?
- What treatment do you recommend to patients with these types of issues?
- What is MINT Lift and how does it work?
- Why would anyone choose the Mint Lift procedure over a traditional facelift?
- What is the procedure process, can you give a overview? Is it safe?
- Are there any risks?
- About how much does this cost?
MINT Lift Technical Information
Specifications
| Product Number | ML-1043 |
| Material Type | PDO – poly(p-dioxanone) |
| Suture Length | 43 cm |
| USP Size | 1-0 |
| Barb Design | Helical Bi-directional |
| Strands Per Pack | 2 |
Patented Technology
| Administrative No. | CPCTP11-0007 |
| Application No. | PCT/KR2011/006361 |
| Application Date | August 29, 2011 |
PDO – poly(p-dioxanone)
Polydioxanone (PDO, PDS) or poly-p-dioxanone is a colorless, crystalline, biodegradable synthetic polymer.
Completely biodegradable by hydrolysis
The thread becomes transparent after 1 month