Thread Lifting: A Face Lift Without the Surgery
Thread lifting is a minimally invasive procedure that lifts and holds sagging facial tissue using fine dissolvable sutures placed under the skin, without the cuts, general anaesthetic or downtime of a surgical face lift. It is Dr Patti's priority treatment: the eyebrows, nose, cheeks, jowls and neck can all be lifted and improved with MINT PDO threads.
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A thread lift uses MINT threads (Minimally Invasive Non-surgical Thread), made from polydioxanone (PDO), a sugar-based suture material used safely in surgery for over 30 years.
The barbs moulded along the thread anchor onto sagging tissue and lift it into a more youthful position the moment the thread is placed. Beyond the immediate lift, PDO is a strong stimulator of collagen production, so the skin continues to firm and tighten over the following weeks. The eyebrows, nose, cheeks, jowls and neck can all be treated. At Aesthetica in Grey Lynn, thread lifts are performed personally by Dr Patti Piper, who has years of surgical training and also trains other doctors in the technique.
How it works
While you are sitting upright, Dr Patti examines your face to work out the best direction of pull and marks the lines on your skin. A tiny incision is made near the hairline or behind the earlobe under local anaesthetic, and the treatment area is cleaned and draped.
Threads are guided along the anaesthetised path beneath the skin, then lifted and fixed into position for an immediate contouring effect. The whole appointment is booked for 90 minutes, with the thread insertion itself taking about 30 minutes, so there is proper time for consent, examination and marking up beforehand.
What to expect
Many people searching for a facelift in Auckland are really looking for what a thread lift can already do. A thread lift is a genuine non-surgical alternative to a surgical face lift: less risky, less expensive, and with minimal downtime, because there is no general anaesthetic and no removal of skin.
It suits people with mild to moderate sagging who want a natural lift and firmer skin, rather than the more dramatic correction a surgical lift can offer for significant looseness. Dr Patti will tell you honestly at consultation which approach fits your face.
Thread lifting results
Few practitioners offer threads. Fewer train the doctors who do.
With years of surgical training and years in skin cancer surgery, Dr Patti trains other doctors in thread lifting. That depth of anatomical knowledge is what keeps her results conservative, safe and natural. NZSCM accredited.
Frequently asked
The appointment is booked for 90 minutes to allow time for consent, examination, marking up, anaesthetising the treatment areas, and cleaning and draping the skin. The actual insertion of the threads takes about 30 minutes. Booking the full time means nothing is rushed, which matters for both comfort and accuracy of the lift.
The lifting effect is immediate as soon as the threads are placed and fixed. Results then continue to improve as the skin tightens through collagen stimulation, with the full effect visible at around 6 weeks post-procedure. Dr Patti can show you sequential photos, with permission, of patients at pre-treatment, immediately after, 6 weeks, one year and two years.
Most people see results last up to 2 years. Because the effect gradually softens as the threads dissolve, further threads can be added at any time to refresh the lift, rather than starting again from scratch.
Swelling is expected after the procedure due to the volume of anaesthetic used to keep it painless, and this usually settles within 2 to 3 days. Bruising is possible, though not common. Puckering of the skin can occur but is avoidable by not pulling the threads too tight, and infection is rare with sterile technique. Tenderness where the threads sit can persist for a few weeks while collagen stimulation continues.
Yes, a thread lift is less expensive than a surgical facelift, because there is no operating theatre, general anaesthetic or extended recovery involved. It is best suited to mild to moderate sagging rather than significant excess skin, so cost should be weighed against what each option can actually achieve for your face. Dr Patti will give you an honest comparison at consultation rather than a hard sell either way.
Thread lifting suits people noticing early to moderate sagging in the cheeks, jowls or neck who want a natural lift without surgery. Dr Patti's approach is conservative: she will tell you plainly if your concern would be better served by fillers, a surgical option, or no treatment at all. A consultation is the only way to know what your face specifically needs.
Book a consultation with Dr Patti.
An honest conversation first. The cost of a thread lift depends on the number of threads required, assessed at your consultation.