FEATHER LIFT® - Face Lift with Aptos®
Threads
The Feather Lift AKA the APTOS Lift, the APTOS
Thread Lift and Suture Suspension Face Lift is Kolster
Methods, Inc.'s (K.M.I.) name for using monofilament,
polypropylene threads with cogs or "barbs," called APTOS®
threads. These threads lift the underlying tissue and
contour the face.
From:
http://www.women-daily.com/articles/126
The Aptos® threads, created in
1996 by Russian cosmetic surgeon Dr. Marlen Sulamanidze,
help lift the face without invasive surgery. The threads,
also known as Featherlift® or Russian Threads, are made out
of polypropylene, a material which has been used for
surgical sutures for many years, and have bidirectional cogs
or barbs on their entire length. The threads serve as a
truss to elevate a drooping jowl, brow or cheek pad. The
thread has bi-directional knot-like barbs that hook tissue
and lift it into place with more stability than conventional
sutures. The thread can be gently tightened for added
support. The treatment can be performed using local
anesthesia in the doctor’s office. Other procedures commonly
performed at the same time include, Chemical Peels and
Botox®.
Botox® is sometimes recommended prior to the
procedure, required for the brow, to help decrease the
muscle pull prior to the procedure, for enhanced lift and
stability. Thermage can be used later to tighten the
collagen that forms along the sutures, thereby conferring
additional, future benefit.
Minor regular activities and non-physically demanding
work can be resumed in 30 minutes. Regular activities can be
resumed in 24 hours. Normal physical or gym activities can
be resumed in 5-7 days, though very activities or activities
that could forcefully disrupt the threads should be avoided
for 3 – 4 weeks.
Early Results can be seen
immediately, (of course with some mild to moderate swelling
in just under 24 hours.) In 2-3 weeks one can see more
definitive results, though there is evidence that continued
improvement may be seen for up to 6-8 months, as collagen
formation is stimulated around the
threads.
Which areas can be treated?
- Cheeks
- Crows Feet
- Eyebrow
- Smile lines
- Mid Face sagging
- Nasolabial Folds (marionette
lines)
Who are the best candidate?
- Patients with:Drooping of the soft tissue of the
face and neck
- Weakly pronounced aesthetic contours
- Flaccid, flat face
- Premature aging and sun damaged
face
How does the Feather Lift® procedure differ from
the conventional face-lift?
- No scars - the threads are always inserted through
puncture wounds that heal virtually invisibly
- Minimal discomfort
- Quick recovery - most patients can return to work
in less than a week
- Low risk associated with the procedure as compared
to existing procedures
- No general or tumescent anesthesia is necessary,
allowing for rapid recovery
- The procedure is quick, most cases taking an hour
to do
- The procedure is virtually bloodless and
painless
- There is little pain and swelling after the
procedure
FEATHERLIFT QUICK FACTS
From:
http://www.plasticsurgerycan.com/featherlift.shtml
Procedure Length: The procedure takes
approximately 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number
of areas being treated.
Anesthesia: Only local anesthesia is
required.
In/Outpatient: Inpatient
procedure
Side-Effects / Risks: Complications are very
rare but include the thread end working its way out of the
entrance to the skin, which is remedied by just trimming the
protruding end. Patients on occasion may develop a pucker.
This is easily treated with massage.
Recovery:
the threads leave no scars, are simple to insert, have
minimal down time, require no bandages, and after care is
usually applying ice as needed
Results: There
is often immediate results however, the results continue to
improve over a 3 to 6 months period. This improvement is due
to the collagen synthesis and lifting/bunching
effect.
Details: The Feather lift is not a face lift.
It will only provide very mild tightening of facial skin. It
cannot be used as substitute for a real facelift. It is
meant to be complementary to other minimally invasive
procedures, such as BOTOX, soft tissue fillers, thermage,
IPL, and numerous other treatments with little "downtime"The
threads work by catching the tissues with a series of tiny
cogs or barbs, just like a row of fish hooks, except that
there is no metal involved. The small hooks catch the
tissues and basically bunch it up. Over time the skin
shrinks a bit because there is less pull on it. The
shrinking happens over about 4 to six
months.
TIMING: If you are planning on having
other treatments, discuss this first with your doctor,
BECAUSE TIMING OF THE TREATMENTS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Some of
these are easy to understand. For example, Botox should be
used before the threads, since a weaker wrinkle muscle is
easier to hold in place, and you will get a better
result!
Although this procedure is commonly called
NON-SURGICAL, it is in fact surgery! Threads are placed in a
precise pattern and in a specific location to obtain a
result specific for your needs. However, no cutting is
anticipated with this procedure. This procedure has been
called the "Russian Thread Procedure", or simply
"Threading". Procedure: This procedure is safe, quick and
easy to perform. Performed under local anesthesia and if
desired, light IV sedation, the patient remains awake and
alert. Using a needle, the Aptos® threads are inserted into
the subcutaneous fat, at required depth, along the contours
that were previously marked.
MIDFACE-LIFT
Among the newest additions to the techniques that
restore youthfulness to facial appearance is the
mid-facelift. This type of operation may vary in technique
from one surgeon to another, but the basic principles are
the same. The goals of the surgery are to resuspend the
central cheek area that is sagging, as represented by the
fold that runs between the edge of the nostril and the
corner of the mouth (called the nasolabial fold). In the
surgery itself, an incision is made in the lower eyelids
just beneath the lash line. This allows the surgeon to reach
the tough layer that overlies the cheekbone area and lift
this entire section. It is then suspended at a number of
points.
What is an endoscopic midface
lift?
Endoscopic or minimal-incision surgery is performed
using a tiny fiberoptic lens inserted through half-inch incisions placed inconspicuously in
your mouth and temple. The lens is attached to a camera connected to a television, which
allows for visualization of the surgery. Your surgeon performs the procedure while viewing the
television monitor and manipulating the tiny instruments externally.
Is a midface lift for me?
The mid face lift procedure is particularly useful
for patients with sagging cheeks, deeper nasal furrows, thinner lips and down-turned corners of the
lips.
The Procedure
An endoscopic mid face lift can be performed as an
outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with deep sedation, or general anesthesia, and may
take 1 to 2 hours. A mid face lift is performed through tiny incisions placed
inconspicuously within the hairline of your temple area
and
on the inside of the mouth. During the procedure the fat
pads of your cheeks will be repositioned up and over the cheekbones where they
belong. This redraping will improve the nasal furrows caused by drooping fat pads. A midface
lift is frequently performed in conjunction with eyelid surgery, an endoscopic brow lift or a
facelift to achieve optimal results.
What are the benefits of endoscopic facial
surgery?
The main benefits of endoscopic surgery include: no
visible incisions, minimal scarring, less bleeding, no hair loss, minimal numbness and a much
quicker recovery when compared to traditional surgical techniques.
ENDOTINE MIDFACE™ SOLUTION
The ENDOTINE Midface Lift is a new approach to
midface suspension that gives your surgeon the ability to
easily restore sagging cheek volume to its natural
position.
[This] new approach for midface suspension allows the
surgeon to quickly lift and secure tissue at a new, more
youthful position by using an implant called the ENDOTINE
Midface device. This innovative device offers your surgeon a
predictable alternative for cheek suspension, enabling
shortened surgical times and improved aesthetic outcomes.
What is a Midface Suspension
procedure?
The
area between your lower eyelids and your mouth is considered
the midface. As you age, the
effects of gravity, repeated muscle contraction, and
lifestyle cause the skin, fat, and muscle in
this region to move downwards. When this occurs, the cheeks
begin to look saggy or flat, lower eyelids can become puffy or hollow, circles
begin to appear under the eyes, and the lines between the nose and the corner of the mouth
deepen.
Midface suspension, also referred to as a cheek or
midface lift, corrects sagging midface tissues by surgically repositioning them up and to
the side. This accomplishes several goals: volume enhancement of the midface region, elimination
of hollows in the area, and a gentle smoothing of the tissues just below the eyes. A
successful midface suspension can be a key step in achieving the youthful appearance sought
after in facial rejuvenation.
Midface suspension restores the natural curves and
fullness in the cheeks by moving soft tissues back to where
they were earlier. This is achieved by elevating the soft
midface tissue from the bone, repositioning it upward
towards the eyes, and fixating it in place until it
readheres naturally to the bone. This restores cheek volume
and establishes more youthful midface contours. The result
will be a natural, revitalized appearance that doesn’t
appear overdone or “pulled.”
When performed skillfully, a midface lift will
deliver a natural but noticeable improvement. It is
frequently performed with other surgeries, such as a lower
face lift, eyelid surgery, or a browlift. However, for many
younger patients, under 45 years old, midface suspension is
often a standalone procedure.
How is a Midface Suspension
Performed?
During a midface suspension procedure, the surgeon
makes small incisions in the area above the
ear, and in some cases through the mouth. A small endoscope
and instruments are introduced through the incisions to lift the delicate
midface tissues off the cheek bones. At least one
loop of suture is then passed through the cheek tissue and
secured to the soft tissues above the ear. In some cases, the suspension suture
is introduced through the skin and secured without elevating cheek tissue off the bones.
In all cases, the surgeon relies upon suture to fixate the suspended cheek in its new
position.
Who is a candidate for Midface
Suspension?
Individuals with sagging cheek tissues, excess cheek
skin, and/or hollow or flat cheeks are potential candidates for midface suspension surgery.
The procedure can be performed alone or in
combination with a forehead lift (if indicated) or a
facelift, particularly if there is excess loose neck tissues. Midface suspension can also diminish a
prominent nasolabial fold, which is the groove that runs from the outside base of the nose to
the outside corner of the mouth.A
simple test to get an indication of what the procedure might
do for someone's appearance is to
place the fingertips in the middle of the cheek, to the side
of the mouth, and gently push up and
to the side.
Am I a Midface Suspension Candidate?
If your cheeks are sagging or have flattened over the
years, if your lower eyelids are puffy with dark circles or
have “hollowed out,” or if your smile lines have deepened,
you’re probably a good candidate for a midface suspension.
Of course the best way to determine if a midface suspension
is right for you is by a thorough consultation with your
surgeon.
If
you would like to schedule your No-Charge Consultation
Appointment with a surgeon specializing in the Endotine
Midface Lift proceudre, call us for your complimentary
consultation appointment toll-free at (888)
433-9091.
Possible Risks Associated with the ENDOTINE
Midface Lift
Although the ENDOTINE Midface device is designed for
midface suspension surgery, it’s important to understand that there are potential
risks inherent in this (and all) midface suspension procedure(s). For example, you may
experience some initial discomfort, regardless of
the method used, and you may be able to feel the ENDOTINE
Midface device under the cheek skin, which may be sensitive to touch. The
ENDOTINE Midface device is designed to minimize the risk of injury to bodily structures in
the surgical area, although they are at risk with
any
technique. Should problems specifically associated with the
ENDOTINE Midface device occur, you and your surgeon may decide to remove it
rather than wait for it to dissolve.
From:
http://www.coaptsystems.com/patients/midface_faq.html
SHORT SCAR FACE-LIFT
OR MINI-LIFT - The Pony Tail Friendly
Face-Lift
This new
face-lift procedure gives the same results with reduced
scarring
From: Cosmetic Surgery News
A
short scar face-lift is a limited incision lift which gives
patients the same results as the traditional procedure. The
surgery performed beneath the skin remains unchanged, but
the incision made is about half the length of that made in a
traditional lift.
A short scar face-lift is a limited incision lift
which gives patients the same results as the traditional
procedure. The surgery performed beneath the skin remains
unchanged, but the incision made is about half the length of
that made in a traditional lift.
If you're considering a short-scar
facelift...
The short-scar facelift is also known by a variety of
different names, such as the s-lift, baby boomer facelift, limited-incision
facelift, or mini-lift. It
is generally appropriate for people who show aging in the mid-face and do not have a severe
amount of excess skin around their jawline and neck.
A short-scar facelift cannot stop the aging process.
What it can do is "set back the clock," improving the most
visible signs of aging. A short-scar facelift can be done
alone, or in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery
procedures.
If you're considering a short-scar facelift,
call us today toll-free at (888) 433-9091 for your
confidential no-charge consultation appointment with a Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in the facial
area. A lot depends on the individual patient and the
surgeon. Please ask your plastic surgeon about anything you
don't understand.
The best candidates for short-scar
facelifts
The short-scar facelift is particularly valuable on
younger patients in their forties and fifties. It
can
be combined with liposuction in the neck area to give a
remarkable overall improvement.
If you would like
to schedule your No-Charge Consultation Appointment with a
surgeon specializing in theShort Scar Face-lift
procedure, call us for your complimentary consultation
appointment toll-free at (888) 433-9091.
THE VERTICAL FACE-LIFT
The "vertical face lift" is an ideal
alternative to the traditional face lift and is a great
alternative for younger patients who would like to regain
some firmness without a full face-lift. The vertical
face-lift restores volume and lifts underlying tissues
vertically.
This procedure reshapes and repositions
deeper facial tissues. With the vertical face lift, there is
less bruising, scarring and the recovery time is greatly
reduced. The vertical face lift is perfect for those who do
not want face lift scars. This procedure is ideal for
younger patients.
If you would like to schedule your No-Charge
Consultation Appointment with a surgeon specializing in the
Vertical Facelift proceudre, call us for your
complimentary consultation appointment toll-free at (888)
433-9091.
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A FACE-LIFT?
The Facial Area
by ASDS