As we age, so does our face. It’s a fact and there isn’t much we can do about those fine lines and wrinkles that creep up on us as we get older. With time our skin loses its collagen and elasticity which can lead to looser facial tone and an increased appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and creases as well as an undefined jaw-line. There is not much we can go about the gravitational effect on our skin, unless, you are willing to go under the knife to surgically pull back those years and say goodbye to those unwanted jowls.
The traditional surgical facelift; technically known as a rhytidectomy, has been performed by plastic surgeons all over the world since the early 1900s. In the first 70 years of the 20th century facelifts were performed by pulling on the skin on the face and cutting the loose parts off. The first facelift was reportedly performed by Eugen Höllander in 1901 in Berlin. An elderly female polish aristocrat asked him to: “lift her cheeks and corners of the mouth”. After much debate he finally proceeded to excise an elliptical piece of skin around the ears. However, plastic surgery isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and the idea of going under general anaesthetic to have facial surgery to pull back ones skin, leaving a scar around the ear, doesn’t appeal to everyone. Also of the most often overlooked (or not discussed) areas of a traditional facelift procedure is the effects on the anatomical positioning and angles of the ears. Most patients are, in many cases, not made aware that the vector forces in a facelift will lower the ears as well as change the angle of the ears. Ear lowering can be as much as 1cm and change in the angle as much as 10 degrees. The surgical option used to be the only option of facial lifting, until Silhouette Soft was introduced into the UK.
Silhouette Soft is a revolutionary new treatment to tackle prominent signs of ageing that results in a double lift and regenerating collagen effect which can all be done without the use of incisions or sedation. Silhouette Soft is considered to be a technological innovation offering men and women what no treatment has ever provided in such a simple way: a redefined face, restored volume and reduced wrinkles by means of a 30-minute treatment providing a result that lasts up to 2-3 years. This ‘lunchtime face lift’ means you can be in and out within half an hour whilst knocking off several years of your facial age. This discreet procedure means you can even go straight back to work and you don’t even have to tell your colleges what you’ve had done. This is why Silhouette soft is probably used by many Hollywood stars who deny having surgery but look to have defied age and remain still naturally good looking without a “done” plastic appearance.
So how does it work?
Silhouette Soft Threads are considered to be a discreet approach to achieving a fresher, younger-looking appearance. The Silhouette Soft suture is made of a clear absorbable material of Poly Lactic Acid and eight absorbable cones which dissolve and promote your skins own collagen production. The length of the suture is 30 cm. These anchoring sutures are inserted under the skin using a fine needle to elevate the sagging tissue and lift problem areas; the use of a fine needle means no incision is required. Only a small local anaesthesia is needed at the entry and exit points of the sutures. The thread is held in place with absorbable cones oriented in opposite directions (bidirectional).
Once the suture has been applied, the doctor performs slight compression of the tissue to reshape it by hand and to obtain the desired lifting effect. The non-inserted ends of the thread are cut off and you’re done.
Is there a long recovery period?
Downtime after a Thread Lift treatment is minimal, however as with all cosmetic procedures patients may experience some very slight bruising or swelling in the days following the procedure and some mild tension in the areas that have been elevated. But other than that there is no muscular restriction or recovery time needed. During the week after treatment patients should not undergo any dental surgery, and they must avoid facial and beauty treatments. It is also recommended to avoid any excessive exercise for two weeks after the treatment. It is also advisable for patients to sleep on their back and slightly elevated (using 2 pillows) during recovery and they must be gentle when cleansing their face.
So what areas can Silhouette Soft improve?
Silhouette Soft can be used to treat various parts of the face:
• Contour
• Lower jaw
• Cheeks and cheekbones
• Eyebrows
• Neck
Is it safe?
Silhouette Soft is approved by MHRA in the UK and the FDA in the USA for restoration and/or correction of skin facial laxity. Poly-L-lactic acid, the main ingredient of Silhouette Soft Threads has been used successfully in surgical procedures for more than 40 years, among others for bioresorbable sutures, in bone plates and screws, and as a medium for medication. In contrast, PLL as a filler comes as a powder of crystalloid particles that has to be reconstituted before injection. In the early years, the recommendation was to use 3 mL: this turned out to cause granulomas and also often clogged the injection needle. Now, most physicians use 10 mL or more of physiologic saline, often with some lidocaine added. After injection, the water is resorbed and the PLL particles induce a fibroblastic reaction lasting for 24 months or longer. This may cause fibrotic nodules, which may be visible in thin skin such as around the eyes and in the hands, and the substance may clump in the lips; these are the adverse effects of faulty technique.
Silhouette Soft is a simple treatment to perform. Complications are rare, and are less likely when the procedure is performed by an experienced and trained facial plastic surgeon.
Dr Ayham Al Ayoubi has been performing the facial threading procedure for many years and in the last eighteen months has developed and advanced his technique of silhouette soft. He is one of the recognised leading facial and aesthetic surgeons in the country known for performing Silhouette soft.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has also developed his own advanced techniques of combining Silhouette Soft facial Threads Treatment with Sculptra for treating facial asymmetry, facial atrophy and non-surgical full face lifting. Leaving patients with a younger, more rejuvenated complexion. Also combining Silhouette Soft with SmartSkin CO2 laser resurfacing to create the optimal and most natural-looking results.
