What Is Silhouette Instalift?
Silhouette InstaLift is a non-invasive treatment that rejuvenates the face using absorbable sutures. Thread lifts are not new to aesthetic medicine, but they have evolved significantly over time. The InstaLift utilizes "coned" threads versus "barbed" threads that have been known to make tiny tears in subcutaneous tissue.
Unlike traditional surgical facelifts that focus primarily on trimming excess skin, the InstaLift both repositions tissue and promotes more firmness and plumpness through collagen remodeling. The first action of coned threads is to lift tissue and hold it in a higher position. The second is to provoke an extended period of collagen and elastin production to naturally add more volume back into the dermis. This stimulation is triggered by the dissolvable threads and cones made of polylactic acid.
What Can a Thread Lift Treat?
The InstaLift is performed on the mid-face to lift cheeks, jowls, and the upper neck. By lifting the tissues in the mid-face, InstaLift treatment may reduce sagging at the jawline and also creases between the nose and mouth.
Who is a Candidate for Silhouette Instalift?
The best results from a Silhouette InstaLift procedure typically occur in patients who have mild to moderate tissue laxity. Subtle jowls and softening of the jawline are generally correctable with this procedure. Adequate skin thickness and fatty tissue in the face are necessary for safe placement of the InstaLift threads.
Benefits of Silhouette Instalift
There are several advantages to a nonsurgical, minimally-invasive InstaLift, including:
- Results can be seen immediately after the short procedure
- Normal activities can be resumed the same day of the InstaLift procedure
- The InstaLift stimulates tissue remodeling that improves volume and contours
- Sutures naturally absorb over time, stimulating an increase in collagen as they do
What is the Silhouette InstaLift procedure?
The average InstaLift treatment is conducted in the office in about an hour. No anesthesia is needed but patients receive lidocaine injections in the uppermost layer of tissue to numb the nerve endings where threads will enter and exit the skin. The use of this local anesthetic successfully supports complete comfort for most patients.
Before commencing with thread insertion, the provider may mark the face to outline the areas where threads will enter and exit the skin. Micro incisions are made to accommodate the threads. Using a small instrument, the provider inserts the dissolvable sutures and passes them in the intended upward and outward direction to naturally lift the mid and lower face. After all threads have been properly inserted, hands are used to gently lift tissue and secure bidirectional cones into place to secure a more youthful appearance.
What are the results of Silhouette InstaLift?
Patients appreciate immediate results after their InstaLift is complete. Additionally, improvements can be expected to continue for up to six months as minor scar tissue forms and collagen permeates the area around the threads. The results of a Silhouette InstaLift vary from one person to another. Typically, appreciable lifting continues for 12 to 18 months.
Is there any recovery for Silhouette InstaLift?
Slight swelling and bruising are to be expected after Silhouette InstaLift treatment. Sometimes, subtle skin irregularities such as depression at insertion points occur. As tissue settles and swelling subsides, this side effect fades, usually within a few days.
Suggestions to facilitate optimal healing after an InstaLift include:
- Apply cold packs to reduce swelling and bruising.
- Take acetaminophen as needed if soreness or tenderness occurs.
- Wait at least 24 hours to apply makeup, if possible.
- Sleep on your back with the head elevated for 3 to 5 nights.
- Be gentle and do not rub the face for 5 days following treatment.
- Keep facial movements to a minimum for 2 weeks after the InstaLift.
- Avoid saunas and hot tubs for 3 weeks.
- Avoid unprotected UV exposure (tanning beds and sunlight) for 2 weeks.
Is an Instalift Painful?
Patient comfort is an important aspect of the care we provide. Silhouette InstaLift treatments are conducted using a local anesthetic that desensitizes nerve endings sufficiently for complete comfort. Patients may feel slight pressure or tugging as sutures pass through fatty tissue beneath the skin. However, this tissue is relatively devoid of nerve endings so very little sensation occurs.
Are there any side effects of Silhouette InstaLift?
The side effects of Silhouette InstaLift treatment are generally limited to mild bruising and swelling for 24 to 48 hours after treatment. To decrease side effects, patients should avoid medications, supplements, and vitamins that can thin the blood. Such substances should be stopped 7 to 10 days before the InstaLift. People with an allergy to Polylactic acid or Polyglycolic acid may experience an inflammatory reaction to the InstaLift threads.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are interested in Silhouette Instalift, please use the form on this page to schedule a consultation at Hollywood Dermatology or visit our contact page for information about our South Florida locations.
