Lunchtime rejuvenation procedures are now as easy as going for your facials, as people increasingly search for quick, minimally invasive aesthetic treatments to freshen up their appearances. Apart from wrinkles, sagging skin is probably one of those things that freak people out the most. Young skin gets its firmness thanks to abundant collagen and elastin. Unfortunately, production of collagen and elastin starts to drop as we approach our thirties, and skin begins its slow but definite droop in the following decade.
Anyone not living under a rock would have heard of non-invasive skin lifting procedures that can be done usually within 60 minutes or less. There are many such treatments around, but between non-invasive energy skin lifting device such as Ultherapy and something such as a facial threadlift, which should you choose?
ULTHERAPY took the world by storm as the world’s first true non-invasive device approved by the FDA for skin lifting. Using sound energy – ultrasound, Ultherapy stimulates collagen production deep within the skin, resulting in a clinically apparent tissue lift over 3 to 6 months. Because no injections are involved at all, Ultherapy became a favourite with those who liked the idea of a “lunchtime” natural facelifting treatment.
Threadlifts now use 100% bio-absorbable threads made of surgical suture material. Once inserted under the skin, these stimulate the formation of a supporting collagen matrix that will continue to anchor the skin as threads start to disappear in the following months. Silhouette Instalift uses Silhouette Soft lifts, known for the superb lifting capacity due to anchoring cones along PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid) threads. Infinity Instalift uses shorter PDO (Polydioxanone) threads which are also 100% bio-absorbable. These threads come in shorter lengths and are more useful in shaping and sculpting the lower face and neck. Infinity threads can also be done to lift the nose bridge, just like how nose fillers do, but with more definition.
If you are thinking of having one of these treatments done and don’t know how to approach it, don’t worry, we have your back (and face, and neck) covered. Don’t forget though, as everyone’s face and skin is different, none of these will replace a proper consultation with your trusty aesthetic doctor so we highly encourage you to make an appointment with your doctor and hear which one your doctor would recommend.
ULTHERAPY VERSUS THREADLIFT
Firstly, they are inherently different treatments. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound and completely eliminates the need for needles, therefore it is non-surgical and completely non-invasive. It is great for mild to moderate sagging concerns, and can be applied to the lower face to tackle early signs of a sagging jawline, to the forehead for a natural brow lifting effect, and around the lower eyelids and crow’s feet for skin tightening around the eyes. If you want nothing injected into your face, do not want any downtime, and don’t mind waiting a few months to see an improvement, this is the treatment for you. The downside is, pain can be variable from person to person, and from area to area. Some people find Ultherapy completely bearable, while a handful find it actually painful. If you have done it before and can’t bear to do it again because of the pain, consider having your next Ultherapy session done under sedation. Remember to have your Ultherapy done by a certified clinic and doctor, as this is afterall an energy device and can cause more harm than good if it is performed by an untrained person.
Threadlift is a minimally invasive procedure because it does require the skin to be poked for thread insertions. There is usually a small downtime of 1 to 3 days with mild swelling, temporary pin-prick marks with possible bruising. It is important to choose a doctor with ample threadlift experience; as threadlifts is in fact facial sculpting and you want someone trained and experienced with this artistry. Possible side effects include thread extrusion, dimpling of skin (usually temporary) and mild stiffness in expression for about a week. Sounds bad, but people continue to opt for it because the facelifting effects are already apparent before the swelling is even gone. This is a good option for those with moderate to severe skin droopiness as well.