Absorbable Tensor Threads
What role do tensor threads play in aesthetic medicine?
Presentation
Facelifts are no longer the only way to treat sagging of the face. Medicine now makes it possible to gently delay the visible effects of time.
Aesthetic surgery is growing by 3% a year, while aesthetic medicine is growing by 17% a year in France. Tensor threads are becoming increasingly popular, and their quality has improved considerably.
For facial rejuvenation, for example, tensor threads are a medical alternative to surgical facelifts and a genuine innovation in the world of aesthetics. Dr Olivier CLAUDE offers this alternative to patients who do not want surgery.
The sessions take place in the medical practice of Dr Olivier CLAUDE, Plastic Surgeon, at 124 Rue de la Faisanderie – Paris 16th
Procedure
Tensor threads: how do they work?
The idea came from a Russian doctor in Moscow, hence the name “Russian threads”. The aim is to correct sagging of the face by exerting upward and backward traction. This traction is not obtained surgically, as with facelifts, but with tensor threads placed under the skin.
For example, to raise the cheekbone, a needle is used to insert a thread under the skin starting from the cheekbone, with the other end of the thread protruding higher up, at the level of the scalp.
As the tensor thread is cogged, all you have to do is pull on it to exert tension on the skin and raise the cheekbone. Thanks to the cogs that hold the thread in place, it is usually not necessary to attach the upper end of the thread.
Depending on the position of the thread, it can be used to lift various areas of the face that tend to sag: jowls, tail of the eyebrow, cheekbones, crow’s feet, nasolabial folds and oval of the face.
At the same time, the tensor threads induce a process of fibrosis, which encourages the natural production of collagen and elastin fibres. This reaction improves skin firmness over the long term.
Tensor threads in practice
No hospitalisation is required to fit the tensor threads. A local anaesthetic is all it takes. Between 4 and 6 threads are generally placed, with the upper end most often positioned at scalp level or behind the earlobe. It takes less than an hour to insert the sutures, and there is no risk of allergy or rejection.
Results
What happens after the Tensor Threads procedure?
The after-effects of the operation are not significant and the patient can resume activity quickly, often within two days. A feeling of tightness in the skin is common, as is the appearance of oedema and possible bruising. These side-effects wane quickly. Follow-up visits should be scheduled.
What are the expected results?
The effect of lifting the tissues is immediate and does not alter the facial physiognomy. The result improves over time. It is optimal 2 months after the sutures are placed, which corresponds to the time needed for the fibrosis process to work its magic. Aesthetic results can last approximately 1 to 2 years.
