Thread Lift by Use of Retaining Ligaments
Condition: Face Lift; Suspension Technique; Minimal Invasive Surgery
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      In facial rejuvenating surgery, the current trend calls for fewer and less noticeable scars
      with desired results. Especially to improve the jowls and nasolabial folds, the thread lift
      is a simple and inexpensive technique for patients who do not wish to undergo the typical
      facelift surgery, but the weak points of it are less effective and shorter duration than the
      conventional facelift.The investigators propose the new method of the thread lifting the
      subdermal and subcutaneous layer with a fiberoptic needle by use of the retaining ligaments
      with two fixation points on both temporal fascia and retaining ligaments. For the
      intraoperative evaluation the tensiometer was applied and for the postoperative evaluation
      the FACE-Q applied.
    

Detailed description: 
      In facial rejuvenating surgery, the current trend calls for fewer and less noticeable scars
      with desired results. Especially to improve the jowls and nasolabial folds, the thread lift
      is a simple and inexpensive technique for patients who do not wish to undergo the typical
      facelift surgery, but the weak points of it are less effective and shorter duration than the
      conventional facelift.The investigators propose the new method of the thread lifting the
      subdermal and subcutaneous layer with a fiberoptic needle by use of the retaining ligaments.

      Retrospective analysis was performed on 369 consecutive patients undergoing the suture
      suspension technique between January of 2012 and December of 2015, so called thread lift,
      using 3-0 V-Loc 180 device for facial rejuvenation with (n=305) or without additional facial
      procedures (n=64). The follow-up period ranged from 22 months to 43 months postoperatively,
      with a mean of 34.3 months. There are asymmetry(n=2), scar revision(n=1), revision(n=4),
      dimpling(n=1), suboptimal outcomes(n=9), and stitch abscess(n=1). The thread lift by use of
      the retaining ligaments with V-lock barbed sutures can be recommended as an alternative
      technique in the facelift.
    

Intervention name(s): thread lift
Intervention type(s): Procedure
Intervention description(s): In facial rejuvenating surgery, the current trend calls for fewer and less noticeable scars with desired results. Especially to improve the jowls and nasolabial folds, the thread lift is a simple and inexpensive technique for patients who do not wish to undergo the typical facelift surgery, but the weak points of it are less effective and shorter duration than the conventional facelift.The investigators propose the new method of the thread lifting the subdermal and subcutaneous layer by use of the retaining ligaments with two fixation points on both temporal fascia and retaining ligaments.
Other intervention name(s): suspension technique with V-Loc barbed sutures
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: 369 consecutive patients underwent the suture suspension technique, so called thread lift, using 3-0 V-Loc 180 device for facial rejuvenation with (n=305) or without additional facial procedures (n=64). The follow-up period ranged from 22 months to 43 months postoperatively, with a mean of 34.3 months.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: face lift; thread lift; retaining ligament; V-Loc sutures; tensiometer; FACE-Q