Barbed sutures “lunch time” lifting: evidence‐based efficacy

Abstract

There is a growing trend nowadays for patients to seek the least invasive treatments possible with less risk of complications and downtime to correct rhytides and ptosis characteristic of aging. Nonsurgical face and neck rejuvenation has been attempted with various types of interventions. Suture suspension of the face, although not a new idea, has gained prominence with the advent of the so called "lunch-time" face-lift. Although some have embraced this technique, many more express doubts about its safety and efficacy limiting its widespread adoption. The present review aims to evaluate several clinical parameters pertaining to thread suspensions such as longevity of results of various types of polypropylene barbed sutures, their clinical efficacy and safety, and the risk of serious adverse events associated with such sutures. Early results of barbed suture suspension remain inconclusive. Adverse events do occur though mostly minor, self-limited, and of short duration. Less clear are the data on the extent of the peak correction and the longevity of effect, and the long-term effects of the sutures themselves. The popularity of barbed suture lifting has waned for the time being. Certainly, it should not be presented as an alternative to a face-lift.

Facial Rejuvenation with Absorbable and Barbed Thread Lift: Case Series with Mint Lift™

“…Our patients did not show other types of complications reported in the literature, such as asymmetry, extrusion, palpable and visible yarns, neuropraxia, infection and poor results [1,9,10].…”

“…Surgical facelift is still the best option for the rejuvenation and repositioning of the facial tissues affected by ptosis [1], however, it demands a greater recovery time for the patient, in spite of greater surgical risks.…”

“…In addition to the threads, it allows the association with other non-surgical procedures, such as botulinum toxin use and/or cutaneous filling in facial remodelling [1].…”

“…The gold standard for facial rejuvenation is the face lift surgery [1,2]. However, it is a more invasive surgical procedure and requires a longer recovery time [2].…”

Evaluation of Elastic Lift for Facial Rejuvenation

“…Recently, there has been a growing trend for patients to pursue minimally invasive facial rejuvenation with a low risk of complications and rapid recovery time [15]. Numerous minimally invasive procedures have been used to improve the results of the aging face [16].…”