Safety Profile of Thread Lifts on the Face and Neck: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review

Abstract

BACKGROUND “Thread lifting” has quickly gained popularity as a minimally invasive treatment for facial rejuvenation. However, the effectiveness is questionable, and the safety and adverse effects are often not discussed. OBJECTIVE To identify and discuss the adverse effects associated with various types of threads. MATERIALS AND METHODS Studies describing the use of thread lifts were identified using a PubMed search. Inclusion criteria included studies in which barbed and nonbarbed threads were used for the face and neck. RESULTS Fifty-nine articles consisting of 14,222 patients (14,134 barbed, 81 nonbarbed, and 7 combined cases) were included. The most common side effects overall were facial asymmetry (n = 6,143), edema/tumefaction (n = 453), and ecchymosis (n = 407). Serious adverse effects were rare and consisted of paresthesias, alopecia, and injuries to vessels/glands. Most adverse effects were transient and self-resolving, with the exception of contour irregularities, injuries to vessels/glands, infections, and inflammatory reactions. CONCLUSION Most side effects associated with threads were self-resolving, whereas more serious cases subsided with treatment. Future studies are critical to further determine whether thread lifting provides long-lasting, safe, and satisfying results.

Nonhealing Nodule Over the Temporal Hairline: Beware the Threadlift Granuloma!

“…With growing ubiquity of threadlift procedures, familiarity with its complications is essential. In a systematic review of threadlift complications, nearly all recorded side effects were related to barbed sutures, 2 with a small minority associated with nonbarbed or mixed sutures. The most common side effects reported are facial asymmetry, edema, and ecchymosis, which are usually self-limiting.…”

“…The most common side effects reported are facial asymmetry, edema, and ecchymosis, which are usually self-limiting. 2 Recognition of granulomatous reactions is important because only thread removal provides definitive cure. Simply excising the granuloma without removing the offending suture, as shown in Patient 2, is insufficient.…”

“…Although most complications associated with threadlifting are transient and self-limiting, serious adverse events such as mycobacterial infections, and foreign body granulomatous and pseudolymphomatous reactions have been reported. 2 We report 2 patients with threadlift granulomas, who presented with unilateral persistent temporal hairline nodules several years after the procedure, to improve recognition of this rare complication among clinicians.…”

Ejercicio Ilegal, régimen jurídico y políticas públicas en procedimientos de rejuvenecimiento facial con hilos tensores

“…El rejuvenecimiento facial mediante el uso de hilos tensores "ha ganado mucha popularidad desde su introducción al mercado en 1990, catalogado como un procedimiento de mínima invasión, ha logrado su auge por ser de rápida intervención y resultado inmediato" (Pham, et al 2021). Es decir, no se tiene un control sobre los tejidos anatómicos, siendo este el principal inconveniente, ya que en el rostro y cuello existen numerosas estructuras como vasos sanguíneos, músculos y sistemas nerviosos que interviene en la mímica facial.…”

“…Además, se deben considerar las complicaciones que se pueden presentar que incluyen desde "infecciones severas por agentes bacterianos y micóticos, asimetrías faciales y deformidades estructurales, hasta lesiones permanentes a nivel del nervio facial o nervio trigémino, que provocarían parálisis facial y alteraciones sensitivas que atacarían a su bienestar tanto físico como psicológico" (Pham, et al 2021). A más de lo mencionado, el hecho de que no exista un control sobre su comercialización es preocupante (Cobo, 2020), porque gente sin escrúpulos podría manipularlos, lo que lo convierte, como lo expone Carrera-Torres et al (2020), "en un daño jurídicamente reprochable, siendo esto un compromiso habitual de no perjudicar injustamente" Todo lo presentado previamente es lo que inquiere resolver este trabajo, para lo cual, en primer lugar, describo la normatividad que rige sobre los entes involucrados en servicios estéticos en el Ecuador.…”