A spider web thread lift is a non-surgical facelift in which fine surgical threads are placed under the skin. It takes its name from the way the threads are laid out beneath the skin like a web. Smooth or barbed threads may be used, and because the body gradually dissolves them, no lasting foreign material is left in the tissue.

The method is known by other names depending on how the threads are used, including V lift, contour lift, silhouette lift, Russian thread lift, Aptos and anti-ptosis thread lift. It is also simply called a spider lift or spider web facelift. When thicker, barbed threads are placed into sagging areas with a cannula and suspended, the procedure is usually referred to as a thread suspension lift.

At our clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, it is one of several thread-based lifting options; which suits you is decided at your consultation.

With age, the skin loses elasticity and facial tissues move downward under gravity. A spider web thread lift aims to bring this tissue closer to its earlier position.

It is most often chosen for:

• Sagging cheeks: Lifting tissue that has descended in the midface.
• A less defined jawline: Giving the jawline a clearer contour.
• Under the chin and neck: Supporting the area when sagging is mild.
• Brows: Gently lifting the tail of the eyebrow.

While the threads remain under the skin, they may also support collagen production, so the treatment is expected to contribute to skin quality as well as lift. Results start to show in the first days, and collagen-related improvement develops over the following weeks.

A thread lift does not replace surgery, and results may be limited when sagging is advanced. If there is also clear volume loss, treatment may be planned together with facial filler.

Before treatment, your facial structure, the degree of sagging and skin thickness are assessed. You will be asked about medications, allergies and any previous aesthetic treatments. The number and type of threads and the lines where they will be placed are planned from this assessment.

1. The skin is cleansed and the thread lines are marked.
2. Local anesthetic is given to the area.
3. Non-allergenic, dissolvable PDO surgical threads are placed under the skin with a cannula.
4. Barbed threads hold the sagging tissue and suspend it upward.
5. Both sides of the face are compared to check symmetry.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes. Recovery is short (hence the nickname “lunchtime lift”), and you can usually return to daily activities soon afterward. Stopping aspirin and supplements that may increase bleeding for a few days beforehand, after checking with your doctor, reduces the risk of bruising.

It needs far less preparation than open surgery, with no general anesthesia and no stitch scars. For a natural, safe result, it should be done by an experienced doctor with a good knowledge of facial anatomy.

All of these are non-surgical thread treatments that aim to lift sagging tissue. They are done under local anesthetic and recovery is short. The differences lie in the structure of the threads and how they are placed.

• Spider web thread lift: Many fine PDO threads are placed under the skin like a web, aiming for both a gentle lift and skin tightening.
• French Lifting: Uses barbed suspension threads designed for a more pronounced lift; see French Lifting.
• Meshfill: Combines thread lifting with filler; see Meshfill treatment.

Which method suits you depends on the degree of sagging, skin thickness and your expectations, and some people benefit from combining methods in one plan. In Dr. Sevgi Ekiyor’s Facial Architecture (Yüz Mimarisi®) approach, thread treatments are planned together with the face’s overall proportions and volume balance.

The PDO threads are gradually dissolved by the body, but collagen support may continue for a while after they dissolve. For this reason, results may usually last around 2 years.

How long the effect lasts varies from person to person and depends on:

• Skin structure: Skin thickness and elasticity.
• Degree of sagging: With advanced sagging, the effect may be shorter.
• Lifestyle: Smoking, heavy sun exposure and rapid weight change can affect the result.
• Number and type of threads: Thread structure and placement influence how long the effect lasts.

The timing of a repeat treatment is planned at a follow-up visit. As the effect fades, the face gradually returns to its natural aging process.