Thread Lift

Dr. Ostad performs thread lifts using absorbable PDO or PLLA threads to mechanically lift mild-to-moderate facial laxity and stimulate collagen production along the thread tract. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia through 1–2 mm entry points with no formal incisions. Results appear immediately, continue improving over two to three months, and last 12–18 months. Minimal downtime of three to five days makes it a practical option for Manhattan patients with active schedules.

Thread lifts occupy a clinically useful position in the non-surgical facial lifting spectrum — offering more immediate structural repositioning than injectable fillers alone, while requiring far less recovery than facelift surgery. At Dr. Ariel Ostad's Upper East Side Manhattan practice, thread lifts are positioned primarily for patients in their 40s and early 50s presenting with early jowling, midface descent, or mild neck laxity who want a visible structural improvement without surgery. The procedure uses barbed absorbable threads — most commonly polydioxanone (PDO) or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) — inserted through the skin via a fine cannula or needle. The barbs anchor into the subdermal tissue and, when the thread is tensioned, mechanically reposition ptotic (descended) tissue along the intended lift vector. The lifting effect is immediately visible at the time of treatment. Over the following two to three months, the threads stimulate a fibrotic response along their tract, building a new collagen matrix that reinforces and extends the lift. As the threads are fully absorbed over six to nine months, the collagen they induced remains. Total duration of visible improvement is typically 12–18 months, after which the treatment can be repeated to maintain results. Common treatment areas include the midface and cheek (restoring cheekbone projection), the jowl and jawline definition, and the brow (for mild lateral brow ptosis). Smooth (non-barbed) threads may also be placed in a mesh pattern for pure collagen biostimulation in delicate areas such as the under-eye or neck where mechanical traction is unsuitable. The procedure is performed under topical and local anaesthesia. Entry points are 1–2 mm, requiring no stitches. Patients experience mild swelling, some bruising at entry points, and temporary dimpling that resolves within one to two weeks. Social downtime is three to five days — well-suited to New York City patients who cannot accommodate the extended recovery of surgical lifting. Thread lifts pair effectively with Botox and filler placed at the same or a subsequent visit.