Thread Lift San Francisco | Silhouette Lift Bay Area

The aging process often begins long before we are ready and certainly sooner than we want to contemplate surgery in many cases. Both men and women might notice changes in their appearance by the time they hit their 40th birthday, making them self-conscious about their aging looks. Fortunately, there are ways to revitalize your youthful appearance without an invasive facelift today. Dr. Maas offers a revolutionary, minimally-invasive procedure known as a Silhouette InstaLift for patients in and around San Francisco that want more than filler can provide, but don’t want to commit to traditional surgery just yet.

The Reason Behind Sagging Skin

Two primary factors lead to skin sagging over time. The first is collagen depletion. This critical protein is produced by the body and supports the underlying dermal structure to give skin its smooth, supple appearance. As we age, collagen production is reduced, depleting the support and leading to skin laxity. The second factor is the loss of fat in the subcutaneous tissue, which is also directly related to the aging process. Less fat allows other facial tissue to begin to migrate downward, leading to a hollowed look in the midface and exacerbating the appearance of skin sagging.

What is the Silhouette InstaLift?

The Silhouette Lift addresses both these concerns, creating a lifted appearance right away and stimulating processes within the body that will help you maintain your rejuvenated appearance for an extended period. This revolutionary device was FDA-cleared in 2015, and is nothing like the thread lifts of old that used sharp barbs to hold sutures in place underneath the surface of the skin.

Polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid are biocompatible, dissolvable materials that are used to create the Silhouette InstaLift threads and bidirectional “cones”, providing a long-lasting lift within the dermal structure without any unpleasant side effects.

The threads also work with the body’s system to stimulate collagen and elastin production as they are slowly dissolved, creating a look that is naturally more youthful and delivering results of up to 18 months or more.

The Silhouette Lift is an office procedure that Dr. Maas performs in about 45 minutes using a local anesthetic. You will not feel any significant discomfort during the process and you will require little recovery time afterward. The results of a Silhouette Lift are visible immediately after the procedure and will last for up to 18 months or longer.

Candidates for the Silhouette Lift

While a Silhouette Lift can be an excellent treatment for the right patient, it is not ideal for everyone. The best candidates for this procedure are women and men that are beginning to see the early signs of sagging and hollowing in the midface. For these individuals, the Silhouette Lift can restore youthful definition to the facial profile, lifting tissue in the midface to create more prominent cheekbones and reduce the hollowed look.

The Silhouette Lift is most effective on individuals in their late 30s or early 40s that are just beginning to see signs of aging creep into the face. If your aging symptoms are more severe, a surgical facelift may provide you with an optimal outcome. Dr. Maas will evaluate your concerns and goals carefully to ensure you choose the procedure that will meet your needs and expectations best.

Benefits of the Silhouette Lift

There are a few reasons why you might choose the Silhouette Lift for your facial rejuvenation:

The less invasive procedure can be performed using a local anesthetic
No incisions mean no visible scarring after the procedure
Treatment is done in 45 minutes with minimal downtime afterward
Results of the lift are evident immediately
Effects last 18 months or longer
Threads work with the body to prolong rejuvenation effect

The Silhouette Lift offers the perfect balance for the right patient, with a less invasive process than traditional surgery but greater longevity than most injectable treatments. Contact The Maas Clinic^TM today to find out if the Silhouette Lift is the right choice for you.

Before & After Gallery

Silhouette Lift Overview

Dr. Maas will perform your Silhouette Lift right in his office. Once the suture locations are marked, Dr. Maas will numb the area, so you don’t feel any discomfort during your treatment. Some patients may choose to be sedated so they are completely relaxed during the procedure, but this is not necessary. Sutures are inserted using tiny puncture marks that should not leave any visible scarring once they heal. The sutures are strategically placed where they will give you a natural, beautiful lift in the midface. The number of sutures used will depend on the amount of correction required, but two or three on either side of the face is generally recommended for most patients.

The smooth cones on the threads will provide the necessary support to hold the sutures in place over an extended period until they dissolve. You don’t have to worry about the sutures coming loose or causing any damage to the surrounding tissue. As the cones dissolve, they serve as a catalyst for collagen production by the body, which will add youthful volume to the treatment area as well.

Browse Gallery

What Happens after a Silhouette Lift?

You may experience some mild swelling or bruising after your Silhouette InstaLift, but these side effects are typically very tolerable and short-lived. Dr. Maas’ careful techniques will ensure that there is no exposure of the sutures after the procedure – if necessary, some dissolvable stitching may be used. No marks are left after the procedure, and his patients are able to look naturally as soon as they step out of the procedure room, and enjoy immediate lifting results.

Dr. Maas may prescribe some pain medication for the first day or two to ensure your comfort during the preliminary portion of the recovery process. Most of our patients are able to return to their regular activities on the same day, with few visible signs they just had a procedure performed. The Silhouette Lift offers nearly instant lifting in the midface that is both subtle and natural.

You will still look like you, only refreshed and more youthful. Collagen production takes some time so that you may notice additional volume in the treatment area over the following months. Most patients enjoy the outcome of their Silhouette Lift for at least 18 months before requiring a follow-up or other treatments to maintain their revitalized appearance.

The Art of the Silhouette Lift: Why Choose Dr. Maas in San Francisco

Helping patients achieve the best possible results from a Silhouette InstaLift involves having a deep understanding of facial anatomy and expertise in performing the procedure.

As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with decades of experience, Dr. Maas customizes each Silhouette InstaLift to the patient being treated. Beyond ensuring the length of the threads used is appropriately sized to the patient, he is also able to determine the best vector for the placement of the sutures, and ensure the sutures are placed completely subcutaneously, to lift the soft tissues of the face for a natural yet noticeably beautiful outcome without any adverse effects.

In addition to the Silhouette Lift, Dr. Maas offers additional surgical and non-surgical treatments designed to firm the skin and rejuvenate the complexion. In some cases, a combination of these procedures provide the best results. If you are ready to reverse your signs of aging, but you are not prepared for a surgical procedure, a Silhouette InstaLift may be the right choice for you. Schedule your consultation at our San Francisco office today by phoning The Maas Clinic^TM at (415) 567-7000 or contact us us by email.

The information about rhinoplasty was reviewed by Corey S. Maas MD^TM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.

FAQs

What do the results of a Silhouette InstaLift look like?

Take two fingers on each side of the face around the cheek, and pull gently upwards and outwards. This gives a general idea of the results you might be able to expect. For more information, please schedule your in-person consultation with Dr. Maas today by filling out our contact form.

Is the Silhouette InstaLift painful?

Every care will be taken to ensure your comfort during this procedure. Most patients will only require some local anesthetic in the treated area, but if you are at all concerned about feeling tense or nervous, please let us know during your consultation. Sedation is available for our patients.

How long does the procedure take?

For most patients, this procedure will be completed within 45 minutes, but we do request that you schedule sufficient time before and after the procedure to allow time for numbing and for our team to provide you with detailed aftercare instructions.

Will there be any scars that show I’ve had a procedure done?

Dr. Maas is extremely conscientious when it comes to making sure any and all entry and exit marks are addressed, either by working the skin edges, or putting in extremely fine skin colored dissolvable stitches that other people will never notice, to ensure that there are no visible marks left after the procedure.

How long before I can see the results of a Silhouette InstaLift?

You’ll be able to enjoy instantaneous results and the people around you will be none the wiser. The threads will induce collagen production over the following months, for a continued lifting and rejuvenating effect.