Silhoutte Sutures: Threadlifts with bells and whistles.

More competition for the Threadlift, Aptos Threads, and the rest of the tricky non-surgical suture suspension lifts.

 
From the KMI Silhouette site: "SILHOUETTE MID FACE SUTURES ARE FDA 510(k) cleared for market" , not an extravagant claim for a suture made from 3-0 polypropylene.

Compared to the conventional barbed suture, the unique patent pending design of Silhouette MID-FACE Suture allows for tissue growth inside and around flexible, absorbable hollow cones, therefore creating a much stronger anchoring mechanism.

The Silhouette MID-FACE Suture is different than barbed sutures. Barbed suture is created when cuts are made in the shaft of conventional sutures, weakening the inherent strength of the thread. Silhouette MID-FACE Sutures utilize clear, flexible, absorbable cones. Once the cones are completely absorbed, tissue growth around the small knots will allow for tissue suspension.

This groundbreaking Silhouette MID-FACE Suture, designed by KMI, is manufactured using a 3-0 polypropylene substrate. This allows for smaller knot tying in the temporal area. Furthermore, these sutures can safely be removed after the cones are completely absorbed.

Via plasticized:

The thread lift, suture lift, feather lift, contour threads- they're all based on the same concept. Small incisions are made, barbed sutures are passed through the area area to be lifted, and tension is placed to move the tissue in desired direction. The reviews and anecdotal reports from surgeons are less than stellar in most cases. Its been adopted mainly by "non-surgeons" to offer facial rejuvination to pre-existing laser and botox patients. The newest technology in the chain of threads is called the Silhouette suture. It uses a "cup and ball" design rather than a barb. Will it be an improvement over previous designs? Judge for yourself, here.

First, this has got to be one of the worst web sites I've ever seen. The execution of this site alone is enough to make me question if this is a real company or two 14 year old myspace kids who want to break into the medical field. Not to mention that there are entire sections with the dreaded 'coming soon' banner. It does not breed confidence.

Surface performed Aptos and Threadlifts years ago when they first came out. We stopped for three reasons: One; threadlifts don't work well enough. The effects are so minor, even in cases with good results, that it wasn't a great alternative in our opinion. Second; There were enough complications that our docs became un-enchanted. Third: We developed Point Lift .

In my own humble opinion, threadlifts by themselves are just not effective enough given the hit-and-miss problems with patient satisfaction and complications. 

Any comments from physicians with differing points of view are welcomed. 

Comments

[plasticized]

I would be careful in classifying this as a non-surgical technology. Minor surgery is still surgery, and this is surgery. There is a temporal hairline incision in most cases, with dissection to the temporalis fascia, and passage of a needle through the subcutaneous plane or deeper. While this may be minimally invasive surgery, it carries with it the same potential risks as all procedures : nerve injury, bleeding, infection, disfigurement, etc.

[Jeff Barson]

Point take plasticized. While there are a number of these, the range greatly in invasiveness. Swiftlift is really a traditional facelift that's modified. Pointlift involves needles but rarely any incision. In my own experience, the lay person thinks scalpel=surgery. Tricky needle weilding is generally thought of as non-surgical. While the risks might fall into the same categories, the risks with needles is markedly less.
Nevertheless, I'll attempt to be circumspect when labeling.

[Dermacareless]

Is anyone even doing featherlift, pointlift or these other suture lifts anymore?

[CARRIE PIOTROWSKI]

I HAD THE ENDOTINE FACELIFT DONE, THEY PUT 4 RIBBONS IN AND MY RECOVERY TIME WAS WELL OVER A WEEK, MORE LIKE A MONTH, BLACK AND BLUE, SWELLING, AFTER ALL THIS, 3 OUT OF THE 4 RIBBONS BROKE....
ENDOTINE IS NOT WORTH IT AND I DOUBT OTHER RIBBON LIFTS ARE, I AM JUST OUT OF A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY.