Les Encres Thread Treatment in Sacramento

An innovative new treatment for skin rejuvenation, Les Encres cosmetic thread treatment lifts and tightens loose, saggy skin on the face and neck. This minimally invasive treatment offers a faster and less costly alternative to a facelift for correcting early signs of aging. For many patients, it’s an effective facial rejuvenation alternative to fillers and Botox^®.

It’s a fact of life that skin loses resilience and is pulled downward by gravity as we age. Until now, a facelift was the only way to counter those effects once they advanced beyond the point where fillers are helpful. Now, with Les Encres cosmetic thread treatment in Sacramento, CA, you have a middle option — a way to address signs of aging by lifting moderately sagging skin and restoring its youthful resilience without the cost, downtime, and surgical risks of a facelift.

At Roseville Facial Plastic Surgery, we are pleased to be among the selected providers of Les Encres cosmetic thread lift treatment. Dr. Jonathan Sykes,  the medical director for Les Encres, is a nationally recognized expert in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Call us today at 916.773.0395 to schedule a consultation and learn how this innovative treatment can restore a younger look to your face.

What Is Les Encres Cosmetic Thread Treatment?

Les Encres cosmetic thread treatment uses slowly dissolving threads (absorbable sutures) — the same types of threads that are used in cardiac surgery — to lift and tighten facial skin. Where a surgical facelift removes excess skin with incisions, thread treatment simply re-anchors the skin in a slightly raised position. The threads are placed under the skin using a specially designed needle, so nothing is visible on the surface of the skin from the procedure.

The threads inserted under the skin to lift it have another effect, too. They stimulate a natural healing reaction that triggers a surge in the production of collagen, a compound that is vital to maintaining skin strength and resilience. We have an abundance of collagen in our skin when we are young, and produce less of it as we grow older — a decline that contributes to the visible effects of aging. This boost in collagen production prolongs the rejuvenating effects of thread treatment. Even after the threads have dissolved, the skin continues to retain a more youthful tone.

Different types of threads are used for different restorative effects. As part of our consultation, we will explain these options and recommend which will be most effective for you. Some of the threads are smooth and some have tiny protrusions (“barbs” or “cogs”) to increase the lifting and collagen-stimulating effects. The threads are also made in different thicknesses and materials for shorter- or longer-lasting effects and for greater or lesser collagen-boosting responses. We may recommend using different threads on different parts of your face for optimal aesthetic results.

Les Encres thread types:

• Polydioxanone (PDO) — PDO threads are absorbed by the body in 4 to 6 months and results last for 18 to 24 months. A versatile option for many lifting and tightening effects.
• Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) — Threads are absorbed by the body in about 8 months and results last for 18 to 24 months. Effective in adding volume to the skin.
• Polycaprolatone (PCL) — Threads are absorbed by the body in about 24 months and results last for 2 to 4 years. Effective in stimulating long-lasting collagen production.
• Sculpted PDO — Thicker threads with protruding cogs give greater anchoring strength. Threads are absorbed by the body in about 12 months and results last for 18 to 24 months.

What Problems Can Les Encres Cosmetic Thread Treatment Correct?

Thread treatment lifts sagging facial skin, adds volume where it has been lost, and smooths fine lines and wrinkles. It can be used to treat:

• forehead lines
• brow droop
• frown lines
• crows’ feet
• marionette lines
• smile lines
• lip lines
• hollow cheeks
• jowls (in their early stages)
• aging skin

How Does Les Encres Cosmetic Thread Treatment Compare With a Facelift?

Les Encres thread treatment is an excellent option for correcting the early stages of facial skin laxity, before pronounced loosening has occurred. It is a non-surgical, minimally non-invasive procedure, with little or no downtime. Most patients return to their normal routines soon after treatment. Results are visible almost immediately and last for 1 to 4 years. Thread lift treatment does not involve incisions and does not leave scars.

A facelift, by comparison, is a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia and extended downtime for recovery. It takes a few weeks for optimal results to be visible, but results then typically last for many years. As a surgical procedure, the cost of a facelift is higher than thread treatment, and it comes with higher risks. Because incisions are made in a facelift, some scars are inevitable, though these are hidden with careful placement.

The two treatments are intended for different levels of skin laxity. A facelift is the only effective option for severe skin looseness and deep facial lines. Thread treatment is used to address mild to moderate sagging and creases.

Les Encres Thread Treatment FAQs

What Happens in a Thread Treatment Procedure?

Les Encres thread treatment is performed using local anesthesia and typically takes an hour or two. When you come in for the treatment, the area of your face to be treated will be numbed to minimize discomfort. The threads are then inserted under the skin using fine needles, similar to those used for filler injections. The threads pull the skin and lift it, holding it in the new position.

After the treatment is finished, you are free to go home or return to work.

 

What Can I Expect in Recovery?

Immediately after the treatment, you may experience some temporary soreness, swelling, and redness — similar to the effects of dermal filler injections. The lifting effects of the treatment are visible immediately and improve over the following weeks as the collagen-boosting effects begin to tone and strengthen your skin. Because the minimally invasive treatment requires a short amount of downtime, it is ideal for people with children or who have busy work schedules.

Can Thread Treatment Be Combined With Other Treatments and Procedures?

Yes. Because recovery from thread treatment is so fast and the risk of problems so low, the treatment can be followed by other nonsurgical procedures to build on the rejuvenating effects. You might enhance the toning effects of thread treatment with procedures that give an even bigger boost to the level of collagen production in your skin or that enhance the surface quality of your skin by eliminating blemishes and roughness. Options include ultherapy, a treatment that uses ultrasound energy to stimulate healthy skin development, SkinPen treatments and chemical peels, which we offer as part of our aesthetician services.

Combining nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments can enhance and extend the positive results of Les Encres thread treatment.